Three-dimensional prediction of reservoir water temperature by the lattice Boltzmann method: Validation

The water temperature stratification in large reservoirs might have serious ecological and environmental consequences. The modeling of the temperature distribution and its history is of great importance both for studying the underlying mechanisms and for controlling the adverse effects. To develop an effective and efficient method for simulation of temporal and spatial temperature variations, a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) model for 3-D thermal buoyancy flows is proposed and validated by the temperature data measured in a model reservoir. This paper discusses important aspects of the LBM and its turbulence model, analyzes the gravity sinking mechanism of cold currents, and demonstrates the complexity of the temperature redistribution process. Good agreement between the simulated and measured results shows that the newly developed method is feasible and powerful, and it will be used for the water temperature prediction in actual reservoirs in a near future.