A finite-volume/level-set interface capturing method for unstructured grids: Simulations of bubbles rising through viscous liquids

Abstract

A numerical method is developed for simulating two-phase flows with moving inter-phase boundaries, which is integrated in a finite-volume framework on collocated unstructured grids of arbitrary element type. The location, geometry and the movement of the discontinuities are described by the conservative levelset method. The proposed algorithm is validated with experimental results of the buoyant rise of an isolated bubble. Then the method is applied to simulate the interaction between two bubbles during their buoyant rise. Finally, simulations for a set of bubbles with the same diameter initially placed in a random pattern in a periodic cylindrical duct are also carried out. In general, a good agreement is found between the current simulations and results reported in the literature.