Direct Numerical Simulation of Contact Dynamics in Pseudo-2D Fluidized Beds: Effects of Sampling Depth and Region Size

Fluidized-bed configurations are widely employed in industrial processes such as drying, granulation, and heterogeneous chemical reactions due to their efficient mixing and enhanced heat transfer. However, the description of such complex systems is predominantly based on empirical correlations derived from experimental data, which remain challenging to apply to non-standard conditions, such as systems with non-spherical particles or small and atypical geometries. An alternative approach is particle-resolved direct numerical simulation, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM) via the immersed boundary method (IBM). This high-fidelity approach enables detailed characterization of fluidized bed properties, including collision frequencies and three-dimensional granular temperature. In this contribution, we present the simulation results for a pseudo-2D fluidized bed, which also benefits from well-documented experimental data. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of sampling region size and depth on the evaluated properties, demonstrating a systematic approach for quantitative comparison between numerical simulations and experimental results.