Title: Direct simulation of viscous flow in a wavy pipe using the lattice Boltzmann approach

Authors: Lian-Ping Wang, Michael H. Du

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-3140, USA. ' Schlumberger Reservoir Completions, Rosharon, Texas 77583-1590, USA

Abstract: Direct numerical simulation of three-dimensional (3D) viscous flow in a wavy pipe is performed using the lattice Boltzmann approach, to study 3D flow features in a curved pipe with nonuniform curvature. We first validate the lattice Boltzmann approach by simulating a transient flow in a straight pipe. In a wavy pipe, it is shown that the pressure gradient necessary to drive the flow depends more strongly on the flow Reynolds number, due to curvature – induced fluid inertial force and transverse secondary flows. The wavy pipe could provide a simple design for enhancing mixing and heat transfer in pipes.

Keywords: viscous flow; curved pipes; direct numerical simulation; lattice Boltzmann method; LBM; Gortler vortices; pressure loss; flow transition; frictional coefficient; mixing; wavy pipes; transient flow; heat transfer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2008.018846

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.20 - 29

Published online: 19 Jun 2008 *

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