Efficient simulations of detailed combustion fields via the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

PurposeThe paper aims to be a first step toward the efficient, yet accurate, solution of detailed combustion fields using the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method, where applications are still limited due to both the stiffness of the governing equations and the large amount of fields to solve.Design/methodology/approachThe suggested methodology for model reduction is developed in the setting of slow invariant manifold construction, including details of the while. The simplest LB equation is used in order to work out the procedure of coupling of the reduced model with the flow solver.FindingsThe proposed method is validated with the 2D simulation of a premixed laminar flame in the hydrogen‐air mixture, where a remarkable computational speedup and memory saving are demonstrated.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen detailed LB model, the flow field may be described with unsatisfactory accuracy: this motivates further investigation in this direction in the near future.Practical implicationsA new framework of simulation of reactive flows is available, based on a coupling between accurate reduced reaction mechanism and the LB representation of the flow phenomena. Hence, the paper includes implications on how to perform accurate reactive flow simulations at a fraction of the cost required in the detailed model.Originality/valueThis paper meets an increasing need to have efficient and accurate numerical tools for modelling complex phenomena, such as pollutant formation during combustion.