A three-dimensional fully threaded tree adaptive mesh phase-field lattice Boltzmann method for gas–liquid phase change problems

Abstract

A fully threaded tree adaptive mesh lattice Boltzmann method based on the phase-field model with the conservative Allen–Cahn equation is presented for the simulation of multiphase flows and heat transfer, especially the gas–liquid phase change problems in three dimensions. The presented model incorporates the conservative Allen–Cahn equation for interface tracking and employs hydrodynamics and temperature evolution D3Q19 lattice Boltzmann equations to recover the corresponding Navier–Stokes equations and energy equations. The gas–liquid phase change at the phase interface can be reflected with introducing the mass production rate in the lattice Boltzmann evolution equations. With the fully threaded tree adaptive mesh implemented to capture the phase interface, the computational efficiency can obviously be raised while ensuring the accurate capture of gas–liquid interface. The present method is used to reproduce several classical benchmarks, namely, the droplet evaporation in superheated gas, the buoyancy-driven bubble rising in viscous liquid, the 3-dimensional Rayleigh Taylor instability problem, the nucleate boiling on a wall with constant temperature, and the film boiling on superheated bottom.