Pore-Scale Simulation of Shear Thinning Fluid Flow Using Lattice Boltzmann Method

The present work attempts to identify the roles of flow and geometric variables on the scaling factor which is a necessary parameter for modeling the apparent viscosity of non-Newtonian fluid in porous media. While idealizing the porous media microstructure as arrays of circular and square cylinders, the present study uses multi-relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method to conduct pore-scale simulation of shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid flow. Variation in the size and inclusion ratio of the solid cylinders generates wide range of porous media with varying porosity and permeability. The present study also used stochastic reconstruction technique to generate realistic, random porous microstructures. For each case, pore-scale fluid flow simulation enables the calculation of equivalent viscosity based on the computed shear rate within the pores. It is observed that the scaling factor has strong dependence on porosity, permeability, tortuosity and the percolation threshold, while approaching the maximum value at the percolation threshold porosity. The present investigation quantifies and proposes meaningful correlations between the scaling factor and the macroscopic properties of the porous media.     

Calculating the Anisotropic Permeability of Porous Media Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method and X-ray Computed Tomography

A lattice Boltzmann (LB) method is developed in this article in a combination with X-ray computed tomography to simulate fluid flow at pore scale in order to calculate the anisotropic permeability of porous media. The binary 3D structures of porous materials were acquired by X-ray computed tomography at a resolution of a few microns, and the reconstructed 3D porous structures were then combined with the LB model to calculate their permeability tensor based on the simulated velocity field at pore scale. The flow is driven by pressure gradients imposed in different directions. Two porous media, one gas diffusion porous layer used in fuel cells industry and glass beads, were simulated. For both media, we investigated the relationship between their anisotropic permeability and porosity. The results indicate that the LB model is efficient to simulate pore-scale flow in porous media, and capable of giving a good estimate of the anisotropic permeability for both media. The calculated permeability is in good agreement with the measured date; the relationship between the permeability and porosity for the two media is well described by the Kozeny–Carman equation. For the gas diffusion layer, the simulated results showed that its permeability in one direction could be one order of magnitude higher than those in other two directions. The simulation was based on the single-relaxation time LB model, and we showed that by properly choosing the relaxation time, it could give similar results to those obtained using the multiple-relaxation time (MRT) LB method, but with only one third of the computational costs of MRTLB model.     

Advanced Study About the Permeability for Micro-Porous Structures Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

The micro flows through two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) granular porous media at various Knudsen numbers are studied by using the lattice Boltzmann method. For 2D cases, the correlation between the permeability, the porosity, and the Knudsen number is derived. For 2D cases, the correlation can estimate the permeability well except for the staggered square cylinder. The permeability of the porous media, which have the inclusions of different sizes, is calculated. For 3D cases, simulations for the uniform overlapping and non-uniform non-overlapping granular media are carried out. The results are compared with the correlation of previous study. The effect of rarefaction on the permeability is also discussed.     

An Orthorhombic Lattice Boltzmann Model for Pore-Scale Simulation of Fluid Flow in Porous Media

One application of the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) models is in combination with tomography to simulate pore-scale flow and transport processes in porous media. Most LBE models in the literature are based on cubic lattice, and if the voxels in a tomography image are not cubic or cannot be divided into cubes due to computational limitations, these models will lose most of their advantages. How to deal with such images is, hence, an interest in use of the LBE model to simulate pore-scale processes. In this paper, we present an orthorhombic LBE model based on the single-relaxation time approach with the relaxation parameter varying with lattice directions. The equilibrium distribution functions in the standard LBE model were modified to correct the anisotropy induced by the non-cubic lattice, and the calculations of the fluid density and momentum were also redefined in order to maintain the conservation of mass and momentum during the collision. We tested the model against analytical solution for fluid flow in a tube, and against the standard cubic-based LBE model for fluid flow in a duct with an island inside. The model was then applied to simulate fluid flow in a 3D image in attempts to analyse the errors if the voxels in the image are not cubic but are assumed to be cubic.     

Geometric and Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Three-dimensional Saturated Prefractal Porous Media Determined with Lattice Boltzmann Modeling

Fractal and prefractal geometric models have substantial potential for contributing to the analysis of flow and transport in porous media such as soils and reservoir rocks. In this study, geometric and hydrodynamic parameters of saturated 3D mass and pore–solid prefractal porous media were characterized using the lattice Boltzmann model (LBM). The percolation thresholds of the 3D prefractal porous media were inversely correlated with the fraction of micro-pore clusters and estimated as 0.36 and 0.30 for mass and pore–solid prefractal porous media, respectively. The intrinsic permeability and the dispersivity of the 3D pore–solid prefractals were larger than those of the 3D mass prefractals, presumably because of the occurrence of larger solid and pore cluster sizes in the former. The intrinsic permeability and dispersivity of both types of structure increased with increasing porosity, indicating a positive relationship between permeability and dispersivity, which is at odds with laboratory data and current theory. This discrepancy may be related to limitations of the convection dispersion equation at the relatively high porosity values employed in the present study.     

