Numerical solution of laminar incompressible generalized Newtonian fluids flow

This paper deals with the numerical solution of laminar viscous incompressible flows for generalized Newtonian fluids in the branching channel. The generalized Newtonian fluids contain Newtonian fluids, shear thickening and shear thinning non-Newtonian fluids. The mathematical model is the generalized system of Navier-Stokes equations. The finite volume method combined with an artificial compressibility method is used for spatial discretization. For time discretization the explicit multistage Runge-Kutta numerical scheme is considered. Steady state solution is achieved for t → ∞ using steady boundary conditions and followed by steady residual behavior. For unsteady solution a dual-time stepping method is considered. Numerical results for flows in two dimensional and three dimensional branching channel are presented.     

Numerical Modelling of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids Flow

The work deals with numerical modelling of 2D/3D laminar incompressible viscous flows for Newtonian and non–Newtonian fluids. The unsteady system of Navier–Stokes equations with steady boundary conditions in the form of an artificial compressibility method is solved by multistage Runge–Kutta finite volume method. Steady state solution is achieved for t→∞. Convergence is followed by steady residual behaviour. For unsteady solution high compressibility coefficient β² is considered. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computational fluid dynamics modelling of gas jets impinging onto liquid pools

Gas jets impinging onto a gas–liquid interface of a liquid pool are studied using computational fluid dynamics modelling, which aims to obtain a better understanding of the behaviour of the gas jets used metallurgical engineering industry. The gas and liquid flows are modelled using the volume of fluid technique. The governing equations are formulated using the density and viscosity of the “gas–liquid mixture”, which are described in terms of the phase volume fraction. Reynolds averaging is applied to yield a set of Reynolds-averaged conservation equations for the mass and momentum, and the k–ε turbulence model. The deformation of the gas–liquid interface is modelled by the pressure jump across the interface via the Young–Laplace equation. The governing equations in the axisymmetric cylindrical coordinates are solved using the commercial CFD code, FLUENT. The computed results are compared with experimental and theoretical data reported in the literature. The CFD modelling allows the simultaneous evaluation of the gas flow field, the free liquid surface and the bulk liquid flow, and provides useful insight to the highly complex, and industrially significant flows in the jetting system.     

Numerical Investigation of Cavitation Interacting with Pressure Wave

A computational fluid dynamics solver based on homogeneous cavitation model is employed to compute the two-phase cavitating flow. The model treats the two-phase regime as the homogeneous mixture of liquid and vapour which are locally assumed to be under both kinetic and thermodynamic equilibrium. As our focus is on pressure wave formation, propagation and its impact on cavitation bubble, the compressibility effects of liquid water have to be accounted for and hence the flow is considered to be compressible. The cavitating flow disturbed by the introduced pressure wave is simulated to investigate the unsteady features of cavitation due to the external perturbations. It is observed that the cavity becomes unstable, locally experiencing deformation or collapse, which depends on the shock wave intensity and freestream flow speed.     

Numerical simulation of cavitation around a two-dimensional hydrofoil using VOF method and LES turbulence model

In this paper simulation of cavitating flow over the Clark-Y hydrofoil is reported using the large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model and volume of fluid (VOF) technique. We applied an incompressible LES modelling approach based on an implicit method for the subgrid terms. To apply the cavitation model, the flow has been considered as a single fluid, two-phase mixture. A transport equation model for the local volume fraction of vapour is solved and a finite rate mass transfer model is used for the vapourization and condensation processes. A compressive volume of fluid (VOF) method is applied to track the interface of liquid and vapour phases. This simulation is performed using a finite volume, two phase solver available in the framework of the OpenFOAM (Open Field Operation and Manipulation) software package. Simulation is performed for the cloud and super-cavitation regimes, i.e., σ = 0.8, 0.4, 0.28. We compared the results of two different mass transfer models, namely Kunz and Sauer models. The results of our simulation are compared for cavitation dynamics, starting point of cavitation, cavity’s diameter and force coefficients with the experimental data, where available. For both of steady state and transient conditions, suitable accuracy has been observed for cavitation dynamics and force coefficients.     

Modified k – ω Model for Simulation of Cavitating Flows

Although cavitating flows are generally turbulent, the interaction of turbulence and cavitation dynamics is still not well understood. In general, two‐equation models are employed, which were originally developed for single‐phase flows. Therefore they fail by handling cavitation based flow phenomena with very high density variations (dependent on operating condition up to 40000:1). This sudden change of the density causes strong pressure gradients, secondary flows and local compressibility. The aim of this study is to enhance the Wilcox's k‐? model with empirical correlations in order to simulate turbulent cavitating flows more precisely and effciently.     

