Study of lattice Boltzmann Method for numerical simulation of hydrodynamic and thermal processes in microchannels

Abstract

This project proposes the study of the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for the simulation of hydrodynamic and heat transfer processes in microchannels. It is proposed to study the LBM and to perform numerical simulations with it of single-phase flows and transport processes in solid domains, aiming to numerically simulate flows in two-dimensional channels, considering heat transfer, and possibly conjugate heat transfer. The results can be applied to the analysis of microchannel flows in high performance heat exchangers, used as solar collectors or absorbers or as heat sinks in electronic applications. Initially, it is foreseen to study the LBM numerical solution procedure and its use in solving one or two dimensional flows with and without heat transfer. Subsequently, the finite element method will be applied in the solution of the Boltzmann discrete lattice equation. This variant of LBM is called the Finite Element-Based Boltzmann Lattice Method (FELBM). The FELBM will be first applied in solving one-dimensional problems, studying its convergence and stability. It will then be used to solve the problems treated with the LBM. The main novelty of the project is the study and use of FELBM, so far little used in open literature. A computational tool for the use of FELBM will still be developed. (AU)