Comparative Study of Particle-Resolved and Point-Particle Simulations of Particle–Bubble Collisions in Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence

Bubble–particle collisions in turbulent flows are fundamental to flotation processes, yet their complex dynamics remain challenging to characterize accurately. In this study, a comparison study of a particle–bubble collision system in homogeneous isotropic turbulence was performed using the particle-resolved method and point-particle method. Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flows were achieved using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The effects of hydrodynamics on the collision particles were compared between Lagrangian tracking and directly resolving the disturbance flows around finite-size solid particles using an interpolated bounce-back scheme. The differences between point-particle and particle-resolved simulations are evaluated, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. These findings enhance the understanding of turbulence-driven bubble–particle interactions and provide guidance for improving the accuracy of flotation modeling and process optimization.