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Volume-of-Fluid Based Finite-Volume Computational Simulations of Three-Phase Nanoparticle-Liquid-Gas Boiling Problems in Vertical Rectangular Channels

Author

Listed:
  • Anele Mavi

    (Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
    Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

  • Tiri Chinyoka

    (Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
    Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

Abstract

This study develops robust numerical algorithms for the simulation of three-phase (solid-liquid-gas) boiling and bubble formation problems in rectangular channels. The numerical algorithms are based on the Finite Volume Methods (FVM) and implement both the volume-of-fluid (VOF) methods for liquid-gas interface tracking as well as the volume-fraction methods to account for the concentration of embedded solid nano-particles in the liquid phase. Water is used as the base-liquid and the solid phase is modelled via metallic nano-particles (both aluminium oxide and titanium oxide nano-particles are considered) that are homogeneously mixed within the liquid phase. The gas phase is considered as a vapour arising from the bolling processes of the liquid-phase. The finite volume methodology is implemented on the OpenFOAM software platform, specifically by careful modification and manipulation of existing OpenFOAM solvers. The governing fluid dynamical equations, for the three-phase boiling problem, take into account the thermal conductivity effects of the solid (nano-particle), the momentum and energy equations for both the liquid-phase and the gas-phase, and finally the decoupled mass conservation equations for the liquid- and gas- phases. The decoupled mass conservation equations are specifically used to model the phase change between the liquid- and gas- phases. In addition to the FVM and VOF numerical methodologies for the discretization of the governing equations, the pressure-velocity coupling is resolved via the PIMPLE algorithm, a combination of the Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operator (PISO) and the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) algorithms. The computational results are presented graphically with respect to variations in time as well as in the nano-particle volume fractions. The simulations and results accurately capture the formation of vapour bubbles in the two-phase (particle-free) liquid-gas flow and additionally the computational algorithms are similarly demonstrated to accurately illustrate and capture simulated boiling processes. The presence of the nano-particles is demonstrated to enhance the heat-transfer, boiling, and bubble formation processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Anele Mavi & Tiri Chinyoka, 2022. "Volume-of-Fluid Based Finite-Volume Computational Simulations of Three-Phase Nanoparticle-Liquid-Gas Boiling Problems in Vertical Rectangular Channels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:15:p:5746-:d:882894
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Idrees Khan & Tiri Chinyoka & Andrew Gill, 2022. "Computational Analysis of Shear Banding in Simple Shear Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid-Based Nanofluids Subject to Exothermic Reactions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Idrees Khan & Tiri Chinyoka & Andrew Gill & Ahmed Zeeshan, 2022. "Dynamics of Non-Isothermal Pressure-Driven Flow of Generalized Viscoelastic-Fluid-Based Nanofluids in a Channel," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2022, pages 1-17, February.
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