Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of natural convection using variable thermal properties

Dissipative particle dynamics with energy conservation (eDPD) was used to investigate the effect of variable thermal properties on natural convection in liquid water over a wide range of Rayleigh Numbers. The problem selected for this study was a differential heated cavity. The eDPD results were compared to the finite volume solutions and the eDPD method predicted the effects of temperature-dependent conductivity and viscosity on temperature and flow fields throughout the cavity properly. The eDPD temperature-dependent model was able to capture the basic features of natural convection, such as development of thermal boundary layers, and development of natural convection circulation cells within the cavity. The eDPD results experienced some degree of compressibility at high values of Ra numbers (Ra = 105) and this problem was resolved by tuning the speed of sound of the eDPD model.