Flow of Maxwell fluids in porous media

In this paper we analyze the flow of a Maxwell fluid in a rigid porous medium using the method of volume averaging. We first present the local volume averaged momentum equation which contains Darcy-scale elastic effects and undetermined integrals of the spatial deviations of the pressure and velocity. A closure problem is developed in order to determine the spatial deviations and thus obtain a closed form of the momentum equation that contains a time-dependent permeability tensor. To gain some insight into the effects of elasticity on the dynamics of flow in porous media, the entire problem is transformed to the frequency domain through a temporal Fourier transform. This leads to a dynamic generalization of Darcy's law. Analytical results are provided for the case in which the porous medium is modeled as a bundle of capillary tubes, and a scheme is presented to solve the transformed closure problem for a general microstructure.     

Transport in ordered and disordered porous media III: Closure and comparison between theory and experiment

In this paper we examine the closure problem associated with the volume averaged form of the Stokes equations presented in Part II. For both ordered and disordered porous media, we make use of a spatially periodic model of a porous medium. Under these circumstances the closure problem, in terms of theclosure variables, is independent of the weighting functions used in the spatial smoothing process. Comparison between theory and experiment suggests that the geometrical characteristics of the unit cell dominate the calculated value of the Darcy's law permeability tensor, whereas the periodic conditions required for thelocal form of the closure problem play only a minor role.Roman Letters A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the macroscopic region, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area of the- interface associated with the local closure problem, m² - A _p surface area of a particle, m² - b vector used to represent the pressure deviation, m^–1 - B ⁰ B+I, a second order tensor that maps v _m ontov - B second-order tensor used to represent the velocity deviation - d _p 6V _p/A_p, effective particle diameter, m - d a vector related to the pressure, m - D a second-order tensor related to the velocity, m² - g gravity vector, m/s² - I unit tensor - K traditional Darcy's law permeability tensor calculated on the basis of a spatially periodic model, m² - K _m permeability tensor for the weighted average form of Darcy's law, m² - L general characteristic length for volume averaged quantities, m - L _p characteristic length for the volume averaged pressure, m - L characteristic length for the porosity, m - L _v characteristic length for the volume averaged velocity, m - characteristic length (pore scale) for the-phase - _i i=1, 2, 3 lattice vectors, m - weighting function - m(-y) , convolution product weighting function - m _v special convolution product weighting function associated with the traditional averaging volume - m _g general convolution product weighting function - m _V unit cell convolution product weighting function - m _C special convolution product weighting function for ordered media which produces the cellular average - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the -phase - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - p _m superficial weighted average pressure, N/m² - p _m intrinsic weighted average pressure, N/m² - p traditional intrinsic volume averaged pressure, N/m² - p – p _m , spatial deviation pressure, N/m² - r ₀ radius of a spherical averaging volume, m - r _m support of the convolution product weighting function - r position vector, m - r position vector locating points in the-phase, m. - V averaging volume, m³ - B volume of the-phase contained in the averaging volume, m³ - V _cell volume of a unit cell, m³ - v velocity vector in the-phase, m/s - v _m superficial weighted average velocity, m/s - v _m intrinsic weighted average velocity, m/s - v traditional superficial volume averaged velocity, m/s - v – v _m , spatial deviation velocity, m/s - x position vector locating the centroid of the averaging volume or the convolution product weighting function, m - y position vector relative to the centroid, m - y position vector locating points in the -phase relative to the centroid, m Greek Letters indicator function for the-phase - Dirac distribution associated with the- interface - V /V, volume average porosity - _m m * , weighted average porosity - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the-phase, Ns/m²     

Approximate analytical solutions for solute transport in two-layer porous media

Mathematical models for transport in layered media are important for investigating how restricting layers affect rates of solute migration in soil profiles; they may also improve the analysis of solute displacement experiments. This study reports an (approximate) analytical solution for solute transport during steady-state flow in a two-layer medium requiring continuity of solute fluxes and resident concentrations at the interface. The solutions were derived with Laplace transformations making use of the binomial theorem. Results based on this solution were found to be in relatively good agreement with those obtained using numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. An expression for the flux-averaged concentration in the second layer was also obtained. Zero- and first-order approximations for the solute distribution in the second layer were derived for a thin first layer representing a water film or crust on top of the medium. These thin-layer approximations did not perform as well as the binomial solution, except for the first-order approximation when the Peclet number,P, of the first layer, was low (P<5). Results of this study indicate that the ordering of two layers will affect the predicted breakthrough curves at the outlet of the medium. The two-layer solution was used to illustrate the effects of dispersion in the inlet or outlet reservoirs using previously published data on apparatus-induced dispersion.The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Modeling species transport by concentrated brine in aggregated porous media

