Simulation of liquid–vapour phase transitions and multiphase flows by an improved lattice Boltzmann model

An improved lattice Boltzmann (LB) model with a new scheme for the interparticle interaction force term is proposed in this paper. Based on the improved LB model, the equation-free method is implemented for simulating liquid–vapour phase change and multiphase flows. The details of phase separation are presented by numerical simulation results in terms of coexistence curves and spurious currents. Compared with existing models, the proposed model can give more accurate results in a wider temperature range with the spurious currents reduced and less time consumed. Characteristics of phase separation can be quickly and accurately reflected by the proposed method. Then, the contact angle of the solid surface is numerically investigated based on the proposed model. The proposed model is valid for steady flow with near zero velocity; unsteady cases will be investigated in further studies. This work will be helpful for our long-term aim of multi-scale modelling of convective boiling.     

基于改进LBM的气液自发渗吸过程中动态润湿效应模拟

微通道内气液自发渗吸是广泛发生在自然界及诸多工业领域的物理现象,而动态接触角是影响整个渗吸过程的关键因素.针对该问题,本文使用改进的伪势多相流格子玻尔兹曼方法 (LBM),直接捕捉微通道内气液自发渗吸过程中的实时接触角,并分析接触角的动态变化特性及其对渗吸长度的影响.首先,本文在原始的伪势多相流LBM的基础上耦合Peng-Robinson (PR)状态方程,改进流体-流体作用力以及流-固作用力格式,并采用精确差分方法将外力添加至LBM框架中.然后,通过校准模型的热力学一致性,模拟测试界面张力,静态平衡接触角等界面现象验证了模型的准确性.最后,基于建立的模拟方法,在水平方向上模拟微通道内气液自发渗吸过程.结果表明:渗吸过程中的接触角呈现动态变化特征,在渗吸初期,因受到惯性力的影响存在较大波动;随着渗吸距离的增大,其逐渐减小并趋近于静态平衡接触角.渗吸过程中的接触角与微通道尺寸及静态接触角有关,随着微通道宽度增大,实时的动态接触角与静态接触角相差大;随着静态接触角增大,实时的动态接触角与静态接触角的相差增大.此外,忽略动态接触角的Lucas-Washburn (LW)方程所预测的弯液面位置...     

Issue Information ‐ TOC

Numerical modeling of multiphase flow generally requires a special procedure at the solid wall in order to be consistent with Young's law for static contact angles. The standard approach in the lattice Boltzmann method, which consists of imposing fictive densities at the solid lattice sites, is shown to be deficient for this task. Indeed, fictive mass transfer along the boundary could happen and potentially spoil the numerical results. In particular, when the contact angle is less than 90 degrees, the deficiencies of the standard model are major. Various videos that demonstrate this behavior are provided (Supporting Information). A new approach is proposed and consists of directly imposing the contact angle at the boundaries in much the same way as Dirichlet boundary conditions are generally imposed. The proposed method is able to retrieve analytical solutions for static contact angles in the case of straight and curved boundaries even when variable density and viscosity ratios between the phases are considered. Although the proposed wetting boundary condition is shown to significantly improve the numerical results for one particular class of lattice Boltzmann model, it is believed that other lattice Boltzmann multiphase schemes could also benefit from the underlying ideas of the proposed method. The proposed algorithm is two‐dimensional, and the D2Q9 lattice is used. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An approach to control the spurious currents in a multiphase lattice Boltzmann method and to improve the implementation of initial condition

Multiphase lattice Boltzmann methods are known to generate spurious or parasitic currents at the fluid–fluid interfaces. This nonphysical phenomenon has to be avoided, or at least controlled, in order to achieve reliable solutions. In this article, a method to control these fictitious velocities via lattice refinement is proposed, which is based on interface thickness control for which both the spurious currents and the physical fluid–fluid interface thickness vanishes as the spatial resolution increases. It has been found that a proper interface thickness adjustment is required as the lattice refinement is applied, or an increase in spurious currents, instead of a reduction, can occur. By combining the new method with an appropriate multiphase flow initialization, the overall stability for high density O(1000) and viscosity O(100) ratios is greatly improved. Although this research has been conducted with a Rothman and Keller type lattice Boltzmann model, it is believed that other types of multiphase lattice Boltzmann models could benefit from the basic ideas underlying this research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

