ANSYS Particle Simulation: A High-Accuracy Analysis Approach for Industrial Processes

ANSYS Particle Simulation: A High-Accuracy Analysis Approach for Industrial Processes


Today, industries such as manufacturing, defense, automotive, mining, cement, and pharmaceuticals increasingly require advanced engineering simulations to understand the behavior of granular materials, powders, sand, gravel, liquid droplets, and all types of particle-based structures. The flow, collision, rebound, deposition, and surface interaction of particles directly influence product performance, equipment lifetime, and overall process efficiency.

At this point, ANSYS Particle Simulation provides highly reliable and realistic insights, enabling engineers to make more accurate and confident design decisions. As Fetech Advanced Engineering, we deliver advanced simulation capabilities through ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS Rocky DEM, and comprehensive granular modeling solutions.

🔍 What Is Particle Simulation?

Particle simulation is a numerical analysis method used to calculate the physical behavior of a large number of particles or droplets moving within a medium. These particles may include:

Dust and sand particles

Granular chemicals

Fuel droplets

Mineral ores

Gravel, coal, aggregates

Tablets and capsules

Aerosol particles

Accurately modeling how these particles interact with fluids and surfaces is essential for process optimization, design validation, and extending equipment lifespan.

⚙️ ANSYS Particle Simulation Technologies

The ANSYS ecosystem offers three primary modeling approaches for particle simulation. Each method is optimized for different process conditions and physical interactions.

1. ANSYS Fluent – Discrete Phase Model (DPM)

In this approach:

The fluid phase (air/water) is solved using the Eulerian method.

The particle phase is tracked individually using the Lagrangian method.

The DPM model is ideal for low-concentration particle flows.

✔ Applications

Fuel spray and atomization

Cyclone separators

HVAC particle transport

Filter efficiency analysis

Smoke and aerosol dispersion

Erosion and wear prediction

Evaporation of hygroscopic droplets

✔ Advantages

Fully integrated with CFD

Supports two-way coupling (particles influence the flow field)

Thermal and chemical reactions can be modeled

2. Fluent Granular Model (Euler–Euler Method)

This method is used for dense particle flows with high solid volume fractions.

✔ Applications

Silo and bunker discharge

Fluidized beds

Granular mixing processes

Catalytic reactors

Dense powder transportation

The model accounts for inter-particle collisions, granular pressure, and shear stresses, enabling more realistic predictions of complex particle behavior.

3. ANSYS Rocky DEM – Discrete Element Method (DEM)

Rocky is a highly advanced DEM tool developed for realistic particle simulation. Each particle is treated as an individual solid body with its own:

Mass

Shape

Rotation

Collision behavior

Breakage and fragmentation characteristics

✔ Key Features

Particle breakage and fragmentation modeling

Non-spherical particle shapes (angular, polyhedral, elongated)

Precision in conveyor belt simulations

GPU-accelerated high-volume particle calculations

Two-way co-simulation with Fluent (CFD + DEM)

✔ Applications

Crusher and mill design

Conveyor belt load analysis

Mining and cement plant processes

Screening, chute, and hopper optimization

Agricultural and food processing lines

Particle-induced wear prediction

🔄 CFD + DEM Co-Simulation

The most accurate method for modeling real-world industrial processes is:

ANSYS Fluent (CFD) + ANSYS Rocky DEM (granular flow)
working simultaneously to model fluid–particle interactions.

This enables highly realistic predictions of phenomena such as:

Dust lifting and dispersion

Load distribution on conveyor belts

Conveyor and chute design optimization

Erosion hotspots

Particle bouncing, accumulation, and spillage

🧪 Engineering Benefits of Particle Simulation

🚀 Increased Efficiency

Issues such as material loss, improper flow routing, and clogging can be detected early.

⚙️ Design Optimization

Simulation-based improvements for chutes, hoppers, conveyors, cyclones, and filtration systems.

🛡️ Wear Prediction

Identification of critical wear zones that reduce equipment lifetime.

💸 Cost Reduction

Fewer physical prototypes and reduced design revision costs.

🔬 Safer and More Controlled Processes

Risks associated with particle dispersion, dusting, and unstable flow patterns are mitigated.

🏭 Fetech Advanced Engineering Expertise

By combining advanced CFD + DEM simulation tools with our engineering know-how, Fetech offers industries:

Accurate physical modeling

Reliable and validated simulation results

Optimized design recommendations

Industry-focused engineering reports

Simulation-driven product development

We provide particle simulation solutions across defense, automotive, mining, chemistry, energy, and numerous other sectors.

Particle simulation plays a critical role in verifying designs, optimizing processes, and improving safety in fluid–solid and granular material systems. By integrating ANSYS Fluent and Rocky DEM, engineers gain access to one of the most powerful modeling platforms in modern engineering.

As Fetech Advanced Engineering, we support your industrial processes with high-accuracy simulation solutions, helping you achieve greater efficiency, safety, and operational reliability.