Fluid flow and heat transfer for a particle-laden gas modeled as a two-phase turbulent flow

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the physical processes experienced by a particle-laden gas due to various types of collisions, different heat transfer modalities and jet axis switching. Here, attention is focused on a particle-laden gas subjected to jet axis switching while experiencing fluid flow and heat transfer. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used to model and solve these complex problems is numerical simulation treated here as a two-phase turbulent flow in which the gas and the particles keep their separate identities. For the turbulent flow model, validation was achieved by comparisons with appropriate experimental data. The considered interactions between the fluid and the particles include one-way fluid–particle interactions, two-way fluid–particle interactions and particle–particle interactions. Findings For the fluid flow portion of the work, emphasis was placed on the particle collection efficiency and on independent variables that affect this quantity and the trajectories of the fluid and of the particles as they traverse the space between the jet orifice and the impingement plate. The extent of the effect depended on four factors: particle size, particle density, number of particles and the velocity of the fluid flow. The major effect on the heat transferred to the impingement plate occurred when direct heat transfer between the impinging particles and the plate was taken into account. Originality/value This paper deals with issues never before dealt with in the published literature: the effect of jet axis switching on the fluid mechanics of gas-particle flows without heat transfer and the effect of jet axis switching and the presence of particles on jet impingement heat transfer. The overall focus of the work is on the impact of jet axis switching on particle-laden fluid flow and heat transfer.