Development of chemical species mass sink algorithm in OpenFOAM for membrane modules separation processes

Applying sink terms in simulations of separation processes is a convenient technique that allows the reproduction and retention of selected components of a mixture. There are a few ways to add chemical species sink terms in OpenFOAM, but there is no explicit method to apply a sink term in the continuity equation, since it is solved by pressure-velocity coupling. This study provides a way to implement it by altering the pressure-velocity coupling algorithms and relating it to the species sink. The method was tested by simulating a case of membrane gas separation. The residuals were analyzed, and numerical convergence was achieved.