Coarse-Grained DEM–CFD Simulation of Fluidization Behavior of Irregular Shape Sand Particles

Accurate modeling and simulation of irregular shape sand particle fluidization are challenging as particle shape-resolved simulation is complex and time-consuming. In this study, the coarse-grained discrete element model (CG-DEM)-computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was adopted to improve the computational feasibility of traditional CFD–DEM and simplify the mathematical modeling by lumping a certain amount of physical particles into a numerical parcel. 3D CGDEM–CFD simulated the fluidization behavior of irregular shape sand particles in a fluidized bed, and several key parameters or model settings were assessed to identify critical model factors. Moreover, the impact of the model parameters on hydrodynamics was quantified by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data. The results demonstrate that applying a rolling friction model can increase the simulation accuracy of the fluidization behavior of non-spherical sand particles.