Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Thermal Explosion in Dynamic Mixtures

Lattice Boltzmann (LB) computational code developed by the authors is used to simulate development of thermal explosion in reactive mixtures subjected to convection. The work demonstrates LB modelling application to reactive flows by considering practically important combustion and fire research problem. The problem of convection-affected thermal explosion is of particular interest from both theoretical and practical points of view. Critical conditions for explosion are found in a wide range of Rayleigh numbers. It is shown that for considered initial conditions the critical Frank-Kamenetskii parameter decreases with increasing Rayleigh numbers (in the lower range of Rayleigh numbers), and then stabilizes. Predicted critical parameters are greater than those obtained in no-convection conditions.