Lattice Boltzmann method based simulation of two dimensional bubble group ripening process

Abstract

Ostwald ripening refers to a process of a particle/droplet/bubble system under local thermal equilibrium state adjusting the size distribution spontaneously to reduce the total surface energy. A lattice Boltzmann approach is used to simulate the ripening process of a two dimensional vapor bubble cluster dominated by phase transition kinetics. By comparing the numerical results with the theoretical prediction derived in two-dimensional space, it is shown that the lattice Boltzmann method is accurate in the simulations. The results also indicate that the mass transfer in liquid phase is driven by hydrodynamic pressure distribution and the hydrodynamic collapse of the bubbles influences the size distribution function in a small size region. The influence of the parameters in the equation of state of the material is studied further. A positive relation between phase transition speed and specific internal energy is proposed, which enhances the thermal fundamental of phase transition.