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     

On the closure problem for Darcy's law

In a previous derivation of Darcy's law, the closure problem was presented in terms of an integro-differential equation for a second-order tensor. In this paper, we show that the closure problem can be transformed to a set of Stokes-like equations and we compare solutions of these equations with experimental data. The computational advantages of the transformed closure problem are considerable.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 _e area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within the averaging volume, m² - B second-order tensor used to respresent the velocity deviation - b vector used to represent the pressure deviation, m^–1 - C second-order tensor related to the permeability tensor, m^–2 - D second-order tensor used to represent the velocity deviation, m² - d vector used to represent the pressure deviation, m - g gravity vector, m/s² - I unit tensor - K C ^–1,–D, Darcy's law permeability tensor, m² - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m - characteristic length scale for the-phase, m - l _i i=1, 2, 3, lattice vectors, m - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the-phase - n _e outwardly directed unit normal vector at the entrances and exits of the-phase - p pressure in the-phase, N/m ² - p intrinsic phase average pressure, N/m² - p –p , spatial deviation of the pressure in the-phase, N/m² - r position vector locating points in the-phase, m - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m - t time, s - v velocity vector in the-phase, m/s - v intrinsic phase average velocity in the-phase, m/s - v phase average or Darcy velocity in the \-phase, m/s - v –v , spatial deviation of the velocity in the-phase m/s - V averaging volume, m³ - V volume of the-phase contained in 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     

Transport in ordered and disordered porous media II: Generalized volume averaging

In this paper we develop the averaged form of the Stokes equations in terms of weighting functions. The analysis clearly indicates at what point one must choose a media-specific weighting function in order to achieve spatially smoothed transport equations. The form of the weighting function that produces the cellular average is derived, and some important geometrical theorems are presented.Roman Letters A interfacial area of the- interface associated with the local closure problem, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within the averaging system, m² - A _p surface area of a particle, m² - d _p 6V _p/A_p, effective particle diameter, m - g gravity vector, m/s² - I unit tensor - 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 general characteristic length for volume averaged pressure, m - L characteristic length for the porosity, m - L _v characteristic length for the volume averaged velocity, m - l characteristic length (pore scale) for the-phase - l _i i=1, 2, 3 lattice vectors, m - (y) weighting function - m(–y) (y), convolution product weighting function - _v special weighting function associated with the traditional averaging volume - 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 - m _D special convolution product weighting function for disordered media - m _M master convolution product weighting function for ordered and disordered media - 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 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, m - r position vector, m - r position vector locating points in the-phase, m - V averaging volume, m³ - V 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 - vm superficial weighted average velocity, m/s - v _m intrinsic weighted average velocity, m/s - V volume of the-phase contained in the averaging volume, m³ - V _p volume of a particle, m³ - v traditional superficial volume averaged velocity, m/s - v v p _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 - V /V, volume fraction of the-phase     

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.     

On Darcy's law for growing porous media

The flow of a Newtonian fluid in porous media can be described using Darcy's law when inertial effects and deformations in the solid can be neglected and no mass interchange occur between the solid and the fluid components. Having in mind bio-medical applications, we analyze the correction to be considered when non-negligible mass exchanges between the constituents are present. This is done both on a thermodynamical basis and using a symmetry and frame indifferent argument.     

Dispersion in spatially periodic porous media

The method of volume averaging is applied to ordered and disordered spatially periodic porous media in two dimensions in order to compute the components of the dispersion tensor for low Peclet numbers ranging from 0.1 to 100. The effect of different parameters on the dispersion tensor is studied. The longitudinal dispersion coefficient decreases with an increase in disorder while the transverse dispersion coefficient increases. The location of discs in the unit cell influences the longitudinal dispersion coefficient significantly, compared to the transverse dispersion coefficient. Under a laminar flow regime, the dispersion coefficient is independent of Re_p. The predicted functional dependency of dispersion on the Peclet number agrees with experimental data. The predicted longitudinal dispersion coefficient in disordered porous media is smaller than that of the experimental data. However, the predicted transverse dispersion coefficient agrees with the experimental data.     

