[InesR]

Hello! I've been learning recently the OpenFoam software for my Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering. My problem consists of studying the hydrodynamics of a fixed bed reactor , with catalysts particles of different geometries, and I've encounter some doubts and wanted an opinion:

1- I've learned that we cancreate fixed bed reactors using other softwares (e.g. Blender) and export as a single .stl file to OpenFoam, however, isn't better to create two separate .stl files (one for reactor geometry and another one for the catalyst) and export to OpenFoam?

2- Still about point 1, I've been trying to search for tutorials but haven't gotten any luck, with OpenFoam is possible to determine how many particles I want and simulate them going into the reactor?
I already created the catalysts .stl file (1 catalyst of a certain geometry, needed to define a number for simulation)

3- I've seen in this forum some people with the same problem as me and wanted to know if Eulerian approach was the most suitable for this type of problem (particles in the same position in the beggining and end of simulation). Another approach I've been seeing alot if twoPhaseEulerFoam, which one better?
If there is any type of different approach that you suggest I'd appreciate!

4- For the particles, beside Eulerian approach, probably better assuming the catalysts as porous media?

Thank you all for the availability, and sorry in advance if I've made some questions that may seem confusing (still trying to learn the software and what type of approach I can use for my study case).