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Open Access

ARTICLE

Quantification of Solid-Liquid Mixing Uniformity via Three-Dimensional Ripley’s L Function in DEM-VOF Simulations

Hui Sun1,2, Jianwei Zhang1,2, Wenbo Shi1,2, Zhenhao Liu1,2, Jianxin Xu1,2,*, Hua Wang1,2
1 State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, School of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
2 Faulty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
* Corresponding Author: Jianxin Xu. Email: email

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2026.080128

Received 03 February 2026; Accepted 28 April 2026; Published online 19 May 2026

Abstract

Uniformity in solid-liquid mixing is a critical aspect for mass and heat transfer efficiency in multiphase reactors. This highlights the necessity for rigorous quantitative approaches capable of resolving spatial heterogeneity across multiple scales. In this work, a coupled discrete element method-volume of fluid (DEM-VOF) framework is employed to simulate the suspension dynamics of 20,000 particles, each 2 mm in diameter, within a liquid medium. To achieve a quantitative and multiscale characterization of three-dimensional particle distributions, Ripley’s L function, rooted in spatial statistics, is introduced and systematically applied. Its validity and robustness are further corroborated through Monte Carlo-based numerical experiments. The findings demonstrate that this methodology not only discriminates effectively between distinct spatial distribution regimes, but also captures with high fidelity the temporal evolution of particle organization during agitation. Interestingly, comparative analysis under identical operating conditions reveals that 45° pitched-blade impellers consistently outperform their 90° straight-blade counterparts. Among the configurations investigated, the 45° turbine impeller delivers the most rapid homogenization, attaining a uniform state within 2.4 s, followed by the 45° four-blade wide hydrofoil design. By contrast, the conventional four-blade impeller exhibits the lowest efficiency, requiring 3.7 s to reach a comparable level of uniformity.

Keywords

DEM-VOF; point pattern analysis; particle distribution; mixing uniformity; multiphase flow

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