Bubble dynamics of a pressure-driven cavitating flow in a micro-scale channel using a high density pseudo-potential Lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

A single-component multiphase solver based on Lattice Boltzmann method has been developed and was used to study dynamics of a single cavitating bubble subjected to pressure-driven flow in a two-dimensional channel. Simulations were performed with and without contact to the wall. A pseudopotential model coupled with Peng-Robinson equation of state was implemented to incorporate inter-particle force interaction. The solver was validated by comparing the simulated densities with the theoretical co-existence curves at different temperatures for water. Additionally, the contact angle obtained at various adhesive parameters is also validated at 583 K for water. The dynamics of a single cavitating bubble in a two-dimensional channel subjected to a pressure gradient is studied. Displacement of this bubble at different aspect ratios (5,10) and Reynolds numbers (1–30) when placed along the channel centerline and at off-center positions were studied. Moreover, bubble growth is computed at various contact angles for different aspect ratios and Reynolds number. Dynamic contact angles and contact lengths during the flow are estimated. As the aspect ratio increases, the bubble appears to be more elongated with lower contact angles.

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No potential conflict of interests was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gaddam Saritha

Gaddam Saritha is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India. Her research interest is on development of multiphase solver associated with heat transfer to study the bubble dynamics and flow boiling in micro channel using lattice Boltzmann method.

Raja Banerjee

Raja Banerjee is an Associate professor in the Department Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India. He received his doctoral degree at University of Missouri Rolla in 2006. His research field is multiphase flow, spray and atomization, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermodynamics. His current research activities is on development of two phase CFD solver based on GPU platform, droplet evaporation, automotive fuel tank sloshing, flow boiling in micro channel using lattice Boltzmann method and open foam CFD solver.