Parallel simulation of concentration dynamics of nano-particles in High Gradient Magnetic Separation

In this paper, the concentration dynamics of weakly magnetic nano-particles dispersed in a fluid medium during the process of High Gradient Magnetic Separation is studied by using a computational approach. The continuity equations describing the time rate of change of the particle volume concentration in the system are solved numerically by using the finite difference method as initial and boundary value problems. Features of the concentration distribution in the system are depicted both in transient and steady states. Saturation buildup at the steady state and the time required for the occurrence of saturation buildup are given as basic guides for experiments. Parallel algorithms are implemented for simulations of concentration dynamics. The approaches are based on a distributed model, utilizing the message passing interface. Two schemes of parallel computing are developed based on different data-partitioning patterns and benchmark results are compared.