Treffer: A parallel algorithm for direct simulation of fluidized beds

This paper presents a parallel algorithm for massive direct simulations of fluidized beds. It is based on an implicit–explicit (IMEX) technique for efficient and stable time integration of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in a domain that fits the boundaries of the particles at any time moment. The only modelling element in the algorithm is the model for particle–particle collisions, which is of the so‐called soft‐sphere type. The parallel performance of this technique is comparable to the performance of fully explicit methods. The numerical simulations of fluidized beds show very realistic effects that demonstrate the relevance of the simulation approach.