Minimal entropic kinetic models for hydrodynamics

We derive minimal discrete models of the Boltzmann equation consistent with equilibrium thermodynamics, and which recover correct hydrodynamics in arbitrary dimensions. A new discrete velocity model is proposed for the simulation of the Navier-Stokes-Fourier equation and is tested in the setup of Taylor vortex flow. A simple analytical procedure for constructing the equilibrium for thermal hydrodynamics is established. For the lattice Boltzmann method of isothermal hydrodynamics, the explicit analytical form of the equilibrium distribution is presented. This results in an entropic version of the isothermal lattice Boltzmann method with the simplicity and computational efficiency of the standard lattice Boltzmann model.