Numerical modelling of flashing flow phase change in convergent-divergent nozzle: A sensitivity analysis

A sensitivity analysis of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of flashing flow phenomenon including the thermal non-equilibrium effect is proposed in the present paper. The model uses a two-phase mixture approach and the phase-change process is based on the difference between the vaporization pressure and the vapour partial pressure. Thermal non-equilibrium effect is included in the model by a sub-routine for the boiling delay. A two-dimensional axisymmetric convergent-divergent nozzle is used as benchmark for the proposed study. Such geometry is representative of well-known applications in nuclear, refrigeration and energy engineering (e.g., primary flow in the motive nozzle of ejectors). The results are compared to experimental data and previous numerical results available in literature. Present results show good agreement with global and local experimental fluid dynamic quantities used to validate the model. The paper includes in the first part a brief description of physical phenomenon of flashing flow, the experimental benchmark geometry and operating conditions. In the second part, the physical model and the numerical modeling approach are reported, showing the validation and the results related to the sensitivity analyses of the artificial coefficients characterizing the modelling approach.