Validation of the Eulerian–Eulerian Two-Fluid Method and the RPI Wall Partitioning Model Predictions in OpenFOAM with Respect to the Flow Boiling Characteristics within Conventional Tubes and Micro-Channels

Konstantinos Vontas, Marco Pavarani, Nicolas Miché, Marco Marengo and Anastasios Georgoulas ()
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Konstantinos Vontas: Advanced Engineering Centre, School of Architecture Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
Marco Pavarani: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43121 Parma, Italy
Nicolas Miché: Advanced Engineering Centre, School of Architecture Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
Marco Marengo: Advanced Engineering Centre, School of Architecture Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
Anastasios Georgoulas: Advanced Engineering Centre, School of Architecture Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-26

Abstract: Flow boiling within conventional, mini and micro-scale channels is encountered in a wide range of engineering applications such as nuclear reactors, steam engines and cooling of electronic devices. Due to the high complexity and importance of the boiling process, several numerical and experimental investigations have been conducted for the better understanding of the underpinned physics and heat transfer characteristics. One of the most widely used numerical approaches that can analyse such phenomena is the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid method in conjunction with the RPI model. However, according to the current state-of-the-art methods this modelling approach heavily relies on empirical closure relationships derived for conventional channels, limiting its applicability to mini- and micro-scale channels. The present paper aims to give further insights into the applicability of this modelling approach for non-conventional channels. For this purpose, a numerical investigation utilising the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model and the RPI wall heat flux partitioning model in OpenFOAM 8.0 is conducted. Initially the parameters comprising the empirical closure relationships used in the RPI sub-models are tuned against the DEBORA experiments on conventional channels, through an extensive sensitivity analysis. In the second part of the investigation, numerical simulations against flow boiling experiments within micro-channels are performed, utilising the previously optimised and validated model setup. Furthermore the importance of including a bubble coalescence and break-up sub-model to capture parameters such as the radial velocity profiles, is also illustrated. However, when the optimal model setup, in conventional tubes, is used against micro-channel experiments, the need to develop new correlations from data obtained from mini and micro-scale channel studies, not from experimental data on conventional channels, is revealed.

Keywords: sub-cooled flow boiling; Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid; micro-channels; closure models; RPI wall boiling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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