A three-dimensional non-orthogonal multiple-relaxation-time phase-field lattice Boltzmann model for multiphase flows at large density ratios and high Reynolds numbers

Abstract

This study proposes a three-dimensional non-orthogonal multiple-relaxation-time (NMRT) phase-field multiphase lattice Boltzmann (PFLB) model within a recently established unified lattice Boltzmann model (ULBM) framework [Luo et al., Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 379, 20200397, 2021]. The conservative Allen-Cahn equation and the incompressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are solved. In addition, a local gradient calculation scheme for the order parameter of the Allen-Cahn equation is constructed with the non-equilibrium part of the distribution function. A series of benchmark cases are conducted to validate the proposed model, including the two-phase Poiseuille flow, Rayleigh-Taylor instability, binary liquid/metal droplet collision, and a bubble rise in water. The present simulation results are in good agreement with existing simulation and experimental data. In the simulation of the co-current two-phase Poiseuille flow, the present model is proven to resolve the discontinuity at the phase interface and provide accurate results at extremely high density ratios (i.e., up to 106). Finally, the proposed model is adopted to simulate two challenging cases: (1) water droplet splashing during its impacting on a thin liquid film and (2) liquid jet breakup. The simulation results demonstrate an excellent agreement with previous experimental results, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In these simulations, the Weber number and Reynolds number reach 105 and 6000, respectively, and the viscosity can be as low as ∼10−4, in the lattice unit.