Basic equations governing the transport of species by concentrated brine flowing through an aggregated porous medium are developed. Some simple examples are solved numerically. The medium is considered to be composed of porous rock aggregates separated by ‘macropores’ through which the brine flows and transport of salt and low-concentration species takes place. The aggregates contain dead-end pores, cracks, and stationary pockets collectively called ‘micropores’. The micropore space does not contribute to the flow, but it serves as a storage for salt and species. Adsorption of fluid species takes place at internal surface of aggregates where it is assumed that a linear equilibrium isotherm describes the process. The effects of high salt concentrations are accounted for in the brine density relation, the viscosity relation, Darcy's and Fick's laws, and the rate of mass transfer between macropores and micropores. Mass balance equations, supplemented by extended forms of Darcy's and Fick's laws, are employed to arrive at two sets of equations. One set consists of seven coupled equations for the salt mass fraction and fluid density in macropores, salt mass fraction in micropores, fluid velocity vector, and the fluid pressure. The other set consists of two coupled equations to be solved for the mass fractions of low-concentration species in micropores and macropores. Based on these equations, a mathematical model called TORISM is developed. Using this model, the potential significance of modifications to Darcy's Law are demonstrated.     

Fluid penetration effects in porous media contact

The contact boundary conditions at the interface between two fluid-saturated porous bodies are derived. The general derivation is performed within the well-founded framework of the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) based on the constituent balance relations of mass, momentum, and energy accounting for finite discontinuities at the contact surface. Particular attention is drawn to the effects associated with the interstitial fluid flux across the interface. The derived contact conditions include two kinematic continuity conditions for the solid velocity and the fluid seepage velocity as well as two jump conditions for the effective solid stress and the pore-fluid pressure. As an application, the common case of biphasic porous media contact proceeding from materially incompressible constituents and inviscid fluid properties is discussed in detail.      

Origin and quantification of coupling between relative permeabilities for two-phase flows in porous media

An extended formulation of Darcy's two-phase law is developed on the basis of Stokes' equations. It leads, through results borrowed from the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, to a matrix of relative permeabilities. Nondiagonal coefficients of this matrix are due to the viscous coupling exerted between fluid phases, while diagonal coefficients represent the contribution of both fluid phases to the total flow, as if they were alone. The coefficients of this matrix, contrary to standard relative permeabilities, do not depend on the boundary conditions imposed on two-phase flow in porous media, such as the flow rate. This formalism is validated by comparison with experimental results from tests of two-phase flow in a square cross-section capillary tube and in porous media. Coupling terms of the matrix are found to be nonnegligible compared to diagonal terms. Relationships between standard relative permeabilities and matrix coefficients are studied and lead to an experimental way to determine the new terms for two-phase flow in porous media.     

Thawing in saturated porous media

A mathematical model for thawing in a saturated porous medium is considered. The well-posedness of the corresponding mathematical problem is proved and similarity solutions are found.

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Sommario Si considera un modello matematico per to scongelamento in un mezzo poroso saturo. Viene dimostrata la buona posizione del corrispondente problema matematico e si trovano soluzioni di similarità.

     

Viscous coupling in two-phase flow in porous media and its effect on relative permeabilities

An idealized model of a porous rock consisting of a bundle of capillary tubes whose cross-sections are regular polygons is used to assess the importance of viscous coupling or lubrication during simultaneous oil-water flow. Fluids are nonuniformly distributed over tubes of different characteristic dimension because of the requirements of capillary equilibrium and the effect of interfacial viscosity at oil-water interfaces is considered. With these assumptions, we find that the importance of viscous coupling depends on the rheology of the oil-water interface. Where the interfacial shear viscosity is zero, viscous coupling leading to a dependence of oil relative permeability on oil-water viscosity ratio for viscosity ratios greater than one is important for a range of pore cross-section shapes and pore size distributions. For nonzero interfacial shear viscosity, viscous coupling is reduced. Using values reported in the literature for crude oil-brine systems, we find no viscous coupling.     

