An evaluation of force term in the lattice Boltzmann method for mixed convection with large Richardson numbers

Purpose The purpose of this study is the identification of the best method to apply the body force in the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). In the simulation of mixed convection, especially for large Richardson number flows in a square cavity. Design/methodology/approach First, three methods for applying the body force were compared to each other in the LBM. Then, an LBM-based code was written in the FORTRAN language using these three methods. Next, that code was used to simulate natural/mixed convection in a two-dimensional cavity to evaluate the methods for applying the body force. Finally, the optimum way for applying the body force was used for the simulation of free convection heat transfer in a concentric annulus with Rayleigh number in a range of 1,000 to 50,000, and mixed convection heat transfer in a concentric annulus with Rayleigh number in a range of 10,000 to 50,000 and Reynolds number in a range of 100 to 400. Findings Mixed convection heat transfer was simulated in a two-dimensional cavity with Richardson number in a range of 0.0001 to 100. The results which were obtained in low Richardson number flows have shown good adaptation to the available data. However, the results of large Richardson number flows, for example, Ri = 100, have shown a significant difference to the available data. Investigations revealed that this difference was due to the method of applying the body force. Therefore, the choice of the best way to apply the body force was investigated. Finally, for the large Richardson number flows, the best method to apply the body force has been identified among the several techniques. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, the effects of methods for applying the body force were not investigated in the cavities mixed convection, even though there are numerous investigations conducted on mixed convection with the LBM. In this study, the effects of techniques to apply the body force were investigated in large Richardson number flows. Finally, the best method to apply the body force is distinguished between several techniques for the large Richardson number mixed convection flows.