Multiphase CFD in Minerals & Metal Processing

In the mining industry, extracted materials are often impure. To separate the materials, they are introduced into different fluids, and through various processes, pure materials are obtained. In the metal processing industry, there is often a need to purify metals, and sometimes particles are added to metals that need to be mixed well and uniformly.

Examining and studying the examples mentioned regarding minerals and metal processing is very difficult empirically. This is where multiphase CFD simulation comes in handy. This simulation model is used for systems that have several different phases; these phases can include materials in solid or liquid states or solid particles floating in a fluid.

A large number of projects in the field of multiphase CFD simulation using ANSYS Fluent software have been carried out by experts at cfdland.com. Visit their completed projects to see the capabilities of multiphase CFD simulations in minerals and metal processing.

In ANSYS Fluent, there are different methods for setting up the multiphase model. Choosing the right model depends on the specific conditions of your problem.

Multiphase CFD by ANSYS Fluent

In Multiphase CFD, several different processes can happen simultaneously:

• Fluid flow: The simplest type of multiphase problem is a domain where there are two fluids of different types, and only the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations are solved. In some cases, the flow may be turbulent, which greatly adds to the complexity of the simulation. In many cases, the fluids related to the mining industry are non-Newtonian; that is, the jets are a non-linear function of various parameters. This fluid model can be well simulated in ANSYS Fluent.
• Material properties: The properties of fluids used in the mining and casting industries are often non-linear functions of various parameters. In ANSYS Fluent, it is possible to define complex functions for material properties with the help of User-Defined Functions (UDF).
• Heat transfer: In many multi-phase problems, heat transfer also happens at the same time, for its calculations, the energy equation needs to be active in Fluent.
• Phase change: One of the things that can occur in multiphase problems is phase change. In every phase change problem, there are at least two phases. In many metal processing and casting industry processes, the material phase changes from liquid to solid. This process happens slowly, and due to the differences in the freezing temperatures of the materials, it presents many challenges.
• Particle movement: In many multiphase simulations, particles are floating in the fluid. Minerals processing is one example of multiphase flow involving floating particles. The effect of fluid flow on the particles is considered in the simulation. In more complex cases, the effects of particles on the flow and the interactions between particles are also considered in the simulation. In this context, you will come across the terms Discrete Phase Model (DPM) and Discrete Element Method (DEM). For more information on DPM and DEM, visit com.
• Electromagnetic forces: In many minerals and metal processing applications, electrochemical processes are used to separate materials that are influenced by electromagnetic forces. In fewer CFD simulations, such forces are considered; therefore, many CFD software programs perform poorly in this field. Fortunately, ANSYS Fluent has many capabilities in this area, as demonstrated in numerous projects.

“Mold Filling (Teeming Process) CFD Simulation” is one of the multiphase CFD simulation projects conducted with ANSYS Fluent at CFDLAND

Conclusion

Much of minerals and metal processing involves the movement of fluids, making them difficult to analyze using CFD. In these fields, multiphase CFD simulation is used due to the presence of different materials in the problem domain. ANSYS Fluent is a suitable software for this field. At CFDLAND.com, you can see a large number of projects in the area of multiphase CFD that have been completed using ANSYS Fluent. Multiphase simulations extend beyond minerals and metal processing; for example, combustion processes, sprays, and blood flow are also considered multiphase flows. Carrying out multiphase simulation projects requires a lot of skill and experience, and the experts at CFDLAND have demonstrated their abilities in the many projects they have completed. Submit your CFD projects to CFDLAND.com and be confident in the quality of their work.