Energy preserving multiphase flows: Application to falling films

TL;DR

This paper introduces an energy-preserving numerical method for simulating multiphase flows, specifically applied to falling films in LiBr absorption chillers, addressing challenges like phase transport and capillary effects.

Contribution

It extends previous surface tension discretization methods to include consistent mass and momentum transfer, creating a fully energy-preserving multiphase flow simulation approach.

Findings

Successfully simulates falling films under various conditions.

Maintains energy conservation in multiphase flow simulations.

Provides insights into flow behavior in absorption chillers.

Abstract

The numerical simulation of multiphase flows presents several challenges, namely the transport of different phases within de domain and the inclusion of capillary effects. Here, these are approached by enforcing a discrete physics-compatible solution. Extending our previous work on the discretization of surface tension [N. Valle, F. X. Trias, and J. Castro. An energy-preserving level set method for multiphase flows. J. Comput. Phys., 400:108991, 2020] with a consistent mass and momentum transfer a fully energy-preserving multiphase flow method is presented. This numerical technique is showcased within the simulation of a falling film under several working conditions related to the normal operation of LiBr absorption chillers.