梯度润湿表面上液滴定向迁移及合并行为的格子Boltzmann模拟

采用改进的格子Boltzmann方法,对梯度润湿性表面上液滴的定向迁移及合并行为进行了数值模拟,该模型在精度和稳定性上都有很大改善,同时,研究了梯度润湿性表面上液滴定向迁移和合并的动力学特性,并对液滴尺寸及润湿梯度对液滴动力学特性的影响规律进行了分析。数值结果表明,液滴在梯度润湿性表面运动时会发生形变,且动态接触角逐渐减小。润湿梯度对液滴定向迁移行为有显著影响,润湿梯度越大,液滴左右侧接触线位移越大,润湿长度增加越快。但是液滴尺寸对接触线位移影响较小。润湿梯度对液桥宽度基本无影响,但对液滴初始合并时间有显著影响。     

Three-dimensional multi-relaxation time lattice-Boltzmann model for the drop impact on a dry surface at large density ratio

Extensive application of the multiphase lattice Boltzmann model to realistic fluid flows is often restricted by the numerical instabilities induced at high liquid-to-gas density ratios, and at low viscosities. In this paper, a three-dimensional multi-relaxation time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann model with an improved forcing scheme is reported for simulating multiphase flows at high liquid-to-gas density ratios and relatively high Reynolds numbers. The model is based on a recently presented model in the literature. Firstly, the MRT multiphase model is evaluated by verifying Laplace’s law and achieving thermodynamic consistency for a static droplet. Then, a relationship between the fluid–solid interaction potential parameter and contact angle is investigated. Finally, the improved three-dimensional MRT Lattice Boltzmann model is employed in the simulation of the impingement of a liquid droplet onto a flat surface for a range of Weber and Reynolds numbers. The dynamics of the droplet spreading is reproduced and the predicted maximum spread factor is in good agreement with experimental data published in the literature.     

Implicit–explicit finite‐difference lattice Boltzmann method with viscid compressible model for gas oscillating patterns in a resonator

Difficulties for the conventional computational fluid dynamics and the standard lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to study the gas oscillating patterns in a resonator have been discussed. In light of the recent progresses in the LBM world, we are now able to deal with the compressibility and non‐linear shock wave effects in the resonator. A lattice Boltzmann model for viscid compressible flows is introduced firstly. Then, the Boltzmann equation with the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook approximation is solved by the finite‐difference method with a third‐order implicit–explicit (IMEX) Runge–Kutta scheme for time discretization, and a fifth‐order weighted essentially non‐oscillatory (WENO) scheme for space discretization. Numerical results obtained in this study agree quantitatively with both experimental data available and those using conventional numerical methods. Moreover, with the IMEX finite‐difference LBM (FDLBM), the computational convergence rate can be significantly improved compared with the previous FDLBM and standard LBM. This study can also be applied for simulating some more complex phenomena in a thermoacoustics engine. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An implicit Lagrangian lattice Boltzmann method for the compressible flows

In this paper, we propose a new Lagrangian lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for simulating the compressible flows. The new scheme simulates fluid flows based on the displacement distribution functions. The compressible flows, such as shock waves and contact discontinuities are modelled by using Lagrangian LBM. In this model, we select the element in the Lagrangian coordinate to satisfy the basic fluid laws. This model is a simpler version than the corresponding Eulerian coordinates, because the convection term of the Euler equations disappears. The numerical simulations conform to classical results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fundamentals of migrating multi-block lattice Boltzmann model for immiscible mixtures in 2D geometries

This paper proposes an extension scheme for the application of the single phase multi-block lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to the multiphase Gunstensen model, in which the grid is refined in a specific part of the domain where a fluid–fluid interface evolves, and the refined grid is free to migrate with the suspended phase in the flow direction. The method is applicable to single and multiphase flows, and it was demonstrated by simulating a benchmark single phase flow around a 2D asymmetrically placed cylinder in a channel and for investigating the shear lift of 2D neutrally buoyant drop in a parabolic flow.     

Numerical simulations of droplet formation in a cross‐junction microchannel by the lattice Boltzmann method

An immiscible liquid–liquid multiphase flow in a cross‐junction microchannel was numerically studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. An improved, immiscible lattice BGK model was proposed by introducing surface tension force based on the continuum surface force (CSF) method. Recoloring step was replaced by the anti‐diffusion scheme in the mixed region to reduce the side‐effect and control the thickness of the interface. The present method was tested by the simulation of a static bubble. Laplace's law and spurious velocities were examined. The results show that our model is more advantageous for simulations of immiscible fluids than the existing immiscible lattice BGK models. Computational results of multiphase flow in a cross‐junction microchannel were obtained and analyzed based on dimensionless numbers. It is found that the flow pattern is decided mostly by the capillary number at a small inlet flux. However, at the same capillary number, a large inlet flux will lead to much smaller droplet generation. For this case, the flow is determined by both the capillary number and the Weber number. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A hybrid phase field multiple relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method for the incompressible multiphase flow with large density contrast

