Coupling finite volume-lattice Boltzmann methods for advanced heat transfer simulations

Area of Science:

• Computational fluid dynamics
• Numerical methods in thermal physics
• Multiphase flow modeling

Background:

• Accurate simulation of multi-physics thermal flows is crucial for engineering applications.
• Existing coupled methods using finite volume method (FVM) and lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) face challenges in numerical stability and data exchange.
• Need for advanced frameworks to handle complex phenomena like phase change and conjugated heat transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance coupled framework integrating FVM and LBM for advanced multi-physics thermal flow simulations.
• To enhance numerical stability and accuracy in LBM-based thermal flow simulations.
• To enable seamless and accurate data exchange at coupling interfaces.

Main Methods:

• Integration of finite volume method (FVM) and lattice Boltzmann method (LBM).
• Utilized a central-moments-based collision operator for velocity and temperature fields.
• Employed a reconstruction strategy combining regularised and high-order truncated equilibrium methods for interface data exchange.
• Implemented using the Parallel Location and Exchange coupling library for efficient communication.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated substantial improvements in numerical stability and accuracy compared to traditional LBM approaches.
• Achieved smooth and accurate data exchange at FVM-LBM coupling interfaces.
• Validated against benchmark problems and complex melting scenarios, showing excellent accuracy and convergence.
• The framework successfully handles heat conduction, conjugated heat transfer, natural/forced convection, and phase change.

Conclusions:

• The proposed coupled FVM-LBM framework represents a significant advancement for multiscale thermal flow simulations.
• The central-moments-based operator and advanced reconstruction strategy enhance the reliability of LBM.
• The framework provides a robust and scalable solution for complex multi-physics thermal flow problems.