Kinetic theory modeling for interparticle collisions

When the gas-solid flow in a multiphase system is dominated by the interparticle collisions, the stresses and other dynamic properties of the solid phase can be postulated to be analogous to those of gas molecules. Thus, the kinetic theory of gases is adopted in the modeling of dense gas-solid flows. In this model, it is assumed that collision among particles is the only mechanism for the transport of mass, momentum, and energy of the particles. The energy dissipation due to inelastic collisions is included in the model despite the elastic collision condition dictated by the theory. 

The model yields a set of hydrodynamic equations for the solid phase. For equation closure, additional constitutive relations, which can be obtained by using the kinematic argument of the collision and by assuming the Maxwellian velocity distribution of the solids, are needed. Two examples are given to illustrate the applications of this model in this chapter. 

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The Eulerian continuum approach, based on a continuum assumption of phases, provides a field description of the dynamics of each phase. The Lagrangian trajectory approach, from the study of motions of individual particles, is able to yield historical trajectories of the particles. The kinetic theory modeling for interparticle collisions, extended from the kinetic theory of gases, can be applied to dense suspension systems where the transport in the particle phase is dominated by interparticle collisions. The Ergun equation provides important flow relationships, which are useful not only for packed bed systems, but also for some situations in fluidized bed systems. 

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