International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Aditya Singh, Rajveer Yadav, Shreyash Tamrakar, Abhishek Kumar Gupta
Abstract: This study examines the advantages of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) over experimental methods for analyzing rotating slurry flows, particularly in isolating centrifugal and Coriolis effects, which are challenging to study empirically. We conduct CFD simulations of dense solid-liquid flows in a rotating straight channel, incorporating governing equations with explicit terms for centrifugal and Coriolis forces, then validate the model against stationary-channel experimental data due to the lack of rotating-flow benchmarks. The results demonstrate that centrifugal forces significantly influence flow behavior at higher rotation rates and larger particle sizes, an effect that cannot be isolated experimentally. Moreover, by selectively disabling the centrifugal term in the governing equations, we reveal distinct flow field variations, highlighting CFD's unique capability to decouple and analyze individual physical mechanisms. Furthermore, parametric studies under varying rotation rates and particle densities uncover nonlinear dependencies in velocity and concentration profiles, providing important insights to industrial applications such as centrifugal pumps and turbines. The study underscores CFD's superiority in scenarios where experimental methods are impractical or insufficient, enabling detailed exploration of complex flow phenomena that would otherwise remain inaccessible. These findings not only validate CFD as a reliable alternative to experimentation but also expand its potential for advancing fundamental and applied research in rotating fluid systems.
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