Numerical study on population balance approaches in modeling of isothermal vertical bubbly flows


Numerical study on population balance approaches in modeling of isothermal vertical bubbly flows

Cheung, C. P.; Yeoh, G. H.; Tu, J. Y.; Krepper, E.; Lucas, D.

Practicing engineers are constantly confronted with the prospect of solving complex gas-liquid bubbly flow problems in real industrial systems. The use of population balance models coupled with the two-fluid model presents the most viable way of handling such flows. The homogeneous MUltiple-SIze-Group (MUSIG) model has recently become a widely adopted population balance approach whereby the continuous bubbles size range can be represented by a series of discrete classes. The improved inhomogeneous MUSIG model extends the capability of accounting different bubble shapes and travelling gas velocities. Conversely, the Average Bubble Number Density (ABND) model represents another simpler approach in handling bubble interactions in complex gas-liquid bubbly flow. The capability of these three population balance models is assessed. Particular emphasis is directed towards the possible handling of bubbly-to-slug transition flow conditions. Numerical predictions are compared against experimental data obtained from Lucas et al. [1] and Hibiki et al. [2]. Shortcomings and applicability of these models for industrial applications are also discussed.

Keywords: CFD; Multiphase flows; population balance

  • Contribution to proceedings
    The 5th International Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics, ICCFD5, 07.-11.07.2008, Seoul, Korea
  • Lecture (Conference)
    The 5th International Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics, ICCFD5, 07.-11.07.2008, Seoul, Korea

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-12626
Publ.-Id: 12626