Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Flashing Flow in Convergent-Divergent Nozzle

In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics model of flashing flow, which considers the thermal nonequilibrium effect, has been proposed. In the proposed model, based on the two-phase mixture approach, the phase-change process depends on the difference between the vaporization pressure and the vapor partial pressure. The thermal nonequilibrium effect has been included by using ad hoc modeling of the boiling delay. The proposed model has been applied to the case of two-dimensional axisymmetric convergent-divergent nozzle, which is representative of well-known applications in nuclear and energy engineering applications (e.g., the primary flow in the motive nozzle of ejectors). The numerical results have been validated based on a benchmark case from the literature and have been compared with the numerical results previously obtained by different research groups. The proposed approach has shown a good level of agreement as regards the global and the local experimental fluid dynamic quantities. In addition, sensitivity analyses have been carried out concerning (a) grid independency, (b) turbulence modeling approaches, (c) near-wall treatment approaches, (d) turbulence inlet parameters, and (e) semi-empirical coefficients. In conclusion, the present paper aims to provide guidelines for the simulation of flash boiling flow in industrial applications.