Computational fluid dynamics modelling on flow characteristics of two-phase flow in micro-channels

Abstract

Simulated gas-liquid two-phase horizontal flow characteristics were compared with corresponding experimental data taken from the Triplett. For the simulation of the two-phase flow characteristics, the well-known volume of fluid approach co-operated with the piecewise linear interface calculation interface reconstruction method was carried out. First, a variety of two-phase flow patterns were reproduced. The numerical results give good agreement with the flow regimes expected from the Triplett. Next to that, the two-phase pressure drops in micro-channels were analysed numerically by using the same computational fluid dynamics method. Also, the comparison of pressure drop among the numerical simulations, experimental data and the results calculated by homogeneous equilibrium model was presented. The agreement between numerical results and the existing experimental data was found to be satisfactory. So, it can be deduced that the numerical analysis procedure proposed here can achieve a better prediction for two-phase flow characteristics in micro-channels.