Implementation of the IDEAL algorithm for complex steady-state incompressible fluid flow problems in OpenFOAM

The IDEAL algorithm is an efficient and robust pressure-velocity coupling algorithm, which has been applied in a variety of fluid flow and heat transfer problems. However, the further development of the IDEAL algorithm encounters with two key issues: it is hard to be mastered by other researchers and difficult to be extended to complex engineering problems. In order to overcome these two issues, the IDEAL algorithm is implemented in the world's most widely used open source CFD software - OpenFOAM. In that way, it is convenient for any researcher to employ the IDEAL algorithm to solve complex fluid flow problems. Then, the performance of IDEAL algorithm is analyzed with focus on complex steady-state incompressible fluid flow problems. The results indicate that the IDEAL algorithm is superior to the SIMPLE and SIMPLEC algorithms in convergence and robustness for complex cases. In particular, the IDEAL algorithm can reach convergence, whereas the SIMPLE and SIMPLEC algorithms cannot obtain convergent solution in some cases. This research lays a foundation for a wider application of the IDEAL algorithm in complex engineering problems.