Computational Performance of Disparate Lattice Boltzmann Scenarios under Unsteady Thermal Convection Flow and Heat Transfer Simulation

Abstract

The present work highlights the capacity of disparate lattice Boltzmann strategies in simulating natural convection and heat transfer phenomena during the unsteady period of the flow. Within the framework of Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision operator, diverse lattice Boltzmann schemes emerged from two different embodiments of discrete Boltzmann expression and three distinct forcing models. Subsequently, computational performance of disparate lattice Boltzmann strategies was tested upon two different thermo-hydrodynamics configurations, namely the natural convection in a differentially-heated cavity and the Rayleigh-Bènard convection. For the purposes of exhibition and validation, the steady-state conditions of both physical systems were compared with the established numerical results from the classical computational techniques. Excellent agreements were observed for both thermo-hydrodynamics cases. Numerical results of both physical systems demonstrate the existence of considerable discrepancy in the computational characteristics of different lattice Boltzmann strategies during the unsteady period of the simulation. The corresponding disparity diminished gradually as the simulation proceeded towards a steady-state condition, where the computational profiles became almost equivalent. Variation in the discrete lattice Boltzmann expressions was identified as the primary factor that engenders the prevailed heterogeneity in the computational behaviour. Meanwhile, the contribution of distinct forcing models to the emergence of such diversity was found to be inconsequential. The findings of the present study contribute to the ventures to alleviate contemporary issues regarding proper selection of lattice Boltzmann schemes in modelling fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena.