DPM: Discrete Phase Model in ANSYS Fluent

Discrete Phase Model (DPM) in ANSYS Fluent — CFD Training

Description

This module is a comprehensive guide to the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) in ANSYS Fluent — the framework used to simulate particle-laden flows, where discrete particles, droplets, or bubbles are tracked as they move through a continuous fluid. Rather than focusing on a single geometry, it unlocks the DPM module itself, taking you through its interface and full range of capabilities so you can set up and customize particle-tracking simulations with confidence. Within the Mechanical Engineering: Beginner CFD Training Package, this project introduces the discrete-phase method that underpins a whole class of applications — from sprays and particle transport to erosion — and prepares the ground for the gravity-trap case that applies it.

Methodology

The module works systematically through the DPM setup in ANSYS Fluent. You'll learn to navigate the Discrete Phase Model dialog box, configure interaction settings and particle-treatment options, and master the tracking parameters that control a simulation. It then explores the advanced physical models available — including particle–radiation interaction, thermophoretic and Saffman lift forces, virtual-mass and pressure-gradient forces, erosion/accretion modeling, temperature-dependent effects, two-way turbulence coupling, and collision and breakup models. The injection techniques are covered in depth — single, group, surface, and cone injections, and particle types ranging from massless and inert to droplet, combusting, and multi-component — along with diameter-distribution methods for realistic particle populations. Finally, the module addresses drag laws, breakup models, turbulent dispersion through stochastic and cloud tracking, and the DPM boundary conditions that govern particle–wall interactions.

Analysis

By working through these settings, you'll build an in-depth understanding of the DPM interface and the practical skill to set up and customize particle-laden simulations, choosing the appropriate models for a given engineering problem. This forms the foundation for the practical DPM applications that follow — spray simulations with evaporation and breakup, wet combustion, erosion analysis in complex geometries, and particle-transport studies. By the end of this module, you'll be able to navigate the full DPM toolset in ANSYS Fluent, select suitable physical models, injection types, and drag laws for your application, and configure particle tracking and boundary conditions correctly — the essential groundwork for accurate and efficient multiphase particle modeling.