Lattice Boltzmann methods for single-phase and solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer in porous media: A review

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method has been developed into a versatile and powerful numerical methodology for computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Owing to its kinetic nature, the LB method has the capability to incorporate the essential mesoscopic physics, and it is particularly successful in modeling transport phenomena involving complex boundaries and interfacial dynamics. Up to now, the LB method has achieved great success in modeling fluid flow and heat transfer in porous media. Since the LB method is inherently transient, it is especially useful for investigating transient solid-liquid phase-change processes wherein the interfacial behaviors are very important. In this article, a comprehensive review of the LB methods for single-phase and solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer in porous media at both the pore scale and representative elementary volume (REV) scale. The review first introduces the fundamental theory of the LB method for fluid flow and heat transfer. Subsequently, the REV-scale LB method for fluid flow and single-phase heat transfer in porous media and the LB method for solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer are discussed in detail. Moreover, the applications of the LB methods in single-phase and solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer in porous media are reviewed. The LB modeling and predictions of the effective thermal conductivity of porous materials are also reviewed. Finally, further developments of the LB method in the related areas are briefly discussed.