Numerical simulation two phase flows of casting filling process using SOLA particle level set method

Mould filling process is a typical gas–liquid metal two phase flow phenomenon. Numerical simulation of the two phase flows of mould filling process can be used to properly predicate the back pressure effect, the gas entrapment defects, and better understand the complex motions of the gas phase and the liquid phase. In this paper, a novel sharp interface incompressible two phase numerical model for mould filling process is presented. A simple ghost fluid method like discretization method and a density evaluation method at face centers of finite difference staggered grid are proposed to overcome the difficulties when solving two phase Navier–Stokes equations with large-density ratio and large-viscosity ratio. A new mass conservation particle level set method is developed to capture the gas–liquid metal phase interface. The classical pressure-correction based SOLA algorithm is modified to solve the two phase Navier–Stokes equations. Two numerical tests including the Zalesak disk problem and the broken dam problem are used to demonstrate the accuracy of the present method. The numerical method is then adopted to simulate three mould filling examples including two high speed CCD camera imaging water filling experiments and an in situ X-ray imaging experiment of pure aluminum filling. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experiments.     

Comparison of Inviscid and Viscous Two‐Phase Calculations of Cavitating Pump Flow

In cavitating flows there is a strong interaction between the fine dispersed vapor bubbles and turbulence. Therefore in two‐phase flow calculations the prediction of turbulence is a matter of great difficulties and uncertainties. To get an idea of the influence of turbulence modelling on the calculated result, viscous and inviscid two‐phase calculations of cavitating pump flow were performed. In the inviscid calculations the influence of cavitation is isolated from turbulence effects. In the viscous calculations the effect of turbulence is modelled with a k – ϵ turbulence model. The results show that the influence of viscous effects on the flow field is weak in comparison to cavitation. However, in contrast to the steady cavitation behaviour predicted by the viscous calculations, the inviscid calculations show unsteady behaviour of the cavitation (as can be seen in the experiment).     

Flow over a profile in a channel with dynamical effects

The work deals with a numerical solution of 2D inviscid incompressible flow over the profile NACA 0012 in a channel. The finite volume method in a form of cell‐centered scheme at quadrilateral C‐mesh is used. Governing system of equations is the system of Euler equations. Numerical results are partially compared with experimental data. Steady state solutions of the flow as well unsteady flows caused by prescribed oscillation of the profile were computed. The method of artificial compressibility and the time dependent method are used for computation of the steady state solution. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Initial-boundary value problem of three phase flow in porous media

We study the mathematical model of three phase compressible flows through porous media. Under the condition that the rock, water and oil are incompressible, and the compressibility of gas is small, we present a finite element scheme to the initial-boundary value problem of the nonlinear system of equations, then by the convergence of the scheme we prove that the problem admits a weak solution.     

Numerical Solution of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Flows

This paper deals with the numerical solution of Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows. The flows are supposed to be laminar, viscous, incompressible and steady. The model used for non-Newtonian fluids is some variant of power-law. Governing equations in this model are incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. For numerical solution one could use artificial compressibility method with three stage Runge-Kutta finite volume method in cell centered formulation for discretization of space derivatives. Following cases of flows are solwed: flow through a bypass connected to main channel in 2D and 3D and non-Newtonian flow through branching channels in 2D. These results are presented for 2D and 3D case. This problem could have an application in the area of biomedicine. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical Investigations of Relaxation Phenomena in Cavitating Nozzle Flows

Numerical simulations of cavitating flows are frequently performed by applying simple law of state‐models. In this study an advanced law of state‐model on the basis of a Landau‐type approach is used that focusses on the physical treatment of relaxation phenomena. Relaxation phenomena or phase non‐equilibrium effects occur within the scope of two‐phase fluid dynamics if the time scale of the flow problem is small. This appears e.g. in the case of cavitating flow in injector nozzles of diesel engines. The aim of this study is the determination of the relaxation parameter of the advanced law of state‐model. For this reason a theoretical approach is presented as well as simulations of unsteady cavitating nozzle flows that are compared with experimental data. Concerning the calculation of 2‐D unsteady cavitating flow the evolution equation for the vapor fraction is solved by a modified Volume‐of‐Fluid algorithm.     

Large eddy simulation of a sheet/cloud cavitation on a NACA0015 hydrofoil

A single fluid model of sheet/cloud cavitation is developed and applied to a NACA0015 hydrofoil. First, a cavity formation model is set up, based on a three-dimensional (3D) non-cavitation model of Navier–Stokes equations with a large eddy simulation (LES) scheme for weakly compressible flows. A fifth-order polynomial curve is adopted to describe the relationship between density coefficient ratio and pressure coefficient when cavitation occurs. The Navier–Stokes equations including cavitation bubble clusters are solved using the finite-volume approach with time-marching scheme, and MacCormack’s explicit-corrector scheme is adopted. Simulations are carried out in a 3D field acting on a hydrofoil NACA0015 at angles of attack 4°, 8° and 20°, with cavitation numbers σ = 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0, Re = 10⁶, and a 360 × 63 × 29 meshing system. We study time-dependent sheet/cloud cavitation structures, caused by the interaction of viscous objects, such as vortices, and cavitation bubbles. At small angles of attack (4°), the sheet cavity is relatively stable just by oscillating in size at the accumulation stage; at 8° it has a tendency to break away from the upper foil section, with the cloud cavitation structure becoming apparent; at 20°, the flow separates fully from the leading edge of the hydrofoil, and the vortex cavitation occurs. Comparisons with other studies, carried out mainly in the context of flow patterns on which prior experiments and simulations were done, demonstrate the power of our model. Overall, it can snapshot the collapse of cloud cavitation, and allow a study of flow patterns and their instabilities, such as “crescent-shaped regions.”     

