Boiling in porous media: Model and simulations

J. Bénard (1) , Robert Eymard (2) , Xavier Nicolas (1) , C. Chavant (3)

1 TCM
2 LETEM - Laboratoire d'Etudes des Transferts d'Energie et de Matière
3 EDF R&D - EDF R&D

We present a modelization of the heat and mass transfers within a porous medium, which takes into account phase transitions. Classical equations are derived for the mass conservation equation, whereas the equation of energy relies on an entropy balance adapted to the case of a rigid porous medium. The approximation of the solution is obtained using a finite volume scheme coupled with the management of phase transitions. This model is shown to apply in the case of an experiment of heat generation in a porous medium. The vapor phase appearance is well reproduced by the simulations, and the size of the two-phase region is correctly predicted. A result of this study is the evidence of the discrepancy between the air - water capillary and relative permeability curves and water - water vapor ones.

Mots clés: Mass transfer; Mathematical models; Phase transitions; Vapors; Water; modelisation; ebullition; porous media; numerical simulation; Finite volume method; Phase transition; Two-phase flow in porous media; Water-vapor; capillary curve; Boiling liquids; Computer simulation; Entropy; Heat transfer

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

J. Bénard, Robert Eymard, Xavier Nicolas, C. Chavant. Boiling in porous media: Model and simulations. Transport in Porous Media, 2005, 60 (1), pp.1-31. ⟨10.1007/s11242-004-2594-9⟩. ⟨hal-00694587⟩