Single Component, Multiphase (SCMP) LBM

Abstract

In the previous chapter we demonstrated that LBM is useful for simulating the flow of a single fluid. The true strengths of LBMs however lie in their ability to simulate multiphase fluids. Both single and multi-component multiphase fluids can be simulated. ‘Component’ refers to a chemical constituent such that a ‘single component’ (say H₂O) multiphase system would involve the liquid and vapor phases of water. These are particularly rich systems to consider as surface tension, evaporation, condensation, and cavitation are possible. Liquid-vapor behavior in partially saturated porous media can be simulated. In contrast, a multi-component system can consist of separate chemical components such as oil and water; such systems have been studied more extensively because of their economic importance. For example, Darcy’s law-based relative permeability concepts for multicomponent oil/water-like systems have been investigated using LBM (Buckles et al. 1994; Soll et al. 1994; Martys and Chen, 1996; Langaas and Papatzacos, 2001).