A second-order multi-fluid model for evaporating sprays

The aim of this paper is to present a method using both the ideas of sectional approach and moment methods in order to accurately simulate evaporation phenomena in gas-droplets flows. Using the underlying kinetic interpretation of the sectional method [Y. Tambour, Combust. Flame 60 (1985) 15-28] exposed in [F. Laurent and M. Massot, Combust. Theory Model. 5 (2001) 537-572], we propose an extension of this approach based on a more accurate representation of the droplet size number density in each section ensuring the exact conservation of two moments (as opposed to only one moment used in the classical approach). A corresponding second-order numerical scheme, with respect to space and droplet size variables, is also introduced and can be proved to be positive and to satisfy a maximum principle on the velocity and the mean droplet mass under a suitable CFL-like condition. Numerical simulations have been performed and the results confirm the accuracy of this new method even when a very coarse mesh for the droplet size variable (i.e.: a low number of sections) is used.