Numerical simulation of 3D sloshing flow in partially filled LNG tank using a coupled level-set and volume-of-fluid method

Abstract

The motion induced 3D sloshing flow in partially filled LNG tank was investigated using a new coupled Level-Set and Volume-of-Fluid (CLSVOF) method incorporated into Finite-Analytic Navier–Stokes (FANS) method. In addition to accurately simulating the sloshing pattern inside LNG tank, impact pressures acting upon tank wall were also predicted by the CLSVOF method. Furthermore, the predicted impact pressures were compared with the corresponding experimental data and another numerical data by the pure level set method with global mass conservation scheme. The comparisons showed the CLSVOF method is capable of predicting the accurate sloshing induced impact and capturing the violent sloshing flow including wave breaking, jet formation, gas entrapping and liquid-gas interactions. The CLSVOF method also demonstrated the prominent feature in local and stable mass conservation.