Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow in Random Granular Porous Media Using Lattice Boltzmann Method

In this paper, fluid flow between two parallel flat plates which partially filled with two dimension porous media is investigated numerically using single relaxation time (SRT) lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) at pore scale. The obstacles are considered random, circular, rigid and granular with uniform diameters. Single component and single phase viscous Newtonian fluid is considered as working fluid. There are no overlaps between obstacles. It is supposed incompressible, steady and laminar flow and no chemical reaction is performed in porous media. Velocity vectors and stream lines in this domain is depicted. The effect of varying Reynolds number on the pressure drop or pressure gradient and Darcy drag are studied. Dimensionless permeability is calculated as a function of porosity and Knudsen number. To vary porosity, obstacles diameter are changed but their places are considered constant. With increasing Knudsen number, the dimensionless permeability is increased. Also effect of domain resolution on pressure gradient is investigated. The results demonstrate that lattice Boltzmann method will be very useful in fluid flow simulation through porous media

Keywords:

porous media , lattice Boltzmann method , Darcy law , pore scale , permeability