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Maximum Solid Phase Concentration in Geophysical Turbulent Gas‐Particle Flows: Insights From Laboratory Experiments
Author(s) -
Weit A.,
Roche O.,
Dubois T.,
Manga M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl082658
Subject(s) - turbulence , particle (ecology) , reynolds number , mechanics , thermodynamics , physics , materials science , geology , oceanography
The maximum solid phase concentration in geophysical turbulent gas‐particle mixtures is essential for understanding the flow dynamics but is poorly known. We present laboratory experiments on turbulent mixtures of air and ceramic particles generated in a vertical pipe. The mixtures had maximum bulk concentrations C max = 0.7–2.4 vol. % set by the onset of clustering and that increased with the degree of turbulence. Comparison with results of similar experiments with less dense (glass) particles reveals that C max increases with the particle Reynolds number according to C max = 0.78 × Re p 0.17 . Published results of experiments at specific Re p in different configurations are consistent with our data, suggesting that the model for C max may be generally applicable to turbulent mixtures. From our empirical laws we infer that natural turbulent gas‐particle flows with Re p ~ 10 2 –10 5 have maximum solid concentrations of ~2–5 vol. %.