The method of lines for the computation of incompressible viscous flows

A common approach to finding numerical solutions of the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is considered within the method of lines framework [1]. For the determination of viscous incompressible flows the stream-function formulation for the fourth-order equation [2, 3], an artificial compressibility method [4], and a modified velocity correction method [5] are designed. Some improved and extended results of numerical simulations obtained by the author in the previous works are presented. Test calculations have been done for various flows inside square, triangular and semicircular cavities with one moving wall, the backward-facing step, double bent channels and for the flow around an aerofoil at large angle of attack. An alternative and practical methodology for resolving the Navier-Stokes equations in arbitrarily complex geometries using Cartesian meshes is proposed. Some of complex geometrical configurations can be decomposed into a set of subdomains. The simplest approach for specifying boundary conditions near curved or irregular boundaries is to transfer all the variables from the boundaries to the nearest grid knots. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical modelling of bubbly flows with and without heat and mass transfer

In this paper, modelling gas–liquid bubbly flows is achieved by the introduction of a population balance equation combined with the three-dimensional two-fluid model. For gas–liquid bubbly flows without heat and mass transfer, an average bubble number density transport equation has been incorporated in the commercial code CFX5.7 to better describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the geometrical structure of the gas bubbles. The coalescence and breakage effects of the gas bubbles are modelled according to the coalescence by the random collisions driven by turbulence and wake entrainment while for bubble breakage by the impact of turbulent eddies. Local radial distributions of the void fraction, interfacial area concentration, bubble Sauter mean diameter, and gas and liquid velocities, are compared against experimental data in a vertical pipe flow. Satisfactory agreements for the local distributions are achieved between the predictions and measurements. For gas–liquid bubbly flows with heat and mass transfer, boiling flows at subcooled conditions are considered. Based on the formulation of the MUSIG (multiple-size-group) boiling model and a model considering the forces acting on departing bubbles at the heated surface implemented in the computer code CFX4.4, comparison of model predictions against local measurements is made for the void fraction, bubble Sauter mean diameter, interfacial area concentration, and gas and liquid velocities covering a range of different mass and heat fluxes and inlet subcooling temperatures. Good agreement is achieved with the local radial void fraction, bubble Sauter mean diameter, interfacial area concentration and liquid velocity profiles against measurements. However, significant weakness of the model is evidenced in the prediction of the vapour velocity. Work is in progress through the consideration of additional momentum equations or developing an algebraic slip model to account for the effects of bubble separation.     

Computational examples of reaction–convection–diffusion equations solution under the influence of fluid flow: First example

This paper presents several numerical tests on reaction–diffusion equations in the Turing space, affected by convective fields present in incompressible flows under the Schnakenberg reaction mechanism. The tests are performed in 2D on square unit, to which we impose an advective field from the solution of the problem of the flow in a cavity. The model developed consists of a decoupled system of equations of reaction–advection–diffusion, along with the Navier–Stokes equations of incompressible flow, which is solved simultaneously using the finite element method. The results show that the pattern generated by the concentrations of the reacting system varies both in time and space due to the effect exerted by the advective field.     

Development of boundary transfer method in simulation of gas–solid turbulent flow of a riser

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the behavior of two phase gas solid in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser. Gas and particle phases are considered as separate fully interpenetrating continuous media within each control volume. Each phase described in terms of its own separate mass and momentum conservation equations. Simple k–epsilon (k_g–?_g) turbulence model is used for the gas phase and the solid phase is handled with the kinetic theory of granular flows. Source terms are used to account for the influence of hydrodynamic drag on the production, dissipation and exchange of turbulent kinetic energy between the phases. For the particles partial slip condition is considered at the wall.     

The motions of liquid films in a gas

The motions in a gas of thin films of a viscous incompressible liquid acted upon by capillary forces are considered. The surface tension depends on the impurity concentration of a surface-active material, soluble or insoluble in the liquid, and the liquid is non-volatile. The inertia of the liquid, viscous stresses, the Laplace pressure and the surface-tension gradients, impurity transfer and also the particular properties of super-thin films are taken into account. The motions of the films are described using the model of quasi-steady viscous flow. Systems of equations are obtained in the approximation of an ideal compressible medium and for small Mach numbers. The conditions for the incompressible film surface approximation to hold are obtained. The severe limitations of the gas-dynamic approximation in the case of a soluble impurity due to attenuation of the waves related to diffusion are investigated. A continuum model of the film as a compressible medium with a non-equilibrium pressure is constructed. The asymptotic form of the solutions of unsteady problems of impurity transfer in the limit of weak non-equilibrium is obtained. Integrals of the equations of motion of the films in steady one-dimensional problems are derived. Integral forms of the equations of momentum and its moment for an arbitrary contour of the film are presented, which hold for steady flows in a film and in quasi-statics. The boundary conditions for the solutions of the system of equations of motion of films are given.