Traditional Lagrangian discrete phase models only apply when particle sizes are small enough to be regarded as point masses within a single cell and when the total particle volume is insignificant within the flow domain volume. In these applications particle-particle and particle-flow interactions are evaluated in terms of impulse, heat, and mass transfer.
However, the total particle volume must be considered when a particle size is larger than several fluid cells because it will affect all the cells within the flow domain volume. Ansys Fluent Macroscopic Particle Model (MPM) predicts the behavior of large (macroscopic) particles and their interaction with the fluid flow, walls, and with other particles.
This chapter provides an overview of how to use the MPM add-on module in Ansys Fluent. For more information about the theoretical background for the MPM approach, see Modeling Macroscopic Particles.