Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

1 Publication

Assessment of a hybrid CFD model for simulation of complex vertical upward gas-liquid churn flow

Parsi, M.; Agrawal, M.; Srinivasan, V.; Vieira, R. E.; Torres, C. F.; Mclaury, B. S.; Shirazi, S. A.; Schleicher, E.; Hampel, U.

Gas-liquid multiphase flow can be observed within different industrial processes, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be utilized as a tool for scrutiny of this kind of flows. Although the CFD simulations of multiphase are computationally-demanding, they can deliver a great deal of information. But, the larger point is whether the available CFD multiphase flow models are able to deliver a realistic solution for a complex flow pattern like churn flow? And if yes, to what extent are the results accurate?To shed light on these issues, the Eulerian-Eulerian MultiFluid VOF model offered by ANSYS FLUENT 15 (2015 15.0 User's Guide, ANSYS Inc.) was used to simulate high flow rate air-water multiphase flow in a 76.2 mm-diameter pipe upstream of an elbow in the vertical-horizontal configuration. In the simulations, superficial gas velocity ranged from 10.3 m/s to 33.9 m/s, and two superficial liquid velocities of 0.3, and 0.79 m/s were employed. From the CFD simulations, data such as phase distributions, mean void fractions, and average void fraction time series were extracted. They were then compared to experimental Wire Mesh Sensor (WMS) data formerly obtained. Interestingly, evaluation of the model revealed that it was successful in terms of capturing different liquid structures present within the flow and delivering void fraction data which were in agreement with those of experiments.

Keywords: CFD; Churn flow; Huge wave; MultiFluid VOF; Multiphase flow; Wire mesh sensor

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-23324
Publ.-Id: 23324