The evaluation of the diffuse interface method for phase change simulations using OpenFOAM

Abstract

In the present study, a new solver named phaseChangeHeatFoam is implemented on the OpenFOAM cfd package to simulate boiling and condensation. The solver is capturing the interface between two immiscible phases with a color function volume of fluid (CF‐VOF) method. The two fluids (vapor and liquid) are assumed Newtonian and incompressible. The surface tension is modeled with continuous surface force (CSF) which is improved with a Lafaurie filter to suppress the spurious current. The mass flux across the interface in the phase change process is determined by either Lee or Tanasawa mass transfer models. Additionally, the slight variation of saturation temperature with local pressure is considered with the simplified Clausius–Clapeyron relation. The coupled velocity pressure equation is solved using the PIMPLE algorithm. The new solver is validated and examined with (i) Stefan problem, (ii) two‐dimensional film boiling, (iii) the film condensation on a horizontal plate, (iv) the laminar film condensation over a vertical plate, and (v) bubble condensation in subcooled boiling. The present study shows the capability of a diffuse interface method in accurate simulation of the phase change process and it is expected to be instructive for further numerical studies in this area.

Meshfree One-Fluid Modelling of Liquid-Vapor Phase Transitions

“…( 1)-(3) require a closure relation, which is given, depending on the application, either by an equation of state, or by discrete curves determined by experiments. In each case, we have a relation ρ = ρ(T, p), with the temperature and pressure both being functions of space x and time t. In many boiling simulations in literature, an assumption of the incompressibility of the vapor phase is often imposed (example, [10,31,50]), to focus on the modelling of the phase transition process itself. Here, we allow the possibility of both incompressible and compressible vapor phases, by using different closure relations.…”

“…Here, the interface conditions are modelled as source terms in the governing equations across the entire thickness of the diffuse interface. See, for example, [14,28,31,41].…”

A Benchmark Evaluation of the isoAdvection Interface Description Method for Thermally–Driven Phase Change Simulation

“…The plate is kept at a constant, subcooled temperature with K. Zero gradient boundary conditions were applied for the top and bottom of the domain for , T , , and . The analytical solution is provided in the literature [ 58 , 59 ], assuming a linear temperature distribution throughout the condensate and disregarding interface shearing stress and inertia forces. Since the gravity forces are working in the z direction, the condensed film thickness will grow when z increases.…”

Simulation of Single Vapor Bubble Condensation with Sharp Interface Mass Transfer Model

“…The volumetric mass flux ṁ (kg/m 3 s) depends highly on the relaxation parameter r c (s −1 ). A wide range between 0.1 and 10 6 s −1 is proposed and successfully used for r c in previous studies [23]. Li et al [24] derived a correlation for the relaxation parameter and showed the dependence of r c on the temperature, physical properties, and phase volume fraction of the grid element.…”