In this study a numerical analysis of
the flow behaviour on and around filling
elements in an exhaust gas scrubber
is conducted using the Volume of
Fluid method and periodic boundary
conditions. Two VOF models have
been tested with the difference being the
schemes, MULES or isoAdvector, used
to recreate the interphase between the
fluids. The specific pressure loss and
water droplets terminal velocity have
been validated using periodic boundaries.
Furthermore simulations of the
dynamic behaviour of water droplets
on solid surfaces have been conducted
and validated against empirical data.
The simulations of the water and gas
behaviour around the filling elements
showed that the MULES scheme requires
a fine mesh to properly resolve
the interphase. On the other hand the
isoAdvector scheme was able to obtain
a sharp interphase on a coarser mesh,
however the water volume within the
system was not conserved over time.