Numerical simulation of rising bubble striking a porous obstacle using mass-conserving lattice Boltzmann method

A powerful two-phase lattice Boltzmann model with the ability of modeling high density ratio is applied to simulate a rising bubble striking a porous obstacle. This model is able to simulate immiscible two-phase flow with density ratio of 1000 and result in desirable mass conservation. In present research, a porous obstacle is posed in two-phase flow domain, bounce back and wetting boundary conditions at walls and corners is discussed and showed that after implementation of obstacle boundary conditions, mass conservation of the model is preserved. Accuracy and ability of the model firstly examined by some basic problems. Next, striking of a rising bubble with 1000 density ratio to a porous obstacle is simulated and the effect of contact angle, Eotvos number and porosity ratio in deformation and passing of the bubble from the obstacle is investigated systematically. Different porosity ratios and contact angles, result in different bubble behavior striking the porous obstacle; In low porosity ratios and low contact angles, the bubble remains below the obstacle. At high contact angles, the hydrophobicity of the obstacle surface draws the bubble into the porosities, and the bubble moves to the top of the obstacle and stays on the top surface of the obstacle. In other cases, the bubble completely passes through the obstacle and separates it. Mass conservation error of bubble passing the porous obstacle is of order of 10-11 which is completely desirable.