Lattice boltzmann simulation on flow fields connected with multiple side-channels

Flow fields analysis between two channels that were connected with multiple side-channels each other was conducted using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). We found that calculated flow fields were categorized into three types of flow pattern depending on flow field geometry and flow conditions. The following typical flow patterns are identified : case 1, the incoming flow uniformly passes through the side-channels, case 2, the flow preferentially passes through the side-channel in the inlet and the outlet, case 3, the flow passes through the side-channel of the outlet side. We also found that these flow patterns clearly depend on two dimensionless parameters, ratio of permeability of the side-channels to the channel width and the Reynolds number.