A volume of fluid based method for consistent flux computation in large-density ratio two-phase flows and its application in investigating droplet bag breakup behavior

Abstract

This article introduces a novel method for computing consistent fluxes, which enables highly robust simulations of two-phase flow problems characterized by large-density ratios. The approach is based on the geometric reconstruction volume of fluid method and utilizes a staggered grid implementation. This allows for accurate and robust simulation of phenomena like droplet bag breakup in flows with intense velocity shear and significant density differences. Through numerical experiments, it has been demonstrated that this method can reliably simulate two-phase flows with large-density ratios while preserving excellent energy conservation properties. Expanding on these findings, the researchers have developed a solver that leverages block-structured adaptive mesh to perform high-fidelity simulations of droplet bag breakup scenarios. Remarkably, this solver accurately reproduces three distinct breakup patterns: bag mode, stamen mode, and sheet-stripping mode. A comprehensive analysis has also been conducted by comparing the dimensionless maximum cross-stream radius with experimental test results. Furthermore, the study investigates the kinetic energy spectrum of fully developed two-phase turbulence under different droplet generation mechanisms and examines the distribution of droplet sizes. The numerical results validate the efficacy and reliability of this method in accurately simulating two-phase flows characterized by significant density disparities and interface momentum exchange.