Flow in porous media III: Deformable media

Stokes flow in a deformable medium is considered in terms of an isotropic, linearly elastic solid matrix. The analysis is restricted to steady forms of the momentum equations and small deformation of the solid phase. Darcy's law can be used to determine the motion of the fluid phase; however, the determination of the Darcy's law permeability tensor represents part of the closure problem in which the position of the fluid-solid interface must be determined.Roman Letters A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area of the- interface contained within the averaging volume, 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 a unit cell, m² - A _e ^* area of entrances and exits for the-phase contained within a unit cell, m² - E Young's modulus for the-phase, N/m² - e i unit base vectors (i = 1, 2, 3) - g gravity vector, m²/s - H height of elastic, porous bed, m - k unit base vector (=e ₃) - characteristic length scale for the-phase, m - L characteristic length scale for volume-averaged quantities, m - n unit normal vector pointing from the-phase toward the-phase (n = -n ) - p pressure in the-phase, N/m² - P p – g·r, N/m² - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m - r position vector, m - t time, s - T total stress tensor in the-phase, N/m² - T ⁰ hydrostatic stress tensor for the-phase, N/m² - u displacement vector for the-phase, m - V averaging volume, m₃ - V volume of the-phase contained within the averaging volume, m³ - v velocity vector for the-phase, m/s Greek Letters V /V, volume fraction of the-phase - mass density of the-phase, kg/m³ - shear coefficient of viscosity for the-phase, Nt/m² - first Lamé coefficient for the-phase, N/m² - second Lamé coefficient for the-phase, N/m² - bulk coefficient of viscosity for the-phase, Nt/m² - T –T ⁰ , a deviatoric stress tensor for the-phase, N/m²     

A scale-dependent equation for solute transport in porous media

The governing equation describing solute transport in porous media is reformulated using standard volume averaging techniques. The alternative formulation is based on a modified definition of the deviation, which allows for variation of macroscopic velocity across the REV. The new equation contains additional scale-dependent terms which are functions of the size of the averaging volume (REV). This result indicates that the scale-dependent nature of the dispersion phenomenon is inherent even at the scale of the REV.     

A Derivation of the Volume-Averaged Boussinesq Equations for Flow in Porous Media with Viscous Dissipation

The volume-averaged equations are derived for convective flow in porous media. In the thermal energy equation viscous dissipation is taken into account, and a suitable form is obtained which is valid when Brinkman effects are significant.     

Closure of the governing equations for immiscible,two-phase flow: A research comment

The derivation of the governing equations for immiscible, two-phase flow through porous media by Whitaker (Transport in Porous Media 1, 105–125 (1986)) contains an error which is corrected in the present work. The modified equations contain terms not present in the original equations, but their presence does not cause any fundamental changes from the conclusions reached in the original work. However, these extra terms may be important in computations associated with the closure problem.     

Capillary ascension in porous media: A scaling law

A relationship between the microstructure of a porous medium and the height of ascension of a fluid in the material is proposed. The porous medium is modelled by means of a square lattice randomly filled with matter. A scaling law is derived from a numerical simulation. An analytical solution is also obtained and compared with the numerical results.     

Diffusion in anisotropic porous media

An experimental system was constructed in order to measure the two distinct components of the effective diffusivity tensor in transversely isotropic, unconsolidated porous media. Measurements were made for porous media consisting of glass spheres, mica particles, and disks made from mylar sheets. Both the particle geometry and the void fraction of the porous media were determined experimentally, and theoretical calculations for the two components of the effective diffusivity tensor were carried out. The comparison between theory and experiment clearly indicates that the void fraction and particle geometry are insufficient to characterize the process of diffusion in anisotropic porous media. Roman Letters A interfacial area between - and -phases for the macroscopic system, m² - A _e area of entrances and exits of the -phase for the macroscopic system, m² - A interfacial area contained within the averaging volume, m² - a characteristic length of a particle, m - b average thickness of a particle, m - c _A concentration of species A, moles/m³ - c _o reference concentration of species A, moles/m³ - c _A intrinsic phase average concentration of species A, moles/m³ - c _a c _A–c _A, spatial deviation concentration of species A, moles/m³ - C c _A/c ₀, dimensionless concentration of species A - binary molecular diffusion coefficient, m²/s - D _eff effective diffusivity tensor, m²/s - D _xx component of the effective diffusivity tensor associated with diffusion parallel to the bedding plane, m²/s - D _yy component of the effective diffusivity tensor associated with diffusion perpendicular to the bedding plane, m²/s - D _eff effective diffusivity for isotropic systems, m₂/s - f vector field that maps c _A on to c _a , m - h depth of the mixing chamber, m     

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media I: The influence of large spatial and temporal gradients

