The multiphase particle-in-cell method (MP-PIC) is a numerical method for modeling particle-fluid and particle-particle interactions in a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation.  The MP-PIC method achieves greater stability than its particle-in-cell predecessor by simultaneously treating the solid particles as computational particles and as a continuum.  In the MP-PIC approach, the particle properties are mapped from the Lagrangian coordinates to an Eulerian grid through the use of interpolation functions.  After evaluation of the continuum derivative terms, the particle properties are mapped back to the individual particles.  This method has proven to be stable in dense particle flows, computationally efficient, and physically accurate.  This has  allowed the MP-PIC method to be used as particle-flow solver for the simulation of industrial-scale chemical processes involving particle-fluid flows.

History
The multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method was originally developed for a one-dimensional case in the mid-1990s by P.J. O'Rourke (Los Alamos National Laboratory), who also coined the term MP-PIC.  Subsequent extension of the method to two-dimensions was performed by D.M. Snider and O'Rourke. By 2001, D.M. Snider had extended the MP-PIC method to full three-dimensions.  Currently, the MP-PIC method is used in commercial software for the simulation of particle-fluid systems and also available in MFiX suite by NETL.

Method
The MP-PIC method is described by the governing equations, interpolation operators, and the particle stress model.

Governing equations

Fluid phase
The multiphase particle-in-cell method assumes an incompressible fluid phase with the corresponding continuity equation,

 

where the  is the fluid volume fraction and  is the fluid velocity.  Momentum transport is given by a variation of the Navier-Stokes equations where  is the fluid density,  is the fluid pressure, and  is the body force vector (gravity).

 

The laminar fluid viscosity terms, not included in the fluid momentum equation, can be included if necessary but will have a negligible effect on dense particle flow.  In the MP-PIC method, the fluid motion is coupled with the particle motion through , the rate of momentum exchange per volume between the fluid and particle phases.  The fluid phase equations are solved using a finite volume approach.

Particle phase
The particle phase is described by a probability distribution function (PDF),  which indicates the likelihood of finding a particle  with a velocity , particle density , particle volume  at location  and time .  The particle PDF changes in time as described by

 

where  is the particle acceleration.

A numerical solution of the particle phase is obtained by dividing the distribution into a finite number of "computational particles" that each represent a number of real particles with identical mass density, volume, velocity and location.  At each time step, the velocity and location of each computational particle are updated using a discretized form of the above equations.  The use of computational particles allows for a significant reduction in computational requirements with a negligible impact on accuracy under many conditions.  The use of the computational particle in the Multiphase Particle-in-Cell method allows a full particle size distribution (PSD) to be modeled within the system as well as the modeling of polydisperse solids.

Identities of the particle probability distribution function

The following local particle properties are determined from integrating the particle probability distribution function:
Particle volume fraction: 
Average particle density: 
Mean particle velocity:

Interphase coupling
The particle phase is coupled to the fluid phase through the particle acceleration term, , defined as

 

In the acceleration term,  is determined from the particle drag model and  is determined from the interparticle stress model.

The momentum of the fluid phase is coupled to the particle phase through the rate of momentum exchange, .  This is defined from the particle population distribution as

Interpolation operators
The transfer of particle properties between the Lagrangian particle space and the Eulerian grid is performed using linear interpolation functions.  Assuming a rectilinear grid consisting of rectangular cuboid cells, the scalar particle properties are interpolated to the cell centers while the vector properties are interpolated to cell faces.  In three dimensions, tri-linear interpolation functions and definitions for the products and gradients of interpolated properties are provided by Snider for three-dimensional models.

Particle stress model
The effects of particle packing are modeled in the MP-PIC method with the use of a function of particle stress.  Snider (2001) has suggested calculating the particle stress , as

 

where  is the close-pack volume fraction and , , and  are constants.

Limitations of the multiphase particle-in-cell method
Particle shape - In the MP-PIC method, all particles are assumed to be spherical.  Corrections for non-spherical particles can be included in particle drag model but for highly non-spherical particles, the true interactions may not be well represented.
Particle size with respect to grid size - The size of particles must be small compared to the Eulerian grid in the MP-PIC approach for accurate interpolation.

Extensions
Chemical reactions – Coupling the local Eulerian values for fluid velocity in the MP-PIC method with equations for diffusional mass transfer allows the transport of a chemical species within the fluid-particle system to be modeled.  Reaction kinetics dependent on particle density, surface area, or volume can be included as well for applications in catalysis, gasification, or solid deposition.
Liquid Injection - MP-PIC method was extended by Zhao, O'Rourke, and Snider to model the coating of particle with a liquid.
Thermal Modeling - Conductive and convective heat transfer can be included by coupling MP-PIC variables with equations for heat transfer.  Commercial implementations of MP-PIC method include radiative heat transfer as well.

Applications
Biomass gasifiers
Chemical looping combustion (CLC)
Circulating fluidized bed combustion
Coal gasifiers
Cyclones
Fluid catalytic cracking reactors and regenerators
Fluidized bed dryers
Fluidized bed reactors
Liquid-solid settlers
Metal casting
Particle jets
Polysilicon deposition
Spray coating

Software
Barracuda by CPFD Software
MFiX by NETL

References

Numerical differential equations
Computational fluid dynamics