Qian, Yunzhou (2025). Simulation study of particle agglomeration by discrete multiphysics approach. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.
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Qian2025PhD.pdf
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Abstract
Particle agglomeration is widespread in both nature and industry. For instance, in the mining industry, particle agglomeration in solid–liquid separation is beneficial for the acceleration of slurry dewatering and improving thickening and filtration operations. However, modelling the dynamic behaviour of agglomeration is challenging due to the complex particle-particle interactions, external flow fields and large computational resource requirements, necessitating simplified assumptions.
In this study, a novel Discrete Multiphysics approach (DMP) combining Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is proposed to investigate the dynamic behaviour of particle agglomeration. This thesis aims to expand our scientific understanding of the dynamic behaviour of micron fine particles under the action of flow, combined shear and compression and establish the relationship between the interaction force of microscale particles and the agglomeration behaviours. The presented research addresses this aim by answering three questions: (1) What factors promote or inhibit the agglomeration of cohesive particles under shear laminar flow and how to relate these factors to the structural information of the aggregates? (2) How capillary forces between particles influence the formation of aggregates under shear conditions? (3) How does shear and compression influence particle consolidation, and whether different particle agglomeration patterns exist during consolidation? By addressing these concerns, this research aspires to give prospective scholars the underlying information and resources that are required to acquire a deeper understanding of particle agglomeration.
Key results reveal that agglomeration regimes depend strongly on important parameters such as Reynolds number, Adhesion number, Elastocapillary number, scaled liquid bridge volume and solid fraction, with distinct structural transitions observed under varying conditions. Capillary forces were found to significantly enhance aggregate formation under certain conditions. In addition, combined shear and compression led to diverse consolidation patterns linked to cohesion strength and shear-compression ratios. This work concludes that the DMP approach effectively captures the interplay between interparticle interactions and particle agglomeration dynamics, offering a robust framework for simulating complex particle systems. Contributions include the development of a validated computational tool for agglomeration studies and new insights into the physics of particle interactions, with potential applications in, including but not limited to, optimizing industrial dewatering processes and advancing microfluidic technologies.
| Type of Work: | Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.) | |||||||||
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| Award Type: | Doctorates > Ph.D. | |||||||||
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| Licence: | All rights reserved | |||||||||
| College/Faculty: | Colleges > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences | |||||||||
| School or Department: | School of Chemical Engineering | |||||||||
| Funders: | Other | |||||||||
| Other Funders: | Priestley PhD Scholarships program between the University of Birmingham and the University of Melbourne., Melbourne Research Scholarship, ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, grant number CE200100009. | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Q Science > QA Mathematics Q Science > QC Physics T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TP Chemical technology |
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| URI: | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/16259 |
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