A hybrid phase field multiple relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is presented in this paper for simulation of multiphase flows with large density contrast. In the present method, the flow field is solved by a lattice Boltzmann equation. Concurrently, the interface of two fluids is captured by solving the macroscopic Cahn‐Hilliard equation using the upwind scheme. To be specific, for simulation of the flow field, an lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) model developed in Shao et al. (Physical Review E, 89 (2014), 033309) for consideration of density contrast in the momentum equation is used. Moreover, in the present work, the multiple relaxation time collision operator is applied to this LBE to enable simulation of problems with large viscosity contrast or high Reynolds number. For the interface capturing, instead of solving another set of LBE as in many phase field LBMs, the macroscopic Cahn‐Hilliard equation is directly solved by using a weighted essentially non‐oscillatory scheme. In this way, the present hybrid phase field LBM shares full advantages of the phase field LBM while enhancing numerical stability. The ability of the present method to simulate multiphase flow problems with large density contrast is demonstrated by several numerical examples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lattice Boltzmann methods for global linear instability analysis

Modal global linear instability analysis is performed using, for the first time ever, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to analyze incompressible flows with two and three inhomogeneous spatial directions. Four linearization models have been implemented in order to recover the linearized Navier–Stokes equations in the incompressible limit. Two of those models employ the single relaxation time and have been proposed previously in the literature as linearization of the collision operator of the lattice Boltzmann equation. Two additional models are derived herein for the first time by linearizing the local equilibrium probability distribution function. Instability analysis results are obtained in three benchmark problems, two in closed geometries and one in open flow, namely the square and cubic lid-driven cavity flow and flow in the wake of the circular cylinder. Comparisons with results delivered by classic spectral element methods verify the accuracy of the proposed new methodologies and point potential limitations particular to the LBM approach. The known issue of appearance of numerical instabilities when the SRT model is used in direct numerical simulations employing the LBM is shown to be reflected in a spurious global eigenmode when the SRT model is used in the instability analysis. Although this mode is absent in the multiple relaxation times model, other spurious instabilities can also arise and are documented herein. Areas of potential improvements in order to make the proposed methodology competitive with established approaches for global instability analysis are discussed.     

Direct-forcing immersed boundary lattice Boltzmann simulation of particle/fluid interactions for spherical and non-spherical particles

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a useful technique for simulating multiphase flows and modeling complex physics. Specifically, we use LBM combined with a direct-forcing (DF) immersed boundary (IB) method to simulate fluid–particle interactions in two-phase particulate flows. Two grids are used in the simulation: a fixed uniform Eulerian grid for the fluid phase and a Lagrangian grid that is attached to and moves with the immersed particles. Forces are calculated at each Lagrangian point. To exchange numerical information between the two grids, discrete delta functions are used. The resulting DF IB-LBM approach is then successfully applied to a variety of reference flows, namely the sedimentation of one and two circular particles in a vertical channel, the sedimentation of one or two spheres in an enclosure, and a neutrally buoyant prolate spheroid in a Couette flow. This last application proves that the developed approach can be used also for non-spherical particles. The three forcing schemes and the different factors affecting the simulation (added mass effect, corrected radius) are also discussed.     

Near-critical CO2 liquid–vapor flow in a sub-microchannel. Part I: Mean-field free-energy D2Q9 lattice Boltzmann method

The mean-field free-energy based lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed for the calculation of liquid–vapor flows in channels. We show that the extensively used common bounceback boundary condition leads to an unphysical velocity at the wall in the presence of surface forces that arise from any local forces such as gravity, fluid–fluid and fluid–solid interactions. We then develop a mass-conserving velocity-boundary condition which eliminates the unphysical velocities. An important aspect of the overall LBM model is the inclusion of the correct physics to simulate different wall wettabilities and dynamic contact lines. The model is applied to static and dynamic liquid–vapor interfacial flows and compared to theory. The model shows good agreement with three well established theories of contact line dynamics.     

