A CMFD-Model for multi-scale interfacial structures


A CMFD-Model for multi-scale interfacial structures

Hänsch, S.; Lucas, D.; Krepper, E.; Höhne, T.

In many two-phase flows a mixture of both stratified and dispersed flow regimes is encountered. Depending on the interfacial scale resolving and averaging methods are established for the numerical simulation of these special flow regimes. However, multiphase flows that cover a wide range of scales should be investigated considering coexistent segregated and dispersed flow. The simulation of such flows is a challenging task which led to the recent field of research known as multi-scale CMFD-simulations. Especially the transitions between different flow regimes play an essential role for a better understanding of many flow applications. No general technique for the simulation of such a flow situation has evolved yet. This contribution introduces a new CMFD-strategy of a generalized two-phase flow (GENTOP) dealing with such complex flow situations.
Currently, the GENTOP-concept is presented using a three-field two-fluid simulation based on the Eulerian methodology. The flow is described by a continuous liquid phase, a polydispersed gas phase, consisting of different bubble size groups, and a continuous gas phase. By using the framework of the recently developed inhomogeneous Multiple Size Group (MUSIG)-model, transfers between different bubble sizes due to coalescence and breakup processes are described. The GENTOP-concept extends this framework by adding a continuous gas phase summarizing all gas structures characterized by an interfacial scale large enough to be resolved. Thus, two gaseous fields are assumed, each field having its own set of mass-, momentum- and energy balance. An additional interface stabilizing force is introduced enabling the resolution of the gas-liquid interface. By modelling an additional mass transfer between the continuous and the polydispersed gas phase, transitions between different gas morphologies can be considered. The modelling of interfacial transfer requires a detection of interfacial structure in order to accurately involve the resolved gas-liquid interface. Based on the Algebraic Interfacial Area Density (AIAD)-model a generalized formulation for interfacial area density and drag has been found considering free surfaces within a multi-field simulation. This new concept can provide a more general insight into non-homogeneous multiphase flows by capturing continuous as well as polydispersed gas structures simultaneously.
Many multiphase flows relevant for industrial and scientific issues can be described by the GENTOP-concept. One of them is the impingement of a liquid jet on a water pool with an associated bubble entrainment playing a key role for nuclear safety issues during a loss-of-coolant accident. This flow phenomenon shows the mass transfer from a continuous into a polydispersed gas phase forming a bubble plume of different bubble sizes. Various multiphase flows with high gas fractions show inverse transfers from a dispersed into a continuous gaseous morphology such as the transition from bubbly to slug flow in a vertical pipe. This paper presents the principles of the new concept and illustrates them within such representative flow situations using the CFD-code CFX 13.0. First computational results are compared to experiments carried out at HZDR and theoretical data reported in literature. Both characteristic polydispersed and continuous gas structures are captured and show qualitative agreement. Further developments will concentrate on new generalized closure models for coalescence and breakup processes between continuous and dispersed gas phases.

Keywords: multi-fluid model; MUSIG; AIAD; gas-liquid interface; flow regime transition; air entrainment

  • Contribution to proceedings
    CFD4NRS-4, The Experimental Validation and Application of CFD and CMFD Codes in Nuclear Reactor Technology, 10.-12.09.2012, Daejeon, Südkorea
  • Lecture (Conference)
    CFD4NRS-4, The Experimental Validation and Application of CFD and CMFD Codes in Nuclear Reactor Technology, 10.-12.09.2012, Daejeon, Südkorea

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-17417
Publ.-Id: 17417