FGA-MMF method for the simulation of two-phase flows

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a novel numerical technique for solving the incompressible multiphase mixture model.

Design/methodology/approach

The multiphase mixture model contains a set of momentum and continuity equations for the mixture phase, a second phase continuity equation and the algebraic equation for the relative velocity. For solving continuity equation for the second phase and advection term of momentum, an improved approach fine grid advection-multiphase mixture flow (FGA-MMF) is developed. In the FGA-MMF method, the continuity equation for the second phase is solved with higher-order schemes in a two times finer grid. To solve the advection term of the momentum equation, the advection fluxes of the volume fraction in the continuity equation for the second phase are used.

Findings

This approach has been used in various tests to simulate unsteady flow problems. Comparison between numerical results and experimental data demonstrates a satisfactory performance. Numerical examples show that this approach increases the accuracy and stability of the solution and decreases non-monotonic results.

Research limitations/implications

The solver for the multi-phase mixture model can only be adopted to solve the incompressible fluid flow.

Originality/value

The paper developed an innovative solution (FGA-MMF) to find multi-phase flow field value in the multi-phase mixture model. Advantages of the FGA-MMF technique are the ability to accurately determine the phases interpenetrating, decreasing the numerical diffusion of the interface and preventing instability and non-monotonicity in solution of large density variation problems.

Citation

Behrangi, F., Banihashemi, M.A., Montazeri Namin, M. and Bohluly, A. (2018), "FGA-MMF method for the simulation of two-phase flows", Engineering Computations, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 1161-1182. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-03-2017-0076