Multipseudopotential interaction models for thermal lattice Boltzmann method simulations

Abstract

In this work, in the first instance, the multipseudopotential interaction (MPI) model's capabilities are extended for hydrodynamic simulations. This is achieved by combining MPI with the multiple-relaxation-time collision operator and with surface tension modification methods. A method of approaching thermodynamic consistency is also proposed, which consists of splitting the ɛ_{j} term into separate terms. One of these terms is used in the calculation of the interparticle force, and the second one is used in the forcing scheme. Secondly, MPI is combined with thermal models in order to simulate droplet evaporation and bubble nucleation in pool boiling. Thermal coupling is implemented using a double distribution function thermal model and a hybrid thermal model. It is found that MPI thermal models obey the D^{2}-law closely for droplet evaporation. MPI is also found to correctly simulate bubble nucleation and departure from the heating element during nucleate pool boiling. It can be suggested that MPI thermal models are comparatively better suited to thermal simulations at low reduced temperatures than single pseudopotential interaction models, although such cases remain very challenging. Droplet evaporation simulations are carried out at a reduced temperature (T_{r}) of 0.6 by setting the parameters in the Peng-Robinson equation of state to a=1/6272 and b=1/168.