GPU Accelerated Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Non-Newtonian Power-Law Fluid in a Porous Enclosure

This paper demonstrates a numerical study of heat transfer in a square porous cavity filled with non-Newtonian power-law fluid. A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) has been used to accelerate the numerical simulation, which uses the Multiple-Relaxation-Time (MRT) Lattice Boltzmann Method. A modified power-law model has been employed to characterize the flow of non-Newtonian fluids. The simulations have been conducted for the power-law index n ranging from (0.6 <= n <= 1.0), the Darcy number Da ranging from (10(-3) <= Da <= 10(-1)) and the Raleigh number Ra ranging from (10(3) <= Ra <= 10(5)). Results show that the average Nusselt number (Nu) decreases with an increase in the value of n while Nu increases with an increase in the value of Da. Moreover, an increment in the value of Ra leads to an increase in the average Nusselt number.