Stochastic Effects of 2D Random Arrays of Cylinders on Rarefied Gas Permeability Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

A large set of 2D random arrays of circular cylinders is generated to perform a statistical study on rarefied gas flow through micro-porous media. The flow regimes in this work lie for Knudsen numbers (Kn) ranging from the continuum to the transition regimes. Arrays are built by randomly placing cylinders with constant diameter with a uniform distribution without overlapping, and are generated for three target porosities. Fluid flow is assumed to be incompressible and isothermal. A modified lattice Boltzmann model is adopted to account for discrete effects, with slip-velocity boundary conditions and a Kn-dependent multi-relaxation time collision operator. The apparent permeability is modeled with Darcy’s law with a Klinkenberg-type relationship and compared with existing correlations. Velocity fields highlight the increasing contribution of fluid flow through small pores with increasing Kn. Numerical results show that porous media randomness leads to an uncertainty on rarefied gas permeability calculation despite the same structural characteristics and may not strictly follow a specific correlation. The influence of a local collision operator based on a local Kn instead of a global one in the numerical model is also studied. Results show that the permeability in rarefied regimes undergoes significant deviation when applying the local collision operator compared to the global one. These differences could result from a more accurate capture of the pore-scale behavior with a local Kn. Thus, it emphasizes the sensitivity of the model and the apparent permeability calculation to the appropriate definition of Kn.

     

LBM Simulation of Viscous Fingering Phenomenon in Immiscible Displacement of Two Fluids in Porous Media

This article presents the lattice Boltzmann simulation of viscous fingering phenomenon in immiscible displacement of two fluids in porous media. Such phenomenon generally takes place when a less viscous fluid is used to displace a more viscous fluid, and it can be found in many industrial fields. Dimensionless quantities, such as capillary number, Bond number and viscosity ratio between displaced fluid and displacing fluid are introduced to illustrate the effects of capillary force, viscous force, and gravity on the fluid behaviour. The surface wettability, which has an impact on the finger pattern, is also considered in the simulation. The numerical procedure is validated against the experiment about viscous fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell. The displacement efficiency is investigated using the parameter, areal sweep efficiency. The present simulation shows an additional evidence to demonstrate that the lattice Boltzmann method is a useful method for simulating some multiphase flow problems in porous media.     

Linking Morphology of Porous Media to Their Macroscopic Permeability by Deep Learning

Flow, transport, mechanical, and fracture properties of porous media depend on their morphology and are usually estimated by experimental and/or computational methods. The precision of the computational approaches depends on the accuracy of the model that represents the morphology. If high accuracy is required, the computations and even experiments can be quite time-consuming. At the same time, linking the morphology directly to the permeability, as well as other important flow and transport properties, has been a long-standing problem. In this paper, we develop a new network that utilizes a deep learning (DL) algorithm to link the morphology of porous media to their permeability. The network is neither a purely traditional artificial neural network (ANN), nor is it a purely DL algorithm, but, rather, it is a hybrid of both. The input data include three-dimensional images of sandstones, hundreds of their stochastic realizations generated by a reconstruction method, and synthetic unconsolidated porous media produced by a Boolean method. To develop the network, we first extract important features of the images using a DL algorithm and then feed them to an ANN to estimate the permeabilities. We demonstrate that the network is successfully trained, such that it can develop accurate correlations between the morphology of porous media and their effective permeability. The high accuracy of the network is demonstrated by its predictions for the permeability of a variety of porous media.

     

Network model evaluation of permeability and spatial correlation in a real random sphere packing

In principle, network models can replicate exactly the microstructure of porous media. In practice, however, network models have been constructed using various assumptions concerning pore structure. This paper presents a network model of a real, disordered porous medium that invokes no assumptions regarding pore structure. The calculated permeability of the model agrees well with measured permeabilities, providing a new and more rigorous confirmation of the validity of the network approach. Several assumptions commonly used in constructing network models are found to be invalid for a random packing of equal spheres. In addition, the model permits quantification of the effect of pore-scale correlation (departure from randomness) upon permeability. The effect is comparable to reported discrepancies between measured permeabilities and predictions of other network models. The implications of this finding are twofold. First, a key assumption of several theories of transport in porous media, namely that pore dimensions are randomly distributed upon a network, may be invalid for real porous systems. Second, efforts both to model and to measure pore-scale correlations could yield more accurate predictions of permeability.     

