Nonlinear multiphase flow in hydrophobic porous media

Zhang, Y. , Bijeljic, B. and Blunt, M. J. (2022) Nonlinear multiphase flow in hydrophobic porous media. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 934(R3), (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2021.1148)

Abstract

Multiphase flow in porous materials is conventionally described by an empirical extension to Darcy's law, which assumes that the pressure gradient is proportional to the flow rate. Through a series of two-phase flow experiments, we demonstrate that even when capillary forces are dominant at the pore scale, there is a nonlinear intermittent flow regime with a power-law dependence between pressure gradient and flow rate. Energy balance is used to predict accurately the start of the intermittent regime in hydrophobic porous media. The pore-scale explanation of the behaviour based on the periodic filling of critical flow pathways is confirmed through 3D micron-resolution X-ray imaging.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Zhang, Dr Yihuai
• Authors: Zhang, Y., Bijeljic, B., and Blunt, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0022-1120
• ISSN (Online): 1469-7645
• Published Online: 18 January 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2022
• First Published: First published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics 934: R3
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License