Extension of the inhomogeneous MUSIG model for bubble condensation

Bubble condensation plays an important role, e.g. in sub-cooled boiling or steam injection into pools. Since the condensation rate is proportional to the interfacial area density, bubble size distributions have to be considered in an adequate modeling of the condensation process. The effect of bubble sizes was clearly shown in experimental investigations done previously at the TOPFLOW facility of FZD. Steam bubbles were injected into a sub-cooled upward pipe flow via orifices in the pipe wall located at different distances from measuring plane. 1 mm and 4 mm injection orifices were used to vary the initial bubble size distribution. Measurements were done using a wire-mesh sensor. Condensation is clearly faster in case of the injection via the smaller orifices, i.e. in case of smaller bubble sizes. Recently the Inhomogeneous MUSIG model was implemented into the CFD code CFX from ANSYS enabling the simulation of poly-dispersed flows including the effects of separation of small and large bubbles due to bubble size dependent lift force inversion. It allows to divide the dispersed phase into size classes regarding the mass as well as regarding the momentum balance. Up to now transfers between the classes in the mass balance can be considered only by bubble coalescence and breakup (population balance). Here an extension of the model is proposed to include the effects due to phase transfer. The paper focuses on the derivation of equations for the extension of the Inhomogeneous MUSIG model and presents some first results for verification and validation.

► The inhomogenous MUSIG model allows 3D simulations for poly-dispersed bubbly flows. ► The model is now extended to consider flows with phase transfer. ► Experimental data for the condensation of steam bubbles in sub-cooled vertical pipe flow are used for validation. ► There is a good agreement between experimental data and CFD simulations with the ANSYS-CFX code.