On the permeability of fibre-reinforced porous materials

Biological tissues can be considered as composite materials comprised of a porous matrix filled with interstitial fluid and reinforced by impermeable collagen fibres. Motivated by studies on fluid flow in articular cartilage, we would like to quantify the undeformed configuration permeability of fibre-reinforced composite materials. If there is a sufficient scale separation between the internal structure of the porous matrix and the arrangement of the fibres, the matrix can be taken as a porous continuum at the fibre scale. In this case, the fibres can be treated as inclusions in a porous continuum, and the overall permeability of the composite can be evaluated using homogenisation procedures. For an isotropic homogeneous matrix, the symmetry of the system is governed by the orientation of the fibres. Here, we propose to retrieve the overall permeability through geometrical considerations and directional averaging methods. The special case of transverse isotropy is discussed in detail, with particular attention to the sub-cases of aligned fibres and fibres lying on a plane.     

Pore-Scale Simulations of Single- and Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media: Approaches and Applications

Transport in Porous Media - We present a review of pore-scale simulations of immiscible fluid transport with focus on two of the most popular approaches: lattice Boltzmann modeling for direct...     

Determination of permeability in fibrous porous media using the lattice Boltzmann method with application to PEM fuel cells

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate the flow through an idealized proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) porous transport layer (PTL) geometry generated using a Monte Carlo method. Using the calculated flow field, Darcy's law is applied and the permeability is calculated. This process is applied in both through‐ and in‐plane directions of the paper as both of these permeability values are important in computational fluid dynamics models of PEMFCs. It is shown that the LBM can be used to determine permeability in a random porous media by solving the flow in the microstructure of the material. The permeability in the through‐ and in‐plane directions is shown to be different and the anisotropic nature of the geometry creates anisotropic permeability. It is also found that fiber arrangement plays a large role in the permeability of the PTL. New correlations are presented for in‐ and though‐plane permeabilities of fibrous porous media with (0.6<ε<0.8). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acoustic Properties of Fontainebleau Samples by Lattice Models

Acoustic properties of dry or saturated porous media can be studied numerically by a combined use of lattice spring models and lattice Boltzmann models. The methodology is briefly described and it is systematically applied to a series of Fontainebleau sandstones whether they are dry or saturated with incompressible or compressible fluids. The velocities of compression and shear waves, as well as their attenuation, are determined. The simulation results are in good agreement compared with the existing methods and experimental data.

     

Upscaling LBM-TPM simulation approach of Darcy and non-Darcy fluid flow in deformable,heterogeneous porous media

This paper presents a numerical approach for the simulation of fluid flow through porous media by proposing a theoretical and numerical meso-to-macro multiscale framework, which combines the advantages of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with the continuum Theory of Porous Media (TPM) to efficiently and accurately model fluid transport in heterogeneous porous media. In particular, LBM presents an alternative to experiments by studying the flow from a mesoscopic perspective, which in turn, allows the derivation of the material parameters needed for simulating the flow in the macroscopic TPM model. In this work, a meso-macro hierarchic upscaling scheme is applied to investigate the deformation-dependent intrinsic permeability properties and the Darcy/non-Darcy fluid flow regime. Concerning the mesoscale, the intrinsic permeability of the porous domain is computed by means of the LBM model at the first stage. Subsequently, deformation of the medium takes place in furtherance of determining the relation of the aforementioned deformation dependency. Thereupon, these findings are input into the TPM model in order to compute the primary unknown variables, where special focus is laid on the stability challenges in the compaction and near compaction states. With respect to the criteria of non-Darcy fluid flow, the conditions of its onset, i.e. the induced pressure gradient and mean fluid flow velocity, are computed as well using the LBM solver and conveyed afterwards to the macroscopic TPM model. Herein, the non-Darcy intrinsic permeability has been investigated in the TPM approach based on the Forchheimer equation. Simulations done on a synthetic porous micro-structure show that the combined framework proved to stand well between the two approaches.     

