Development and validation of a one-dimensional solver in a CFD platform for boiling flows in bubbly regimes

Abstract

This paper presents a new one-dimensional solver for two-phase flow simulations where boiling is involved. The solver has been implemented within the OpenFOAM® platform. The basic formulation follows the Eulerian description of the Navier–Stokes equations. Different closure equations for one-dimensional simulations are also included, as well as a subcooled boiling model in order to perform accurate computations of the mass and heat transfer between phases. In addition to the fluid, a domain is included in order to represent the solid structure, so the solver is able to solve conjugate heat transfer problems. Two different test cases are presented in this work, first a single-phase test case in order to verify the conjugate heat transfer, and then a case based on the Bartolomej international benchmark, which consists of a vertical pipe where the fluid runs upwards while it is heated. Transient calculation were performed, and the results were compared to the TRACE system code, and to the experimental data in the corresponding case. With this calculations, the capability of this new solver to simulate one-dimensional single-phase and two-phase flows including boiling is demonstrated. This work is a first step of a final objective, which consists in allowing a 1D–3D coupling within the CFD platform, avoiding external links.