Numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flow in a horizontally placed hydrophobic rectangular channel (Part 1, influence of abrupt expansion)

Abstract

This paper aims to computationally investigate flow patterns of gas-liquid two-phase with an abrupt expansion. To do so, the present computation is nicely verified against the previous experimental results for a good wettability surface. These rectangular channels have a thickness narrower than the Laplace constant of the present situation. Under a poor wettability condition, this narrow thickness affects the flow pattern; e.g., the air phase forms channeling behind the expansion in a low airflow rate whereas the air phase becomes fragments of bubbles due to the expansion under a good wettability condition.