Simulations of Compressible Multiphase Flows Through a Tube of Varying Cross-Section

The simulation of multiphase compressible flows through high pressure nozzles is presented. The study uses the developed numerical approach. There are many important engineering applications which are concerned with multiphase flows and convergent-divergent nozzles. This work presents the developed extension of the model and numerical algorithm based on the so called parent model earlier introduced by Saurel and Abgrall [Saurel, R. and Abgrall, R., A Multiphase Godunov Method for Compressible Multifluid and Multiphase Flows, J. Comput. Phys. 150 (1999), 425–467]. This model which consists of conservation laws for each phase complemented with the volume fraction evolution equation is modified by adding a source term to simulate area variation. The model is strictly hyperbolic and non-conservative due to the existence of non-conservative terms. The model is able to deal with compressible and incompressible flows. Moreover, it can deal with mixtures and pure fluids, where each fluid has its own pressure and velocity. The presence of velocity and pressure relaxation terms in the governing equations has made the velocity and pressure relaxation processes essential to tackle the boundary conditions at the interface. The interface separating phases is considered as a numerical diffusion zone in this method. The model is solved using an efficient Eulerian numerical method. A second order Godunov-type scheme with approximate Riemann solver is used to enable capturing of a physical interface by the resolution of the Riemann problem. The solution is obtained by splitting the hyperbolic part and source terms parts in the numerical algorithm. The source terms, including relaxation parts of the model, are tackled in succession using Strang splitting technique. The governing equations are solved at each computational cell using the same numerical algorithm for the whole domain including the interface. The main aim of this work has been to study different flow regimes with respect to pressure boundary conditions through the numerical solutions of single and multiphase flows. The performance of the programme has been verified via well established benchmark test problems for multiphase flows.