A simple phase transition relaxation solver for liquid–vapor flows. (17th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiapolino, Alexandre; Boivin, Pierre; Saurel, Richard
• Is Part Of: International journal for numerical methods in fluids. Volume 83:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: 583
• Page End: 605
• Publication Date: 2016-08-17
• Subjects: multiphase flows -- interfaces -- hyperbolic systems -- relaxation -- phase transition; Fluid dynamics -- Mathematics -- Periodicals; 532
• DOI: 10.1002/fld.4282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-2091

Abstract

Summary: Determining liquid–vapor phase equilibrium is often required in multiphase flow computations. Existing equilibrium solvers are either accurate but computationally expensive or cheap but inaccurate. The present paper aims at building a fast and accurate specific phase equilibrium solver, specifically devoted to unsteady multiphase flow computations. Moreover, the solver is efficient at phase diagram bounds, where non‐equilibrium pure liquid and pure gas are present. It is systematically validated against solutions based on an accurate (but expensive) solver. Its capability to deal with cavitating, evaporating, and condensing two‐phase flows is highlighted on severe test problems both 1D and 2D. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Abstract : This work presents a new method to compute thermochemical equilibrium in liquid–vapor flows. The proposed method is both accurate and fast, in addition of being much easier to code than the usual iterative methods. Through a series of test cases from simple 1D flow configurations to a complex 2D evaporating liquid jet, the solver is proved to successfully cope with cavitation, evaporation, condensation, and boiling.