The feasibility to solve incompressible,single-phase,gravitational flow by interFoam

Gunther_123 · July 28, 2024, 04:55

Dear Foamers,

I am looking for a solver for incompressible, single-phase, gravitational flow. I have seen that some people on CFD Online prefer adding a gravity source term to pisoFoam. You can find the discussion here:

single phase, incompressible, flow with gravity

I am wondering if interFoam could be used to solve this problem by setting the alpha.water in the fluid domain to 1. While it seems like it might work, I am not entirely sure.

Thank you!

Tobermory · July 31, 2024, 07:26

Before answering, we need to know where are the buoyancy effects coming from ... is there heat transfer? is there mixing of gases with different molecular weights?

If it is all one fluid, then try something like buoyantSimpleFoam (or equivalent - this solver has changed name various times), i.e. a solver from the heatTransfer stable.

If there are multiple gases, then you'll need to use something like rhoReactingBuoyantFoam (again that is the OF v8 name), turning off the reactions and radiation.

I wouldn't recommend using interFoam - that is designed for 2phase free surface flows.

Gunther_123 · August 3, 2024, 15:40

Hi Tobermory,

Thank you very much for your kind reply! In my situation, the buoyancy effects are due to static hydrostatic pressure. There is no heat transfer, and only one phase, water, is present. From my perspective, when the alpha is constant in the region, the momentum equation can be simplified, similar to using pisoFoam with gravity. This is why I am considering using interFoam for my case.

Best wishes!

July 28, 2024, 04:55	The feasibility to solve incompressible,single-phase,gravitational flow by interFoam	#1
Gunther_123 New Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 4	Dear Foamers, I am looking for a solver for incompressible, single-phase, gravitational flow. I have seen that some people on CFD Online prefer adding a gravity source term to pisoFoam. You can find the discussion here: single phase, incompressible, flow with gravity I am wondering if interFoam could be used to solve this problem by setting the alpha.water in the fluid domain to 1. While it seems like it might work, I am not entirely sure. Thank you! Last edited by Gunther_123; July 29, 2024 at 10:02.

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July 31, 2024, 07:26		#2
Tobermory Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: UK Posts: 745 Rep Power: 14	Before answering, we need to know where are the buoyancy effects coming from ... is there heat transfer? is there mixing of gases with different molecular weights? If it is all one fluid, then try something like buoyantSimpleFoam (or equivalent - this solver has changed name various times), i.e. a solver from the heatTransfer stable. If there are multiple gases, then you'll need to use something like rhoReactingBuoyantFoam (again that is the OF v8 name), turning off the reactions and radiation. I wouldn't recommend using interFoam - that is designed for 2phase free surface flows.

August 3, 2024, 15:40		#3
Gunther_123 New Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 4	Hi Tobermory, Thank you very much for your kind reply! In my situation, the buoyancy effects are due to static hydrostatic pressure. There is no heat transfer, and only one phase, water, is present. From my perspective, when the alpha is constant in the region, the momentum equation can be simplified, similar to using pisoFoam with gravity. This is why I am considering using interFoam for my case. Best wishes!