Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow

Dr. Abdullah Shah

Department of Mathematics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology,
Islamabad.
E-mail: abdullah@lsec.cc.ac.cn
Frontiers of Information Technology, Islamabad, 2011.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Outlines
1. Introduction to Scientic Computing
2. Phase-Field Model
3. Numerical Algorithm
4. Application to Two-Phase Flow Problems
5. Summary
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Introduction
During the last half century scientic/numerical techniques has
become the leading tools for studying the behavior of mathematical
models(ODEs/PDEs) representing natural physical system.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Scientic Computing

What is Scientic Computing?

The collection of Tools, Techniques and Theories required to

solve on a computer mathematical models of problems in
science and engineering.

Distinguishing features of scientic computing

Deals with continuous quantities

Considers eects of approximations

Why scientic computing?

Simulation of natural phenomena

Virtual prototyping of engineering designs

Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Process of Scientic Computing

Mathematical Models.

Numerical Discretization.

Algebraic Solution.

Computer Code.

Computer Implementation

Evaluation(satisfactory/not satisfactory)

Applications
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow

Old Concept

Mathematics Courses teach analytical techniques ...

Not perfect.

Engineering Courses work on real problems ...

Not ecient

New Concept

It is time to bring them together ... Possible ???

Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Phase-eld Model

In two-phase systems, the components are separated by a

sharp interface that evolves in time.

The interface represents a continuous, but steep change of the

properties(density, viscosity, etc) of two uids.

In phase-eld model, sharp uid interfaces are removed by

non-zero thickness in the transition regions, where the
interfacial forces are equally distributed.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
A diusive Phase-eld approach
Geometric illustration: introducing a smooth but nearly
piecewise constant phase eld function (x, t) = 1 to label the
two uids (e.g., (x, t) = 1 in one uid and (x, t) = +1 in the
other) with a transitional layer of thickness :
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Most appealing features of these models for us is that
1. A broad spectrum of distinct problems can be studied by
single set of equations.
2. No need to track the interface explicitly because of the
natural emergence of interface.
3. The phase-eld model becomes identical to the sharp interface
model, when the thickness of the interface goes to zero.
Figure 1: a. Diuse interface b. Sharp interface
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
The evolution of is governed by the following gradient ow;

t
+u =
_

= ( f ()) , (Allen-Cahn Eq.)

_
= ( f ()) . (Cahn-Hilliard Eq.)
Adding Lagrange multiplier (t) in the Allen-Cahn equation to
conserve the mass.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Navier-Stokes+Allen Cahn
System of equations, modeling a specic type of mixture of two
incompressible uids;
u = 0 , (1a)
u
t
+ (u) u up = b() , (1b)

t
+ (u ) = (f () (t)
_
1
2
_
) , (1c)
d
dt
_

dx = 0 . (1d)
The coupled nonlinear system (1) will be subject to the initial
conditions
u|
t=0
= u
0
, |
t=0
=
0
,
The buoyancy force with gravitational acceleration g in the y
direction is;
b =
_
0,
1
2
g(1 + )
1

1
2
g(1 )
2
_
T
. (2)
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Governing equation with AC term in conservative form:
Q

+I
m
Q
t
+ (E E
v
)
x
+ (F F
v
)
y
= S
int
, (3)
with
Q =
_

_
p
u
v

_
, E =
_

_
u
u
2
+ p
uv
u
_

_
, F =
_

_
v
uv
v
2
+ p
v
_

_
, I
m
=
_

_
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
_

_
,
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
By assuming = , the Jacobian matrices of the ux vectors;
A=
E
Q
=
_

_
0 0 0
1 2u 0 0
0 v u 0
0 0 u
_

_
, B=
F
Q
=
_

_
0 0 0
0 v u 0
1 0 2v 0
0 0 v
_

_
.
It is possible to diagonalize A and B as
A = X
A
X
1
, B = Y
B
Y
1
,
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
The whole system in discretized form is
_
H+
_

x
X
+
A
X
1
+
+
x
X

A
X
1
I
2
x
_
+
_

y
Y
+
B
Y
1
+
+
y
Y

B
Y
1
I
2
y
_
m
Q
m
= S
m
.(4)
By using Approximate Factorization approach, we have
_
H+
_

x
X
+
A
X
1
+
+
x
X

A
X
1
I
2
x
_
H
1

_
H+
_

y
Y
+
B
Y
1
+
+
y
Y

B
Y
1
I
2
y
_
Q
m
= S
m
. (5)
which can be solved with ADI scheme. In fact, we need to solve a
system of scalar tri-diagonal equations like

i
U
i 1
+
i
U
i
+
i
U
i +1
= r
i
, i = 1, , imax 1
with periodic boundary condition U
1
= U
max
in each direction.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Numerical Results

The physical parameters appeared in the formulations are

xed as;
= 0.02, = 0.1, = 0.1, = 0.1, and dt = 0.002
and computational domain is 321 321 uniform grid points.

The initial velocity and pressure are zero in all computation on

a square domain [0, 2]
2
, while the initial condition for is
specied in each example.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Example 1: Deformation of rectangular bubble
The density of the bubble is lighter than the density of the
surrounding uid i.e.,
1

2
= 0.01. The rectangular bubble
quickly deform into a circular bubble due the surface tension eect
and rise.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Example 2: a lighter bubble rising in heavier uid
rising bubbles is loading ...
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Example 3: Coalescence of the three bubbles
Coalescence of the three bubbles is loading ...
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Example4 : Penetration of heavy uid into a light uid
Rayleigh Taylor instability
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Summary

Diuse interface/Phase eld model can be used to simulate

many problems related to interfacial dynamics, and couple
multi-scale, multi-processes.

Diuse interface approach can be eciently implemented via

mesh adaptivity, and it is shown to be very eective through
comparing with experimental ndings

Schemes for retrieving topological information within general

diuse interface framework may have broad applications.
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow
Thanks
A good solution algorithm is usually a better investment than a
supercomputer
Gilbert Strang
Dr. Abdullah Shah Computer-based Simulation of Multiphase Flow