Modelling solute transport in shallow water with the lattice Boltzmann method

The lattice Boltzmann method is used to investigate the solute transport in shallow water flows. Shallow water equations are solved using the lattice Boltzmann equation on a D2Q9 lattice with multiple-relaxation-time (MRT-LBM) and Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK-LBM) terms separately, and the advection–diffusion equation is also solved with a LBM-BGK on a D2Q5 lattice. Three cases: open channel flow with side discharge, shallow recirculation flow and flow in a harbour are simulated to verify the described methods. Agreements between predictions and experiments are satisfactory. In side discharge flow, the reattachment length for different ratios of side discharge velocity to main channel velocity has been studied in detail. Furthermore, the performance of MRT-LBM and BGK-LBM for these three cases has been investigated. It is found that LBM-MRT has better stability and is able to satisfactorily simulate flows with higher Reynolds number. The study shows that the lattice Boltzmann method is simple and accurate for simulating solute transport in shallow water flows, and hence it can be applied to a wide range of environmental flow problems.

► The lattice Boltzmann method is used to investigate the solute transport in shallow water flows.
► Shallow water equations are solved by MRT-LBM and BGK-LBM separately.
► The advection-diffusion equation is solved by LBM-BGK.
► Three cases of open channel are simulated and agreements between predictions and experiments are satisfactory.
► LBM-MRT has better stability and is able to satisfactorily simulate flows with higher Reynolds number.