PHASE-FIELD MODELING OF BOILING HEAT TRANSFER

In this work, we propose a phase-field method for interface-resolved simulations of boiling heat transfer. The numerical method relies on Navier–Stokes equations, used to describe the flow-field, coupled with a phase-field method, used to describe interface position, and the energy equation, used to describe the temperature. The continuity and Navier–Stokes equations have been modified introducing a source term that accounts for phase change and the non-divergence free condition at the interface. Likewise, in the phase-field method governing equation, a source term that accounts for phase-change is introduced. The system of governing equations is solved using a projection-correction method and equations are discretized using a second-order finite difference approach on a staggered grid. The proposed method is validated against several benchmarks: an interface undergoing vaporization at a constant rate, the Stefan problem, and the condensation of a 2D vapor bubble. For all the benchmarks, we consider FC72 fluid properties and all results match well with analytical and archival literature results.