Dear MFiX user,
We are pleased to announce the MFiX 24.1 release. Please download the latest version. See the release note below that highlights the changes from the previous version.
Please visit the MFS forum for any software related questions, or send administrative questions to admin@mfix.netl.doe.gov.
Regards,
The MFiX Development Team
New features:
- Glued Sphere Particle model: This is a variation of the DEM model, where spheres are assembled to create a non-spherical shape (glued sphere). If the energy equation is solved, intra-particle heat transfer is computed between component spheres [1].
- New Non-Newtonian viscosity model (Herschel-Bulkley) [2].
- Mass inlet ramps: New option to ramp up/down Mass Inlet Boundary Conditions parameters over time
Improvements:
- Additional variables can be saved in the vtk files: viscosity, specific heats, particle volume
- The Sutherland's law viscosity parameters can be specified as keywords
- More accurate cohesive forces output to vtk files
- DEM initial seeding that doesn't match the input parameters is now treated as a fatal error, prompting users to verify their settings
Notable bug fixes:
Fixed data check failure when particle count or inventory specified in an Initial Condition
References:
[1] Lu, L. Q. G., X.; Shahnam, M.; Rogers, W. A. "Open source implementation of glued sphere discrete element method and nonspherical biomass fast pyrolysis simulation," Aiche Journal Vol. 67, No. 6, 2021, p. 14, https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17211.
[2] S. Benyahia, "Simulation of heavy particles fluidized with non-Newtonian fluids", Powder Technology, Vol. 433, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2023.119261.
