Gino Cortellessa, Fausto Arpino, Simona Di Fraia and Mauro Scungio
In this work, a new two-phase version of the finite element-based Artificial Compressibility (AC) Characteristic-Based Split (CBS) algorithm is developed and applied for the first…
Abstract
Purpose
In this work, a new two-phase version of the finite element-based Artificial Compressibility (AC) Characteristic-Based Split (CBS) algorithm is developed and applied for the first time to heat and mass transfer phenomena in porous media with associated phase change. The purpose of this study is to provide an alternative for the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation of multiphase transport phenomena in porous media. Traditionally, the more complex Separate Flow Model was used in which the vapour and liquid phases were considered as distinct fluids and mathematically described by the conservation laws for each phase separately, resulting in a large number of governing equations.
Design/methodology/approach
Even though the adopted mathematical model presents analogies with the conventional multicomponent mixture flow model, it is characterized by a considerable reduction in the number of the differential equations for the primary variables. The fixed-grid numerical formulation can be applied to the resolution of general problems that may simultaneously include a superheated vapour region, a two-phase zone and a sub-cooled liquid region in a single physical domain with irregular and moving phase interfaces in between. The local thermal non-equilibrium model is introduced to consider the heat exchange between fluid and solid within the porous matrix.
Findings
The numerical model is verified considering the transport phenomena in a homogenous and isotropic porous medium in which water is injected from one side and heated from the other side, where it leaves the computational domain in a superheated vapour state. Dominant forces are represented by capillary interactions and two-phase heat conduction. The obtained results have been compared with the numerical data available in the scientific literature.
Social implications
The present algorithm provides a powerful routine tool for the numerical modelling of complex two-phase transport processes in porous media.
Originality/value
For the first time, the stabilized AC-CBS scheme is applied to the resolution of compressible viscous flow transport in porous materials with associated phase change. A properly stabilized matrix inversion-free procedure employs an adaptive local time step that allows acceleration of the solution process even in the presence of large source terms and low diffusion coefficients values (near the phase change point).
Details
Keywords
Fausto Arpino, Nicola Massarotti, Alessandro Mauro and Perumal Nithiarasu
The purpose of the paper is to numerically simulate steady‐state thermo‐solutal convection in rectangular cavities with different aspect ratios, subject to horizontal temperature…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to numerically simulate steady‐state thermo‐solutal convection in rectangular cavities with different aspect ratios, subject to horizontal temperature and concentration gradients, and validate the results against numerical and experimental data available from literature.
Design/methodology/approach
The fully explicit Artificial Compressibility (AC) version of the Characteristic Based Split (CBS) scheme is adopted to solve double diffusion (DD) problems. A stabilization analysis is carried out to efficiently solve the problems considered in the present work. The thermal and solutal buoyancy forces acting on the fluid have been taken into account in case of aiding and opposing flow conditions.
Findings
The stability limits derived by the authors for the thermo‐solutal convection assume a fundamental role to efficiently solve the DD problems considered. In the cases characterized by higher Rayleigh number the convergent solution is obtained only by employing the new stability conditions. The efficient matrix free procedure employed is a powerful tool to study complex DD problems.
Originality/value
In this paper, the authors extend the stabilization analysis for the AC‐CBS scheme to the solution of DD, fundamental to efficiently solve the present problems, and apply the present fully explicit matrix free scheme, based on finite elements, to the solution of DD natural convection in cavities.