An interface accurate numerical method for liquid–gas phase change in the front-tracking framework

An interface accurate numerical method for phase-change processes is developed, and the velocity decomposition is introduced into the front-tracking framework. The method decomposes the velocity field into a potential part associated with phase change and a rotational part. The two parts are solved separately, which decouples the numerical errors in the potential and rotational parts during the advancement of the liquid–gas interface. The results of the present method are compared with the existing method at various density ratios, demonstrating more accurate representation of the interface and robust using the present method. Additionally, by explicitly tracking the interface, the method reduces the number of Poisson equations solved compared to the interface capturing framework, improving the computational efficiency during the interface advection process. The proposed method is validated through a series of benchmark tests, including the one-dimensional (1D) Stefan problem, the one-dimensional (1D) sucking problem, and two-dimensional (2D) droplet evaporation at both saturation and sub-saturation temperatures. Additionally, the method is tested by simulating one or two evaporating droplets falling under gravity in both two- and three-dimensional cases, further demonstrating its accuracy and robustness.