Intercomparison of boundary schemes in Lattice Boltzmann method for flow simulation in porous media

The Lattice Boltzmann method has been widely adopted to simulate flow in porous media. The choice of appropriate boundary schemes is essential to achieve simulation accuracy; however, the criteria for the most suitable boundary treatment in the simulation of flow in porous media flow remain unresolved. Here, three types of the most commonly used boundary conditions are tested: interpolation bounce back (IBB), partial saturated method (PSM), and immersed boundary method (IBM). The dimensionless drag of face-centered cubic (FCC) sphere array and the dimensionless permeability of a random closely packed (RCP) sphere array are calculated and compared at different viscosities and resolutions. In the FCC sphere array case where spheres are not contacted, the IBB and PSM exhibit the same accuracy and both are of the second-order convergence rate. The IBM is less accurate and is of the first-order convergence rate. In the RCP sphere array case where the spheres are contacted, the IBB shows finer results and a second-order convergence rate. PSM underestimates the dimensionless permeability and increases resolution only slightly improved the results of PSM. The IBM overestimates the dimensionless permeability. These results indicate that among the three methods, the IBB is the most accurate. The PSM has the same accuracy as the IBB when sediments are not contacted; however, it loses its accuracy in the simulation of flow in closely packed porous media. This work could serve as a benchmark for further research in choosing the most appropriate method in the simulation of flow in porous media.     

Finite-Difference Approximation for Fluid-Flow Simulation and Calculation of Permeability in Porous Media

We introduce a finite-difference method to simulate pore scale steady-state creeping fluid flow in porous media. First, a geometrical approximation is invoked to describe the interstitial space of grid-based images of porous media. Subsequently, a generalized Laplace equation is derived and solved to calculate fluid pressure and velocity distributions in the interstitial space domain. We use a previously validated lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) as ground truth for modeling comparison purposes. Our method requires on average 17 % of the CPU time used by LBM to calculate permeability in the same pore-scale distributions. After grid refinement, calculations of permeability performed from velocity distributions converge with both methods, and our modeling results differ within 6 % from those yielded by LBM. However, without grid refinement, permeability calculations differ within 20 % from those yielded by LBM for the case of high-porosity rocks and by as much as 100 % in low-porosity and highly tortuous porous media. We confirm that grid refinement is essential to secure reliable results when modeling fluid flow in porous media. Without grid refinement, permeability results obtained with our modeling method are closer to converged results than those yielded by LBM in low-porosity and highly tortuous media. However, the accuracy of the presented model decreases in pores with elongated cross sections.     

Investigation on mass diffusion process in porous media based on Lattice Boltzmann method

The mass diffusion process inside a porous medium is difficult for numerical simulation due to complex and stochastic nature of its structure. Based on the lattice Boltzmann method and reconstruction technology, this article presents an approach for simulating mass diffusion process and predicting the effective mass diffusivity in porous media, which is validated by comparing theoretical and experimental data. The concentration distribution and effective mass diffusivity inside porous media can be obtained.     

Permeability of microscale fibrous porous media using the lattice Boltzmann method

The permeabilities of microscale fibrous porous media were calculated using the multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Two models of the microscale fibrous porous media were constructed based on overlapping fibers (simple cubic, body-centered cubic). Arranging the fibers in skew positions yielded two additional models comprising non-overlapping fibers (skewed simple cubic, skewed body-centered cubic). As the fiber diameter increased, the fibers acted as granular inclusions. The effects of the overlapping fibers on the media permeability were investigated. The overlapping fibers yielded permeability values that were a factor of 2.5 larger than those obtained from non-overlapping fibers, but the effects of the fiber arrangement were negligible. Two correlations were obtained for the overlapping and non-overlapping fiber models, respectively. The effects of the rarefaction and slip flow are also discussed. As the Knudsen number increased, the dimensionless permeability increased; however, the increase differed depending on the fiber arrangement. In the slip flow regime, the fiber arrangement inside the porous media became an important factor.     

Investigation on Heat and Mass Transfer in a Evaporator of a Capillary-Pumped Loop with the Lattice Boltzmann Method: Pore Scale Simulation

A two-dimensional transient numerical model based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for the global evaporator of a capillary-pumped loop (CPL) is proposed to describe heat and mass transfer with evaporation in the porous wick, heat conduction in the cover plate, and heat transfer in the vapor groove. To indicate the stochastic phase distribution characteristics of most porous wick, the quartet structure generation set (QSGS) is introduced for generating more realistic microstructures of porous media. By using the present lattice Boltzmann algorithm along with the porous structure, the heat and mass transfer of an evaporator on pore scale can be predicted without resorting to any empirical parameters determined case by case. The energy equations for entire evaporator are solved as a conjugate problem, which are solved by means of a spatially varying relaxation time in the lattice Boltzmann model and the liquid flow is driven via the interfacial mass flux. A convective boundary condition considering the latent heat during the evaporation on the interface is introduced into the lattice Boltzmann model based on the nonequilibrium extrapolation rule. Especially, the bounce-back rule and the equilibrium rule of the LBM are, respectively, introduced to deal with the momentum boundary conditions inside the porous wick and on the evaporation interface in order to ensure the stability and the efficiency of the LBM model. Numerical results corresponding to different working conditions and different working fluids are presented, which provide guidance for the evaporator design of a CPL system.