This work presents a contribution on the numerical modelling capabilities for the simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in cellular solids – in particular we focus on open cell aluminium foams. Rather than applying one of the classical academical or commercial numerical finite volume (FV), finite difference (FD) or finite element (FE) interface tracking methods, we base our models on an interface capturing phase field method (Nestler, 2005). A coupled diffuse interface lattice Boltzmann fluid flow solver (Ettrich, 2014) and a diffuse interface heat transfer approach (Ettrich et al., 2014) are combined in view of dealing with even more convoluted geometries, incorporating the dynamics of interfaces and complex multiphysics applications. Numerical results for the combined fluid flow and heat transfer simulations in open cell metal foams are in very good agreement with experimental data (Ettrich and Martens, 2012; Ettrich et al., 2012). 
Diffuse interface method for fluid flow and heat transfer in cellular solids