Title: Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in airlift pumps using the Physical Influence Scheme

Authors: Pedram Hanafizadeh, M.H. Saidi, Masoud Darbandi, Azade Kebriaee

Addresses: Center of Excellence in Energy Conversion, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran. ' Center of Excellence in Energy Conversion, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran. ' Centre of Excellence in Energy Conversion, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran. ' Centre of Excellence in Energy Conversion, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9567, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: A new approach has been presented to solve gas-liquid flow numerically in vertical pipes of air-lift pumps. To improve modelling, a new strategy has been employed with the capability of coupling the continuity and momentum equations and enforcing the role of pressure directly in the continuity equation. This is achieved via applying a novel scheme called the Physical Influence Scheme (PIS). The current finite volume solution is compared with other available numerical solutions. Indeed, they are in fair agreement. However, the present predictions are far superior to those obtained from an existing simple method, which is widely used in airlift pump modelling.

Keywords: airlift pumps; two-phase flow; finite volume method; PIS; physical influence scheme; two-fluid approach; gas-liquid flow; vertical pipes; pump modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2010.033330

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2010 Vol.10 No.3, pp.186 - 194

Published online: 25 May 2010 *

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