CFD-DEM in energy conversion technologies: a mini-review on parameters associated with residual-residual and residual-wall interactions in the reactor

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n3.p223-230

Keywords:

CFD-DEM, experimental parameters, coefficient of restitution, friction coefficient, angle of repose

Abstract

The global energy transition has driven the development of technologies capable of converting biomass and waste into fuels. In this context, spouted bed reactors stand out due to their high gas–solid mixing efficiency, enhancing thermochemical processes. However, predicting the fluid dynamic behavior of these reactors remains challenging due to the complex fluid–particle interactions. The coupling between Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) emerges as a promising approach to understanding these phenomena, provided that the input parameters are experimentally determined and physically consistent. This work presents a mini-review of experimental procedures and methodologies used to determine fundamental parameters in CFD-DEM simulations, such as the coefficient of restitution, static and rolling friction coefficients, and angle of repose. The main procedures reported in the literature are described, including the free-fall method, inclined plane, rolling ramp, and rectangular box with movable flaps. The analysis shows that the proper definition of these parameters is essential for the reliability and reproducibility of simulations. It is concluded that the integration of standardized experimental tests with numerical modeling represents the most efficient approach to improving gas–solid system simulations and accelerating the development of innovative and sustainable energy conversion technologies.

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Author Biographies

  • Renata Falqueto Louvem, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo.

    Graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Espírito Santo (2021). Holds a Master’s degree in Energy from the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). Research area: energy efficiency, mainly focusing on gas–solid multiphase flow in spouted bed reactors. Dissertation title: “Conversion Route of Polyolefin Waste into Fuels: Simulation and Prediction of the Mixing Index in Spouted Bed Reactors”, supervised by Prof. Dr. Marcelo Silveira Bacelos and co-supervised by Prof. Dr. Daniel da Cunha Ribeiro. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). Research area: energy efficiency, with a main focus on gas–solid multiphase flow in spouted bed reactors, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Silveira Bacelos. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry Education from Faculdade IBRA and a postgraduate degree in Mathematics in Practice from the Federal University of Espírito Santo.

  • Marcelo Silveira Bacelos, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo.

    Graduated in Chemical Engineering from FURG in 1999, and subsequently joined the Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering at UFSCar, where he earned a Masters degree in 2002 (CNPq scholarship) and a Ph.D. in 2006 (CAPES scholarship). He conducted postdoctoral research at the Department of Chemical Engineering at UFSCar between 2006 and 2008, with FAPESP funding. In August 2008, he began his career in higher education as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Exact Sciences (DECE) at UFES, at the provisional campus in São Mateus/ES. He served as a Full Member of the FAPES Advisory Board from 2010 to 2014. In 2016, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA. He was the Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Energy (PPGEN) from 2014-2015 and 2019-2023. Currently, he is a Full Professor in the Department of Engineering and Technology (DET) at UFES, where he teaches Transport Phenomena in the undergraduate programs of Chemical Engineering and Production Engineering. Since 2011, he has been a permanent member of the PPGEN/UFES, where he teaches the courses on Seminars in Energy Efficiency and Technologies for Fuel Production in the Masters and Doctoral programs. Since 2023, he has been a Research Productivity Fellow (BPC-PQ) awarded by FAPES. His research focuses on the production of fuels derived from waste in spouted bed (or fluidized) reactors and the recovery of liquid fractions from natural gas through cooling processes.

  • Daniel da Cunha Ribeiro, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo.

    Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the Federal University of Espírito Santo, São Mateus Campus. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1998). After earning a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (1999), he began working in Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD), with an emphasis on Multiphase Flows in the Oil and Gas sector. At the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), he obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering, specializing in Computational Fluid Mechanics with an emphasis on stirred tanks. He was a technical consultant at ESSS for nine years. His work focuses on numerical and experimental modeling of multiphase flows, fluid separation, and computational fluid mechanics. He has participated in ANP-PRH 53.1 at UFES since 2020. He has coordinated the High Performance Computing Laboratory of the Graduate Program in Energy since 2016.

  • Paulo Sérgio Moscon, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo.

    Has graduation in Bacharelado Em Física by Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo(2004), graduation in Licenciatura Em Física by Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo(2004), mestrado in Física by Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo(2006) and doutorado in Doutorado em Física by Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo(2009). Currently is of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, of Departamento de Ciências Naturais (DCN), of Laboratório de Mecânica e Termodinâmica and Membro de comitê assessor of DCN - Colegiado. Has experience in the area of Física.

References

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Xu, X, Li, C and Gao, X (2022) ‘Coarse-Grained DEM-CFD Simulation of Fluidization Behavior of Irregular Shape Sand Particles’, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, v. 61, n. 25, pp. 9099–9109, http://doi:10.1021/ACS.IECR.2C00891/ASSET/IMAGES/LARGE/IE2C00891_0013.JPEG.

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Published

11/29/2025

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Eficiência Energética

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Copyright (c) 2025 Latin American Journal of Energy Research

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

Falqueto Louvem, R. (2025) “CFD-DEM in energy conversion technologies: a mini-review on parameters associated with residual-residual and residual-wall interactions in the reactor”, Latin American Journal of Energy Research, 12(3), pp. 223–230. doi:10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n3.p223-230.

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