A simple and fast phase transition relaxation solver for compressible multicomponent two-phase flows. (3rd June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiapolino, Alexandre; Boivin, Pierre; Saurel, Richard
• Is Part Of: Computers & fluids. Volume 150(2017)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2017-06-03
• Subjects: Multiphase flows -- Interfaces -- Hyperbolic systems -- Relaxation -- Phase transition; Fluid dynamics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 532.050285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compfluid.2017.03.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-7930

Abstract

Highlights: A simple phase transition relaxation solver is presented. It accounts for phase transition between a liquid and a multicomponent gas. The solver results in simulations 50% faster than conventional iterative solver. Despite its very easy implementation, there is no loss of accuracy compared to iterative solvers. It deals efficiently with single phase bounds of the phase diagram. Abstract: The present paper aims at building a fast and accurate phase transition solver dedicated to unsteady multiphase flow computations. In a previous contribution (Chiapolino et al. 2017), such a solver was successfully developed to compute thermodynamic equilibrium between a liquid phase and its corresponding vapor phase. The present work extends the solver's range of application by considering a multicomponent gas phase instead of pure vapor, a necessary improvement in most practical applications. The solver proves easy to implement compared to common iterative procedures, and allows systematic CPU savings over 50%, at no cost in terms of accuracy. It is validated against solutions based on an accurate but expensive iterative solver. Its capability to deal with cavitating, evaporating and condensing two-phase flows is highlighted on severe test problems both 1D and 2D.