Modeling coupled temperature and transport effects on biofilm growth using thermal lattice Boltzmann model

This paper aims to develop an integrated thermal lattice Boltzmann model and cellular automata to investigate the effects of different temperatures and velocities on biofilm growth in a microbioreactor. Compared with previous studies this model accounted for direct effects of transient temperature on biofilm growth and indirect effects caused by changes of fluid properties. In addition, the algorithms have been improved on variations in solid boundary conditions, detachment and extra mass transport. Results showed that temperature affected both maximum biofilm concentration and growth rate. An increase of 10–75% in biofilm concentration was observed roughly due to increases in temperature. The time required to reach maximum concentration decreased from 30 days at a low temperature to 5 days at a high temperature. This demonstrates the capability of the present model to simulate biofilm behavior in the microbioreactor and its potential industrial and clinical applications.