An Overview of Multi-Phase Flow Numerical Methods

Abstract

Numerical simulation of multi-phase flows is complicated and time-intensive. Many investigators have utilized different numerical approaches to describe multi-phase flows in various practical problems, including sprays, cyclones, stratification, etc. This review paper introduces four numerical schemes, including Eulerian–Lagrangian (E–L), Eulerian– Eulerian (E–E), Volume of Fluid (VOF), and front tracking (FT), employed to simulate multi-phase flows. Some advances in the field are introduced and some main characteristics are compared. It is demonstrated that the selection of an appropriate approach depends on the major hydrodynamic properties of the problem.