Abstract: In order to improve the working efficiency of thickener further， understand and develop the theory of flocculation thickening deeply， the research approaches about the complex characteristics of the internal flow field of thickener were discussed. The application status of the numerical experimental methods in simulating the internal flow field of thickener is reviewed in detail from the aspects of multiphase flow model， turbulent model and simulation scale. The guiding role of numerical simulation in improving the technical indexes of flocculation thickening process is elaborated. It is pointed out that the mathematical description of flocculation reaction， the formation of flocs and simulation modeling of structure evolution are the research focuses present and future. Multi-field coupling of thickener based on field environment is the development direction of internal flow field of the numerical simulation.

Key words: Thickener, Flow field characteristics, Numerical simulation, Flocculation, Solid-liquid separation