Predictions of Phase Distribution in Liquid-liquid Two-component Flow Using FLUENT-IATE

摘要

Eulerian multiphase model in FLUENT coupled with a one-group interfacial area transport equation (IATE), called the FLUENT-IATE model, takes into account the physical processes of fluid particle interactions and dynamic changes in the interfacial structure of two-phase flows. A recent study showed that the FLUENT-IATE model improved the predictive capability of the conventional FLUENT code when an upward air-water bubbly flow was concerned [1]. In the current study, the FLUENT-IATE model was applied to a liquid-liquid two-component flow consisting of two immiscible liquids of similar density, namely water as the continuous phase and Therminol 59 as the dispersed phase. This flow is used to simulate reduced-gravity two-phase flows on ground for space applications. Important local flow parameters, such as the void fraction (volumetric faction of the dispersed phase, i.e., drops), interfacial area concentration (IAC), and drop velocity acquired in the experiments [2], were compared with the code predictions. The agreement between the experimental data and code predictions was satisfactory, which implies that the FLUENT-IATE model can be considered as a useful tool applicable to liquid-liquid bubbly flow simulations.