Lattice Boltzmann‐based single‐phase method for free surface tracking of droplet motions

A 2D single‐phase free surface tracking model, based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed for simulating droplet motion. In contrast to the conventional multi‐phase models, it is not necessary to simulate the motion of the gas phase using this 2D single‐phase algorithm, and thus improves the computational efficiency without sacrificing the underlying physics. A method for special treatment of the relevant boundary conditions in the single‐phase algorithm is proposed and also validated. Numerical simulations are carried out for the motion of a free falling droplet with or without considering gravity and droplet spreading under gravity. The simulations of the LBM are found to be consistent with the results obtained from commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Fluent. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

倾斜壁面浸润性梯度驱动液滴运动过程的格子Boltzmann模型研究

基于介观模型的多组分伪势格子Boltzmann方法,模拟了倾斜壁面浸润性梯度驱动液滴的运动过程,研究了壁面浸润性梯度、壁面倾斜角度对液滴运动过程的影响．结果表明,对于一定倾斜角度的壁面,当壁面上浸润性梯度足够大时,液滴能够克服重力的作用实现“爬坡”;液滴在运动过程中,其前进及后退接触角与当地静态接触角间存在差值;增大壁面浸润性梯度时,液滴能够获得更快的加速,并且前进及后退接触角与当地静态接触角之间的差值也随之增大;增大壁面倾斜角度时,液滴的运动受到阻碍,前进及后退接触角与当地静态接触角的差值小幅减小．     

Lattice‐Boltzmann and finite element simulations of fluid flow in a SMRX Static Mixer Reactor

A detailed comparison between the finite element method (FEM) and the lattice‐Boltzmann method (LBM) is presented. As a realistic test case, three‐dimensional fluid flow simulations in an SMRX static mixer were performed. The SMRX static mixer is a piece of equipment with excellent mixing performance and it is used as a highly efficient chemical reactor for viscous systems like polymers. The complex geometry of this mixer makes such three‐dimensional simulations non‐trivial. An excellent agreement between the results of the two simulation methods was found. Furthermore, the numerical results for the pressure drop as a function of the flow rate were close to experimental measurements. Results show that the relatively simple LBM is a good alternative to traditional methods. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

气液非混相驱替过程中的卡断机理及模拟研究

研究气液非混相驱替过程中的相界面卡断机理及其影响因素在气驱, 气水交替及泡沫驱等提高油气采收率领域具有重要意义. 本文在原始伪势格子玻尔兹曼模型的基础上, 改进流体-流体作用力格式, 添加流-固作用力, 耦合RK状态方程, 并采用精确差分方法将外力添加到LBM框架中. 通过校准模型的热力学一致性以及模拟测试界面张力, 静态平衡接触角及液相在角隅的滞留等一系列两相体系验证模型的准确性. 基于改进的伪势格子玻尔兹曼模型, 在孔-喉-孔系统中开展气液非混相驱替模拟, 结果表明: 卡断现象与驱替压差, 孔喉长度比及孔喉宽度比有关, 只有当驱替压差处于一定范围内时, 气液两相驱替过程中才会发生卡断现象; 当驱替压差大于临界驱替压差上限时, 即使达到了经典静态准则所预测的卡断条件, 卡断也会被抑制; 当驱替压差小于临界驱替压差下限时, 无法克服毛管“钉扎”作用, 形成无效驱替. 对于固定孔喉宽度比的孔-喉-孔结构, 随着孔喉长度比的增大, 发生卡断现象的驱替压差范围增大; 对于固定孔喉长度比的孔-喉-孔结构, 随着孔喉宽度比的减小, 发生卡断现象的驱替压差范围增大.      

液滴撞击具有浸润性分布的倾斜固壁铺展行为的格子Boltzmann研究

采用基于单组分多相伪势模型的格子Boltzmann方法,模拟了三维液滴撞击左右两侧浸润性不同的倾斜固壁的铺展过程,获得了液滴在壁面两侧的铺展因子、相对铺展宽度、相对高度和液滴运动速度随时间的变化情况,研究了壁面浸润性分布和壁面倾斜角度对液滴铺展过程的影响．结果表明,液滴在倾斜壁面的铺展过程受到重力和表面力的综合作用,重力影响液滴的铺展和沿壁面向下的滑动,壁面浸润性分布影响液滴向壁面亲水侧横向移动．     

A pseudopotential-based multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model for multicomponent/multiphase flows

In this paper,a pseudopotential-based multiplerelaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model is proposed for multicomponent/multiphase flow systems.Unlike previous models in the literature,the present model not only enables the study of multicomponent flows with different molecular weights,different viscosities and different Schmidt numbers,but also ensures that the distribution function of each component evolves on the same square lattice without invoking additional interpolations.Furthermore,the Chapman-Enskog analysis shows that the present model results in the correct hydrodynamic equations,and satisfies the indifferentiability principle.The numerical validation exercises further demonstrate that the favorable performance of the present model.