Simulation of nonideal gases and liquid-gas phase transitions by the lattice Boltzmann equation

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.2941· OSTI ID:5020512

Shan, X ^[1]; Chen, H ^[2]

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1. Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755-3528 (United States)

We describe in detail a recently proposed lattice-Boltzmann model [X. Shan and H. Chen, Phys. Rev. E 47, 1815 (1993)] for simulating flows with multiple phases and components. In particular, the focus is on the modeling of one-component fluid systems which obey nonideal gas equations of state and can undergo a liquid-gas-type phase transition. The model is shown to be momentum conserving. From the microscopic mechanical stability condition, the densities in bulk liquid and gas phases are obtained as functions of a temperaturelike parameter. Comparisons with the thermodynamic theory of phase transitions show that the lattice-Boltzmann-equation model can be made to correspond exactly to an isothermal process. The density profile in the liquid-gas interface is also obtained as a function of the temperaturelike parameter and is shown to be isotropic. The surface tension, which can be changed independently, is calculated. The analytical conclusions are verified by numerical simulations.

• OSTI ID: 5020512
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Vol. 49:4; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
FLUID FLOW
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DENSITY
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
MULTIPHASE FLOW
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VAPOR CONDENSATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SIMULATION
661300* - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)