Understanding turbulence behind solid-particle suspension

The University of Limerick uses M-Star to perform large-eddy simulations of turbulence in a stirred vessel at experimentally determined just-suspended conditions. The simulations were used to investigate the size and timescale of turbulent eddies responsible for keeping solid particles suspended, revealing that the relevant eddies are approximately 1.2–1.5 times the particle diameter and have a timescale on the order of twice the particle response time. The study connects local turbulent energy dissipation to particle suspension behavior and provides a mechanistic basis for understanding just-suspended conditions in stirred vessels.