Modeling two-phase flow in microchannel by density functional method

In the present work capabilities of Density Functional Method in Hydrodynamics to model interfacial flows are tested via simulating two-phase flow in a square microchannel. A set of numerical experiments reproducing conditions of previous laboratory study was carried out and the results obtained were compared. Laboratory observations demonstrated that several flow regimes (threading, jetting and dripping) could take place depending on fluids' flow rates, surface tension and viscosity ratio. The regimes identified were located on a flow map in respect to capillary numbers for both liquids. In numerical experiments the same range of capillary numbers was covered and all the regimes were reconstructed. Flow map based on the numerical data was found to have similar structure to the experimental one. However, some divergence in regime's boundary positions was observed. Probable reasons for this divergence are discussed.