Flow in porous media I: A theoretical derivation of Darcy's law

Stokes flow through a rigid porous medium is analyzed in terms of the method of volume averaging. The traditional averaging procedure leads to an equation of motion and a continuity equation expressed in terms of the volume-averaged pressure and velocity. The equation of motion contains integrals involving spatial deviations of the pressure and velocity, the Brinkman correction, and other lower-order terms. The analysis clearly indicates why the Brinkman correction should not be used to accommodate ano slip condition at an interface between a porous medium and a bounding solid surface.The presence of spatial deviations of the pressure and velocity in the volume-averaged equations of motion gives rise to aclosure problem, and representations for the spatial deviations are derived that lead to Darcy's law. The theoretical development is not restricted to either homogeneous or spatially periodic porous media; however, the problem ofabrupt changes in the structure of a porous medium is not considered.Roman Letters A interfacial area of the - interface contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the -phase contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area of the - interface contained within the averaging volume, m² - A ^* interfacial area of the - interface contained within a unit cell, m² - Ae area of entrances and exits for the -phase contained within a unit cell, m² - B second order tensor used to represent the velocity deviation (see Equation (3.30)) - b vector used to represent the pressure deviation (see Equation (3.31)), m^–1 - d distance between two points at which the pressure is measured, m - g gravity vector, m/s² - K Darcy's law permeability tensor, m² - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m - characteristic length scale for the -phase (see Figure 2), m - characteristic length scale for the -phase (see Figure 2), m - n unit normal vector pointing from the -phase toward the -phase (n =–n ) - n _e unit normal vector for the entrances and exits of the -phase contained within a unit cell - p pressure in the -phase, N/m² - p intrinsic phase average pressure for the -phase, N/m² - p –p , spatial deviation of the pressure in the -phase, N/m² - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume and radius of a capillary tube, m - v velocity vector for the -phase, m/s - v phase average velocity vector for the -phase, m/s - v intrinsic phase average velocity vector for the -phase, m/s - v –v , spatial deviation of the velocity vector for the -phase, m/s - V averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the -phase contained within the averaging volume, m³ Greek Letters V/V, volume fraction of the -phase - mass density of the -phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the -phase, Nt/m² - arbitrary function used in the representation of the velocity deviation (see Equations (3.11) and (B1)), m/s - arbitrary function used in the representation of the pressure deviation (see Equations (3.12) and (B2)), s^–1     

Flow in porous media II: The governing equations for immiscible,two-phase flow

The Stokes flow of two immiscible fluids through a rigid porous medium is analyzed using the method of volume averaging. The volume-averaged momentum equations, in terms of averaged quantities and spatial deviations, are identical in form to that obtained for single phase flow; however, the solution of the closure problem gives rise to additional terms not found in the traditional treatment of two-phase flow. Qualitative arguments suggest that the nontraditional terms may be important when / is of order one, and order of magnitude analysis indicates that they may be significant in terms of the motion of a fluid at very low volume fractions. The theory contains features that could give rise to hysteresis effects, but in the present form it is restricted to static contact line phenomena.Roman Letters (, = , , and ) A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the -phase contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the averaging volume, m² - A ^* interfacial area of the- interface contained within a unit cell, m² - A _e ^* area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within a unit cell, m² - g gravity vector, m²/s - H mean curvature of the- interface, m^–1 - H area average of the mean curvature, m^–1 - H – H , deviation of the mean curvature, m^–1 - I unit tensor - K Darcy's law permeability tensor, m² - K permeability tensor for the-phase, m² - K viscous drag tensor for the-phase equation of motion - K viscous drag tensor for the-phase equation of motion - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m - characteristic length scale for the-phase, m - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the-phase (n = –n ) - p _c p – P , capillary pressure, N/m² - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - p intrinsic phase average pressure for the-phase, N/m² - p – p , spatial deviation of the pressure in the-phase, N/m² - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m - t time, s - v velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v phase average velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v intrinsic phase average velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - v – v , spatial deviation of the velocity vector for the-phase, m/s - V averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the-phase contained within the averaging volume, m³ Greek Letters V /V, volume fraction of the-phase - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - viscosity of the-phase, Nt/m² - surface tension of the- interface, N/m - viscous stress tensor for the-phase, N/m² - / kinematic viscosity, m²/s     

