Application of Lattice Boltzmann Method to Fluid Flows in Microgeometries

Abstract

In the present investigation, Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is used to simulate rarefied gaseous microflows in three microgeometries. These are micro-couette, micro lid-driven cavity and micro-poiseuille flows. The Knudsen number is used to measure the degree of rarefaction in the microflows. First, micro-couette flow is computed with the effects of varying Knudsen number in the slip and threshold of the transition regime and the results compare well with existing results. After having thus established the credibility of the code and the method including boundary conditions, LBM is then used to investigate the micro lid-driven cavity flow with various aspect ratios. Simulation of microflow not only requires an appropriate method, it also requires suitable boundary conditions to provide a well-posed problem and unique solution. In this work, LBM and three slip boundary conditions, namely, diffuse scattering boundary condition, specular reflection and a combination of bounce-back and specular reflection is used to predict the micro lid-driven cavity flow fields. Then the LBM simulation is extended to micro-poiseuille flow. The results are substantiated through comparison with existing results and it is felt that the present methodology is reasonable to be employed in analyzing the flow in micro-systems.