Settling Suspensions Flow Modelling: A Review

In spite of the widespread application of settling suspensions, their inherent complexity has yet to be properly predicted by a unified numerical model or empirical correlation, and usually industries still possess customized charts or data for their particular suspension. This is, clearly, rather inefficient and can lead to oversized dimensioning, low energy efficiency and even operation limitations/difficulties. In this manuscript a review of empirical correlations, charts and numerical models that have been employed to predict the behaviour of settling suspensions is briefly described, providing information on the advantages and drawbacks of each method. Their evolution throughout the years: from Durand and Condolios correlations, to empirical models by Wasp, single phase simplifications with mixture properties by Shook and Roco, and to other Euler-Euler or Euler-Lagrangian numerical models, will be presented. Some considerations on recent particle migration and turbulence modification publications will be added. In addition, information about some current CFD application of Lattice-Boltzmann and Discrete Element Method (DEM) will be given. Lastly, data from CFD modelling employed by the authors that is able to predict turbulence attenuation in settling flows with medium sized particles for different concentrations is reported.