CFD Simulation of Boiling Flows Using the Volume-of-Fluid Method within OpenFOAM

Abstract

This article describes the implementation and validation of a nucleate boiling model in the volume-of-fluid solver of OpenFOAM. Emphasis is put on the implementation of the contact line evaporation, which can typically not be resolved by the numerical grid, and on the conjugate heat transfer between solid and fluid. For validation, the sucking interface problem and the growth of a spherical bubble have been simulated successfully. In order to validate the contact line model and the conjugate heat transfer, the growth of a bubble from a heated steel foil has been calculated.