CFD-DEM validation and simulation of gas–liquid–solid three phase high-speed jet flow

Gas–solid–liquid flows are central to many industrial and natural processes. This paper investigates high-speed particle-laden water jets using both numerical and experimental approaches. The study considers key parameters such as converging angles (from 5 to 60 degrees), solids mass fraction (from 0.1. to 0.3), and mean jet velocity (from 20 to 28 m/s) using a particle sample with a mean size of 200 μm. A CFD-VOF-DEM model was developed and validated against standard single-particle release into water and application-specific tests of high-speed jet flow. The effect of drag model selection was investigated and the Gidaspow drag model showed optimal results compared to other empirical models. Results of initial experimental work indicated limited jet spread of particle-barren and particle-laden jets. Integrating a capillary force model into the numerical framework ensured constrained jet spread and particle entrainment within the liquid phase. High-speed imaging and surface feature tracking methods provided data that supported the numerical findings. The research offers a practical approach to understanding three-phase jet behaviors with potential implications for optimizing industrial processes involving such flows.