Local Simulation of Two-Phase Flows Including Interface Tracking with Mass Transfer

Abstract

This paper presents a moving mesh, two-dimensional finite volume method suitable for tracking interfaces across which there is mass transfer. We consider liquid and vapor phases of single component fluids separated by a phase interface in an evolving flow field. Metastable bulk states are allowed (as are superheated vapor and subcooled liquid bulk states) while the interface is assumed to exist in thermal and chemical equilibrium. Mass transfer occurs at the interface, driven by the local flow conditions. The interface is tracked by nodes representing the liquid and vapor sides at the same spatial location. The interface motion is found from the solution of the coupled interfacial conditions and bulk fluid equations. The bulk fluids are considered as viscous, conducting, and compressible fluids necessitating the use of the continuity, momentum and energy equations in the bulk regions. The control volume continuity, momentum and energy equations are modified in the presence of a phase interface to include surface properties using a simple interface model with surface tension and surface energy. Simple simulations are presented illustrating the method.