Lattice Boltzmann method for colloidal dispersions with phase change

Benjamin Piaud (1) , Michaël Clifton (2) , Stéphane Blanco (3) , Richard Fournier (3)

1 LAPLACE - LAboratoire PLasma et Conversion d'Energie
2 LGC - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique
3 LAPLACE-GREPHE - Groupe de Recherche Energétique, Plasmas et Hors Equilibre

Colloidal dispersions are known to undergo phase transition in a number of processes. This often gives rise to formation of structures in a flowing medium. In this paper, we present a model for flow of a colloidal dispersion with phase change. Two distribution functions are used. The colloid is described as a non-ideal fluid capable of phase change, but rather than taking the dispersion medium as the second fluid, a better choice is the dispersion (water plus colloid) which can be considered as an incompressible fluid. This choice allows a standard Lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for incompressible fluids to be used in combination with for the 'free-energy' LB model for the colloid. The coupling between the two fluids is the drag force on the colloid and the dependence of the viscosity of the overall fluid on the particle volume fraction. The problems raised by characteristic times and lengths have been treated. The main application considered is the growth dynamics or domain structuration of protein dispersions during dead-end filtration on a membrane surface.

Mots clés: Colloids; Uids; Phase transition; Lattice Boltzmann method; Colloidal dispersions; Incompressible fluids; Growth dynamics; Domain structuration; Protein dispersions; Dead-end filtration; Membrane surface

Domaines: Génie chimique

Benjamin Piaud, Michaël Clifton, Stéphane Blanco, Richard Fournier. Lattice Boltzmann method for colloidal dispersions with phase change. Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, 2008, 8 (1-4), pp.129-137. ⟨hal-03580068⟩