Effect of micro-cracks on the in-plane electronic conductivity of proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst layers based on lattice Boltzmann method

Micro-cracks commonly occur on the catalyst layers (CLs) during the manufacturing of catalyst coated membranes (CCMs). However, the crack shape parameters effect on CLs in-plane (IP) electronic conductivity λ_s is not clear. In this work, the relationship between crack parameters and the λ_s is obtained based on the two-dimensional (2D) multiple-relaxation time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The LBM numerical model is validated by the normalized λ_s experiment applied on three different home-made cracked CLs, and the parameter study focus on crack width, length, quantity and phase angle are carried out. The results show that the decrease of λ_s has different sensitivity |k| to the parameters above. The crack width has little effect on λ_s decrease, and the |k_w| is 0.038. However, crack arm length and quantity show more significant impact, which |k_l| and |k_N| are 0.753 and 0.725, respectively. The CLs with different crack propagation directions show significant anisotropy on λ_s, and a 53.53% decrease in λ_s is observed between 0° and 90° crack phase angle change. To manufacture a high electronic conductivity CL, crack initiation and migration mitigation are highly encouraged.     

An investigation of laser-assisted machining of Al2O3 ceramics planing

Laser-assisted machining (LAM), an alternative method of fabricating difficult-to-machine materials, uses primarily laser power to heat the local area (without necessarily evaporating or melting any material) before the material is removed. It not only efficiently reduces the cutting force during the manufacturing process but also improves the machining characteristics and geography with regard to difficult-to-machine materials, especially structural ceramics.This study on the application of laser-assisted machining to Al₂O₃ ceramics examines the measurements of cutting force and workpiece surface temperature as well as surface integrity and tool wear. Specifically, it uses the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to calculate the temperature distribution inside the ceramic workpiece during the LAM process and ensure that the laser energy causes no subsurface damage. The experimental results reveal that the LAM process efficiently reduces the cutting force by 22% (feed force) and 20% (thrust force) and produces better workpiece surface quality than conventional planing.     

NUMERICAL STUDY OF NON-AQUEOUS PHASE LIQUID TRANSPORT IN A SINGLE FILLED FRACTURE BY LATTICE BOLTZMANN METHOD

In this article,the Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid(NAPL)transport in the single filled fracture was studied with the Shan-Chen multi-component multiphase Lattice Boltzmann Method(LBM)with special consideration of wettability effects.With the help of the model,the contact angle of the non-wetting phase and wetting phase interface at a solid wall could be adjusted.By considering a set of appropriate boundary conditions,the fractured conductivity was investigated in condition that the NAPL blocks the channels in the single filled fracture.In order to study the wettability effects on the NAPL transport,a constant driving force was introduced in the Shan-Chen multi-component multiphase LBM.Flow regimes with different wettabilities were discussed.Simulated results show that the LBM is a very instrumental method for simulating and studying the immiscible multiphase flow problems in single filled fracture.     

Mesoscopic approach for steady‐state free convection in a diamond array

The purpose of the present paper is testing an in‐house efficiency algorithm based on lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and using it to resolve the obtained coupled nondimensional governing equations to analyze two‐dimensional free convection inside a cold outer cavity subjected to a heated cylindrical diamond array. Steady state or oscillatory results are obtained using the Bhatnagar‐Gross‐Krook collision model associated to the thermal LBM. Both the velocity and temperature fields are solved using the D2Q9 models. With different Rayleigh numbers (Ra), the tested free convection can either achieve to steady state or oscillatory. We extended our in house Fortran 90 code using curved boundary conditions and implemented them into a cavity with a diamond array. The numerical simulations were done using distinct Ra (10⁶ and 10 ⁷) and distances between the four neighboring circular cylinders aligned in a diamond array. The effects of several physical parameters, including Ra and position of the hot body array on flow and heat transfer characteristics are investigated. The obtained results are highlighted in the form of streamlines, isotherms, and velocities plots. We show in this paper the stability and the efficiency of the LBM to deal with a complex geometry and its ability to reach suitable convergence criteria for high Ra (10 ⁶ and 10 ⁷). The numerical results indicate that LBM can simulate numerical problems with a high Ra reaching a steady state where we can depict the change of the flow pattern and enhancement of the heat transfer in the presence of heated diamond array.     

