A mesoscopic approach for multi-phase flows in nano-corrugated channels
Abstract
An approach based on a lattice version of the Boltzmann kinetic equation for describing multi-phase flows in nano- and micro-corrugated devices is proposed. We specialize it to describe the wetting/dewetting transition of fluids in presence of nanoscopic grooves etched on the boundaries. This approach permits to retain the essential supra-molecular details of fluid-solid interactions without surrendering -actually boosting- the computational efficiency of continuum methods. The mesoscopic method is first validated quantitatively against Molecular Dynamics (MD) results of Cottin-Bizonne et al. [Nature Mater. 2, 237 (2003)] and then applied to more complex situations which are hardly accessible to MD simulations. The resulting analysis confirms that surface roughness and capillary effects may conspire to promote a counter-intuitive but significant reduction of the flow drag with substantial enhancement in the mass flow rates and slip-lengths in the micrometric range for highly hydrophobic surfaces.
Cite
@article{arxiv.nlin/0605013,
title = {A mesoscopic approach for multi-phase flows in nano-corrugated channels},
author = {R. Benzi and L. Biferale and M. Sbragaglia and S. Succi and F. Toschi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:nlin/0605013},
year = {2007}
}