Effects of interphase coupling in one-dimensional particle-laden flow

Abstract In Euler–Euler particle-laden flow models, the interphase coupling terms might include, in addition to the drag force, the effects of fluid pressure interaction with the particles and the volumetric displacement of the fluid phase due to the presence of the particles. This paper presents an analytical study on these effects for laminar, one-dimensional, steady, inviscid particle-laden flow. The interphase drag force is represented by a linear Stokes formula that is valid for low particle Reynolds number. It is shown mathematically that a full two-way coupling model, which includes all the aforementioned effects, depends on three parameters: inlet particle volume fraction (concentration), inlet density ratio–between the fluid and particle phases–and inlet velocity ratio. When the inlet particle concentration and density ratio are kept low at 0.01 and 0.001, respectively, both the interphase pressure coupling force and the volumetric displacement of the fluid phase are insignificant. For density ratios of 0.001 and 1 and for the inlet particle concentration values examined, the effect of pressure interaction force is not significant. However, it becomes significant for higher density ratio of 10 at inlet particle concentration of 0.1.