Innovative Computational Approaches for Complex Multiphase Flow in Energy, Environment and Manufacturing

Dear Colleagues,

At present, the accurate prediction and optimization of complex multiphase flows—spanning gas–solid, liquid–solid, gas–liquid, and reactive systems—are critical to advancing energy, environmental, and manufacturing processes. These flows underpin technologies ranging from fluidized beds in bioenergy production and carbon capture systems to particle transport in mineral processing, advanced manufacturing, and large-scale chemical reactors. Over the last decade, advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the discrete element method (DEM), lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), and hybrid machine learning–CFD approaches have opened new frontiers for simulating, understanding, and scaling multiphase processes. When integrated with rigorous experimental validation, these tools provide unprecedented opportunities for process intensification, improved scale-up, and enhanced predictive capabilities across a broad spectrum of industrial applications.

This Special Issue aims to showcase state-of-the-art computational strategies and modeling frameworks for tackling the challenges of complex multiphase flows, with an emphasis on innovations that bridge fundamental research and real industrial implementation. We invite contributions that advance numerical methods, propose novel hybrid modeling approaches, or demonstrate transformative applications in energy systems, environmental technologies, and manufacturing processes. Studies integrating high-fidelity simulations with experimental measurements, or coupling process models with optimization, scale-up, and techno-economic analyses, are particularly encouraged.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Multiphase flow modeling in reactive systems, including bioenergy and carbon capture processes.
• Simulation of fluidized beds, spouted beds, and particulate transport systems.
• Computational frameworks using CFD, DEM, LBM, or hybrid ML–CFD approaches.
• Modeling of multiphase systems in mineral processing and advanced manufacturing.
• Process intensification and scale-up of multiphase reactors.
• Coupled experimental–numerical approaches for model validation.
• Novel algorithms and software tools for multiphase flow simulation.
• Integration of multiphase flow models into process design, control, and optimization.
• Life cycle assessment of clean energy systems.

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue, which aims to advance both the theory and practical application of computational multiphase flow modeling.

Dr. Adefarati Oloruntoba
Prof. Dr. Yongmin Zhang
Dr. Hongliang Xiao
Guest Editors

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• reactive flows
• fluidized beds
• bioenergy
• carbon capture
• mineral processing
• advanced manufacturing
• machine learning–CFD hybrid models
• computational frameworks
• LCA
• CFD
• process intensification
• scale-up
• validation with experiments