Advective fluxes in multiphase porous media under nonisothermal conditions

We consider the case in which more than one fluid phase occupies the void space of a porous medium. The advective flux law is formulated for a fluid phase, under nonisothermal conditions and with the presence of solutes in the fluid phases. The derivation of the flux laws is based on an approximated version of the averaged balance equation for linear momentum. Taking into account momentum transfer through the interface between the fluid phases, leads to coupling between the flow in adjacent phases. Fluxes are also shown to depend on the surface tension at the interface between the adjacent fluid phases. Since the latter depends on temperature and solute concentration in the two phases, the advective flux is shown to depend on both temperature and solute concentration gradients in the two phases. A preliminary order of magnitude analysis gives conditions under which the coupling phenomena are not negligible. The approach is applied to the unsaturated zone, as a typical example of a multiphase porous medium.The main conclusion is that the well known Darcy law for single phase flow, may have to be modified for a multi fluid phase system, especially when temperature and solute concentration are not uniform.     

双相介质参数反演的混沌搜索方法

混沌运动能在一定的范围内按自身的规律不重复地遍历所有状态。利用这个特点 ,本文将混沌运动引入到双相介质参数反问题的研究中。首先利用边界元方法实现了由介质参数到地表位移的非线性映射 ,然后通过建立合成位移与实测位移的相关函数将参数识别问题归结为优化问题 ,最后利用混沌运动指导优化搜索求得介质参数。算例结果表明了混沌搜索方法用于双相介质参数反演问题的可行性和有效性     

Absorbing boundary conditions for elastic waves in transversely isotropic media

In the numerical simulation of elastic wave propagation in the solid, it is essential to introduce absorbing boundary conditions to limit the large or unbounded domain of computation. In this paper, the absorbing boundaries for transversely isotropic media are composed of simple first-order partial differential operators, and each of the operators can perfectly absorb a plane wave outgoing at a certain angle. To test the absorbing ability, the reflection coefficient formulas for the quasi-P and quasi-S wave on the absorbing boundary are derived based on the potential functions theory of the elastic wave. Numerical examples show that the absorbing effect is good. The boundary conditions given here have a practical meaning.Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Fractal porous media III: Transversal Stokes flow through random and Sierpinski carpets

The transversal Stokes flow of a Newtonian fluid through random and Sierpinski carpets is numerically calculated and the transversal permeability derived. In random carpets derived from site percolation, the average macroscopic permeability varies as (- _c)^3/2, close to the critical porosity _c. This exponent is found to be slightly different from the conductivity exponent. Results for Sierpinski carpets are presented up to the fourth generation. The Carman equation is not verified in these two model porous media.     

Variable density flow in porous media. A study by means of pore level numerical simulations

This paper is devoted to the modelling of isothermal low Reynolds and Mach numbers transient compressible flow through porous media. Traditionally, this type of flow at the macroscopic level is described by the classical Darcy's law combined with a mass balance that includes the transient term. This model is called the ‘classic model’. The aim of this paper is to explore the validity of this classic model. To this end, the flow of an ideal gas is considered within two‐dimensional model porous media. The flow is due to the imposed pressure variations at the outlet of the fluid domain. At the microscopic level, the flow is computed by solving the full compressible Navier–Stokes equations in two dimensions. Special attention is given to the outlet boundary conditions. The analysis is based on the comparison between the macroscopic data, obtained on the one hand by spatially averaging the microscopic results, and on the other hand by solving the problem directly at the macroscopic level. Situations for which a good agreement is found between the two series of data and situations for which discrepancies are observed are exhibited. These various behaviours are discussed in terms of the various time scales controlling the flow and are explained by analysing the flow structure at pore level. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parameters inversion of fluid-saturated porous media based on neural networks

The multi-layers feedforward neural network is used for inversion of material constants of fluid-saturated porous media. The direct analysis of fluid-saturated porous media is carried out with the boundary element method. The dynamic displacement responses obtained from direct analysis for prescribed material parameters constitute the sample sets training neural network. By virtue of the effective L-M training algorithm and the Tikhonov regularization method as well as the GCV method for an appropriate selection of regularization parameter, the inverse mapping from dynamic displacement responses to material constants is performed. Numerical examples demonstrate the validity of the neural network method. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 19872002 and 10272003) and Climbing Foundation of Northern Jiaotong University.