Lattice Boltzmann simulation of fluid flow in porous media of temperature-affected geometry

The Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been applied for flow and heat transfer computations. The simulations have been performed with the single-relaxation time model and an advanced formulation of boundary conditions for LBM. For non-isothermal cases, a second distribution function has been used. First, validation tests are reported for heated flow past a single obstacle as well as over a set of regularly and randomly arranged obstacles (grains) that make up a simplified model of a porous medium. The Nusselt number for heat transfer in flow past a single obstacle has been computed. Next, novel simulations of non-isothermal flow in a porous medium of temperature-affected geometry have been undertaken. For the purpose, the thermal dilatation of grains has been accounted for. Results are presented for the pressure head loss and time-varying temperature profiles in the medium. Qualitative computations accomplished to date constitute an encouraging first step to proceed further towards the impact of temperature-affected geometry in such flows, in particular for the coking process.