Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 410272, 8 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/410272
Research Article

Euler-Euler Large Eddy Simulation of a Square Cross-Sectional Bubble Column Using the Neptune_CFD Code

B. Ničeno,1 M. Boucker,2 and B. L. Smith1

1Thermal-Hydraulics Laboratory, Nuclear Energy and Safety Department, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
2Research & Development/MFEE, Electricité de France(EDF), 6 quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France

Received 5 December 2007; Accepted 28 January 2008

Academic Editor: Iztok Tiselj

Copyright © 2009 B. Ničeno et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

In this work, we report on Euler-Euler large eddy simulation (EELES) of dispersed bubbly flow in a square cross-sectional bubble column. Simulations are performed using the Neptune_CFD package, and results processed using the SALOME platform. The motivation to undertake this study is to check our implementation of the Smagorinsky subgrid-scale (SGS) model into Neptune_CFD. We outline all the physical models used, and we present instantaneous realizations of velocity and void fraction fields in order to illustrate the structure of the turbulence field, and long-time averaged results, to compare with analogous simulations performed using the CFX-4 code and experimental data. The same physical models and constants have been used in both the CFX-4 and Neptune_CFD codes, except the SGS model, which is Smagorinsky in case of Neptune_CFD and a one-equation model in CFX-4. The results obtained with EELES compare reasonably well with experiment, meaning in particular that the implementations have been successful. Some perspectives on the further use of EELES are also given.