View article

A computational fluid dynamics model used to examine the structure of three-phase (air-water-glass beads) flows through a vertical column is presented in this paper. The present study proposes new correlations to modify the drag between the liquid and the gas phase to account for the effect of solid particles on bubble motion. The study also attempts to propose new correlations for drag between the solid particles and liquid phase to incorporate the effect of the bubbles. Solid-solid interactions were also accounted for in the model by a modification to the drag force acting on the solid phase. A k−ε turbulence model was used for simulating the effect of turbulence on the flow field. Predictions were compared with experimental data for the axial variation of the solids concentration for model validation. Results of the radial variation of the phase velocities are also presented.