How to calculate the number of particles in each cell in DPM simulation

[aniruddhabose96]

Hi

I have DPM of solid particles in a pipe flow. How can I calculate the number of particles in each cell at every time step? There is a variable DPM Particles in Cell but it cannot be visualised on the entire 3D pipe volume. What can be done?

[Rob]

How do you plan on counting parcels that pass through more than one cell? You could dump particles in cell to a UDM and then export an interpolation file: you'll have the number and a cell centre location. 

[aniruddhabose96]

If i export the variable called 'DPM particles in cell' from CFDPost then does it give the number of particles in each cell? When i export the data it gives x,y,z coordinates and a number which is sometimes fractional. But DPM particles cannot be fractional. Am i doing the right thing? I could not understand the UDM part.

[Rob]

If you check the DPM Particles in a Cell when documentation is back up what does the definition say?

[aniruddhabose96]

I have the offline users guide-it says that it is the cell averaged property. So it is not the actual no of particles-are you saying this? It is the discrete value interpolated over the mesh to create a contour. So it wont give the correct value? Am i right?

[Rob]

It's a weighted value: read the definition in the 26R1 manual very carefully. It is also correct based on the definition - it may not be the value you want, but it's the value as defined in Fluent.