On a Novel Dual-Grid Level-Set Method for Two-Phase Flow Simulation

Abstract

In this work, a hypothesis is proposed for two-phase flow simulation: The number of grid points required for the grid-independent solution of the flow field is lesser than that required to capture the grid-independent interface. Based on this, a dual-grid level-set(LS) method (DGLSM) is proposed, where the LS and energy equations are solved on a uniform grid which is twice finer than the continuity and momentum equations. This novel grid arrangement is aimed at improving interface resolution with only a slight increase in computational time. Qualitative and quantitative results of the DGLSM are compared against analytical, experimental, and numerical results on three stringent test problems: dam break, Rayleigh-Taylor instability, and film boiling. The results show that the DGLSM is accurate and robust, even for surface tension-dominant flows. Moreover, the hypothesis is corroborated by showing that the DGLSM is nearly as accurate as the completely refined traditional LS method at substantially less computational expense.

The present work is part of a research project funded by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (India) under Project 2007/36/14-BRNS/718.