An Incompressible, Depth-Averaged Lattice Boltzmann Method for Liquid Flow in Microfluidic Devices with Variable Aperture

Journal Article · Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Computation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/computation3040600· OSTI ID:1371118

Laleian, Artin ^[1]; Valocchi, Albert J. ^[1]; Werth, Charles J. ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL (United States)
2. Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)

Two-dimensional (2D) pore-scale models have successfully simulated microfluidic experiments of aqueous-phase flow with mixing-controlled reactions in devices with small aperture. A standard 2D model is not generally appropriate when the presence of mineral precipitate or biomass creates complex and irregular three-dimensional (3D) pore geometries. We modify the 2D lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to incorporate viscous drag from the top and bottom microfluidic device (micromodel) surfaces, typically excluded in a 2D model. Viscous drag from these surfaces can be approximated by uniformly scaling a steady-state 2D velocity field at low Reynolds number. We demonstrate increased accuracy by approximating the viscous drag with an analytically-derived body force which assumes a local parabolic velocity profile across the micromodel depth. Accuracy of the generated 2D velocity field and simulation permeability have not been evaluated in geometries with variable aperture. We obtain permeabilities within approximately 10% error and accurate streamlines from the proposed 2D method relative to results obtained from 3D simulations. Additionally, the proposed method requires a CPU run time approximately 40 times less than a standard 3D method, representing a significant computational benefit for permeability calculations.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Geologic Storage of CO2 (GSCO2)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012504
• OSTI ID: 1371118
• Journal Information: Computation, Vol. 3, Issue 4; Related Information: GSCO2 partners with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (lead); National Energy Technology Laboratory; Schlumberger; SINTEF; Stiftelsen Norsar; Texas Tech University; University of Notre Dame; University of Southern California; University of Texas at Austin; Wright State University; ISSN 2079-3197
• Publisher: MDPI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
defects
mechanical behavior
carbon sequestration
mesostructured materials
lattice Boltzmann
porous media
microfluidics
permeability