1NUMERICAL METHODS FOR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS WITH PHASE CHANGES

Abstract. In this report, we present mathematical modeling and numerical solution of a porous media flow system. Propane (C3H8) is taken as the fluid through a porous medium with a phase change between liquid and gas. The mass balance and the energy balance (along with Darcy’s law) are the basic ingredients of the mathematical model. We have used the numerical density-enthalpy method to solve the system by taking density and enthalpy as state variables whereas pressure, temperature, and gas mass fraction are computed by using density-enthalpy phase diagrams. This approach of solving a multi-phase fluid system eliminates the requirement of separate sets of equations for various phases and necessitates fewer parametric assumptions. 1