LBM study of ice nucleation induced by the collapse of cavitation bubbles

Abstract

In this study, we extended the conventional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to numerically examine ice nucleation induced by the collapse of a cavitation bubble. Specifically, a pseudo-potential multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method (MRT-LBM) coupled with a thermal LBM and a criterion for pressure-dependent ice nucleation onset was developed to investigate the cavitation bubble dynamics including growth and collapse, and the subsequently induced ice nucleation. Using the present model, the water vapour-liquid coexistence curve was extended to temperatures lower than 42% of its critical point, excellently matching the Maxwell construction curve. Two practical application scenarios of ice nucleation were investigated: I, near a solid boundary and II, within a pressurised space. Effects of key system parameters including the stand-off distance (λ), differential pressure (Δp) and initial bubble size (R0) on the maximum collapse pressure (pmax) were examined. The results show that under the same conditions, a much higher pmax is generated in scenario II than that in scenario I, thus more readily initialises ice nucleation. After initialisation, part of the initially formed ice melts when the local temperature exceeds the ice melting temperature due to the rapid dissipation of pressure wave. To ensure the complete freezing of water, a large initial supercooling is required for scenario II.