基于LBM方法的井间干扰对煤层气排采的影响机理分析

为了探明煤层气排采井间的相互干扰机制对合理布设井网、提高煤层气采收率的影响,采用LBM数值模拟方法再现了煤层气从割理空间至排采井口的运移过程,并系统分析了不同排采参数及井间干扰对产气量的影响机理。结果表明,井间干扰导致井筒间产气量差异随井间距的变化表现出波动起伏特征;若考虑单井产气量,井间干扰对产气量具有分段效应,当井间距Ds小于382.5 lu(lu为模拟格子长度单位)时为抑制作用,反之为促进作用;过小的井间距不利于煤层气排采,井间距超过临界阈值382.5 lu时,可加快煤层气的采收速率;井口平均流速v同压力差△p满足幂率关系v≈3.2△p^0.94。     

Simulation of gas exothermic chemical reaction in porous media reactor with lattice Boltzmann method

Exothermic reactor is the main part in a chemical heat pump. It involves complex multi-component exothermal chemical reaction in catalyst-filled porous media. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed to simulate the characteristics of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer coupling chemical reaction in the exothermic reactor of the isopropanol/acetone/hydrogen chemical heat pump system. Fractal theory is used to structure a porous medium model in the reactor. The simulation results show that LBM is suitable for the simulation and the conversion has an optimal value with different inlet velocities.     

基于格子Boltzmann理论的弱胶结裂隙岩体水沙两相流特性

通过格子Boltzmann方法对裂隙岩体水沙两相流动规律进行理论分析,建立裂隙岩体水沙两相流动的格子Boltzmann模型,推导了水沙两相的基本守恒方程并建立了水沙两相流动系统的控制方程,基于浸入边界法,利用欧拉点和拉格朗日点处理水沙两相界面。通过数值模拟裂隙溃沙情况,分析了沙粒进入裂隙前后的流动形态,研究了颗粒粒径和裂隙宽度对溃沙速度的影响。借助单裂隙下的研究结果,建立上覆厚松散沙层矿井开采模型,分析裂隙发育下突水溃沙情况,发现在初始阶段,沙粒的溃入会堵塞裂隙,抑制裂隙的发育;随着水压的持续施加,大量水沙混合物开始涌入裂隙,岩体孔隙压力增大,导致裂隙迅速发育扩展,甚至会造成顶板垮落,加剧突水溃沙灾害。     

APPLICATION OF LBM-SGS MODEL TO FLOWS IN A PUMPING-STATION FOREBAY

A 2-D Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) coupled with a Sub-Grid Stress (SGS) model is proposed and validated by flows around a non-submerged spur dike in a channel. And then the LBM-SGS model is further applied to flows in a pumping-station forebay. Shallow water equations are numerically solved by the LBM and the turbulence can be taken into account and modeled efficiently by the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model. The bounce-back scheme of the non-equilibrium part of the distribution function is used at the inlet boundary, the normal gradient of the distribution function is set as zero at the outlet boundary and the bounce-back scheme is applied to the solid wall to ensure non-slip boundary conditions. Firstly, the model successfully predicts the flow characteristics around a spur dike, such as circulating flow, velocity and water depth distributions. The results are verified by the experimental data and compared to the results obtained by conventional Smagoringsky Model (SM) of LES. Finally, the LBM-SGS model is used to further predict the flow characteristics in a forebay, such as secondary flow and water level. The comparisons show that the model scheme has the capacity to simulate complex flows in shallow water with reasonable accuracy and reliability.     

Orientation of the fiber suspending in the flow through a tube containing a sphere

Fiber suspensions flow through a tube containing a sphere in the dilute and concentrated regimes is simulated numerically with the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). The numerical results of fiber orientation distribution based on a statistical scheme are obtained and agree qualitatively with the experimental ones for the flow through a parallel plate channel containing a cylinder. The results show that the sphere in the tube results in a change in the fiber orientation distribution downstream of the sphere along the flow and transverse directions. The influences of the sphere on the fiber orientation distribution are more significant for the concentrated suspensions than for the dilute one. The effect of the initial fiber orientations on the fiber orientation distribution is significant upstream of the sphere but small downstream of the sphere.     

LATTICE BOLTZMANN SCHEME TO SIMULATE TWO-DIMENSIONAL FLUID TRANSIENTS

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