The Method of Calculating the Mechanical Coefficients of Fluid Mixtures : 1. Inertia Coefficient in Two-Phase Flow

Abstract

In two-phase flows composed of a fluid and solid particles, the kinetic energy of the fluid mixture must include the energy of the perturbed flow caused by the presence of particles. The latter energy is assumed to be roughly proportional to the square of the relative velocity between the two component fluids. The proportionality constant is called the inertia coefficient which is equivalent to the virtual mass. In order to estimate the inertia coefficient, the method of cell model is applied to obtain a formula of the coefficient expressed as a function of the volume fraction of solid phase. The drag coefficient is also calculated.