A Navier-Stokes/Cahn-Hilliard model for the simulation of three phase immiscible incompressible flows

This paper presents a Navier-Stokes/Cahn-Hilliard model designed for incompressible flows of three immiscible phases, characterized by different surface tensions and without phase change. This physical context is relevant to study the late phase of a hypothetical severe accident in a nuclear pressurized water reactor. Thanks to a suitable choice of a free energy and a particular form of the Cahn-Hilliard equation, the evolution of the three phases is described by only two order parameters. Moreover, this model allows the simulation of purely two phase flows as a limiting case: no artificial apparition of the third phase occurs if this later is physically absent which contrasts with others models of the literature. We examine the spreading of a liquid lens at the interface between two stratified phases. We present results showing that the method gives correct contact angles and pressure jumps, at equilibrium. (authors)