Methods to Increase the Robustness of Finite-Volume Flow Models in Thermodynamic Systems

Sylvain Quoilin, Ian Bell, Adriano Desideri, Pierre Dewallef and Vincent Lemort
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Sylvain Quoilin: Thermodynamics Laboratory, University of Liege, Batiment B49, Chemin des Chevreuils 7, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Ian Bell: Thermodynamics Laboratory, University of Liege, Batiment B49, Chemin des Chevreuils 7, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Adriano Desideri: Thermodynamics Laboratory, University of Liege, Batiment B49, Chemin des Chevreuils 7, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Pierre Dewallef: Thermodynamics Laboratory, University of Liege, Batiment B49, Chemin des Chevreuils 7, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Vincent Lemort: Thermodynamics Laboratory, University of Liege, Batiment B49, Chemin des Chevreuils 7, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Energies, 2014, vol. 7, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: This paper addresses the issues linked to simulation failures during integration in finite-volume flow models, especially those involving a two-phase state. This kind of model is particularly useful when modeling 1D heat exchangers or piping, e.g., in thermodynamic cycles involving a phase change. Issues, such as chattering or stiff systems, can lead to low simulation speed, instabilities and simulation failures. In the particular case of two-phase flow models, they are usually linked to a discontinuity in the density derivative between the liquid and two-phase zones. In this work, several methods to tackle numerical problems are developed, described, implemented and compared. In addition, methods available in the literature are also implemented and compared to the proposed approaches. Results suggest that the robustness of the models can be significantly increased with these different methods, at the price of a small increase of the error in the mass and energy balances.

Keywords: finite volumes; chattering; two-phase flow; stiffness; Modelica (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: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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