ICE Strömungsforschung

1 D Flow Simulation

In this work a one-dimensional transient solver for two-phase flow problems is presented. An Euler-Euler approach is implemented in OpenFOAM, with one compressible phase. Thus, it is among other things possible to calculate the behaviour of a two-phase flow, during undesired incidents, such as the closure of a safety valve. The one-dimensional approach was chosen because the high computational costs of the process under investigation limit the applicability of a three-dimensional model.
Amongst a huge variety of possible applications in many natural and industrial processes, chemical engineering, nuclear engineering and multiphase flow lines e.g. in the petroleum industry should be especially mentioned.
The basic model presumes a stratified flow regime, but relationships for other flow regions, as well as, different friction models can be easily incorporated into the existing model. Furthermore, the solver is capable of determining the two-phase flow in hilly-terrain.
A novel meshing library was programmed, which provides an easy tool for the construction of sophisticated pipe networks. Currently the two-phase flow can be calculated in straight pipe segments, but future developments will lead to the possibility to construct and compute even curved pipe sections.
The results of the computation are on the one hand compared to analytical solutions, but also to experiments that are carried out on real pipeline networks. These results provide useful information about the gas and fluid velocities, the pressure drop and the void fraction distribution, which leads to a better understanding of the flow behaviour.