A two-phase density-based solver for simulating wet steam flows with non-equilibrium condensation. II. Effects of 3D surface topography through nozzles

Abstract

In Paper I, we developed a new two-phase flow solver and assessed its reliability and effectiveness through a series of numerical simulations. In Paper II, we utilized this solver to study the steam flow through nozzles characterized by three-dimensional surface topography. To generate random rough surfaces, we employed a multivariate Weierstrass–Mandelbrot function. Our numerical simulation results exhibited good agreement with the reported experimental data for pressure distribution. Moreover, we examined the changes in pressure, temperature, humidity, Mach number, average Nusselt number, and thrust as the wall surface morphology varied. We observed that the pressure field was prone to fluctuations, the boundary layer structure thickened and changed, the degree of condensation decreased with reduced humidity, three-dimensional Mach waves occurred, and the averaged Nusselt number decreased while thrust deviation increased. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the effects of fractal dimensions and condensation on random roughness in steam flow through nozzles and highlight the significance of incorporating surface topography into numerical simulations to improve accuracy and predictability in engineering applications.