In order to capture the complexities of two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media, we have used the method of large-scale averaging and spatially periodic models of the local heterogeneities. The analysis leads to the large-scale form of the momentum equations for the two immiscible fluids, a theoretical representation for the large-scale permeability tensor, and a dynamic, large-scale capillary pressure. The prediction of the permeability tensor and the dynamic capillary pressure requires the solution of a large-scale closure problem. In our initial study (Quintard and Whitaker, 1988), the solution to the closure problem was restricted to the quasi-steady condition and small spatial gradients. In this work, we have relaxed the constraint of small spatial gradients and developed a dynamic solution to the closure problem that takes into account some, but not all, of the transient effects that occur at the closure level. The analysis leads to continuity and momentum equations for the-phase that are given by

On the developments of Darcy's law to include inertial and slip effects

The empirical Darcy law describing flow in porous media, whose convincing theoretical justification was proposed almost 130 years after its original publication in 1856, has however been extended to account for particular flow conditions. This article reviews historical developments aimed at including inertial and slip effects (respectively, when the Reynolds and Knudsen numbers are not exceedingly small compared to unity). Despite the early empirical extensions to include inertia and slip effects, it is striking to observe that clear formal derivations of physical models to account for these effects were reported only recently.     

Modelling of heat transfer by conduction in a transition region between a porous medium and an external fluid

We study the modelling of purely conductive heat transfer between a porous medium and an external fluid within the framework of the volume averaging method. When the temperature field for such a system is classically determined by coupling the macroscopic heat conduction equation in the porous medium domain to the heat conduction equation in the external fluid domain, it is shown that the phase average temperature cannot be predicted without a generally negligible error due to the fact that the boundary conditions at the interface between the two media are specified at the macroscopic level.Afterwards, it is presented an alternative modelling by means of a single equation involving an effective thermal conductivity which is a function of point inside the interfacial region.The theoretical results are illustrated by means of some numerical simulations for a model porous medium. In particular, temperature fields at the microscopic level are presented.Roman Letters _sf interfacial area of thes-f interface contained within the macroscopic system m² - A _sf interfacial area of thes-f interface contained within the averaging volume m² - C _p mass fraction weighted heat capacity, kcal/kg/K - g vector that maps to _s , m - h vector that maps to _f , m - K _eff effective thermal conductivity tensor, kcal/m s K - l _s,l _f microscopic characteristic length m - L macroscopic characteristic length, m - n _fs outwardly directed unit normal vector for thef-phase at thef-s interface - n outwardly directed unit normal vector at the dividing surface. - R ₀ REV characteristic length, m - T _i macroscopic temperature at the interface, K - error on the external fluid temperature due to the macroscopic boundary condition, K - T ^* macroscopic temperature field obtained by solving the macroscopic Equation (3), K - V averaging volume, m³ - V _s,V _f volume of the considered phase within the averaging volume, m³. - _mp volume of the porous medium domain, m³ - _ex volume of the external fluid domain, m³ - _s , _f volume of the considered phase within the volume of the macroscopic system, m³ - dividing surface, m² - x, z spatial coordinates Greek Letters _s, _f volume fraction - ratio of the effective thermal conductivity to the external fluid thermal conductivity - ^* macroscopic thermal conductivity (single equation model) kcal/m s K - _s, _f microscopic thermal conductivities, kcal/m s K - spatial average density, kg/m³ - microscopic temperature, K - ^* microscopic temperature corresponding toT ^*, K - spatial deviation temperature K - error in the temperature due to the macroscopic boundary conditions, K - ^* _i macroscopic temperature at the interface given by the single equation model, K - spatial average - ^s , ^f intrinsic phase average.     

Two-Phase Inertial Flow in Homogeneous Porous Media: A Theoretical Derivation of a Macroscopic Model

The purpose of this article is to derive a macroscopic model for a certain class of inertial two-phase, incompressible, Newtonian fluid flow through homogenous porous media. Starting from the continuity and Navier–Stokes equations in each phase β and γ, the method of volume averaging is employed subjected to constraints that are explicitly provided to obtain the macroscopic mass and momentum balance equations. These constraints are on the length- and time-scales, as well as, on some quantities involving capillary, Weber and Reynolds numbers that define the class of two-phase flow under consideration. The resulting macroscopic momentum equation relates the phase-averaged pressure gradient to the filtration or Darcy velocity in a coupled nonlinear form explicitly given by

An experimental investigation of dispersion in layered porous media

Experiments were run in three linear, homogeneous, nonuniform porous media constructed in lucite columns using spherical glass beads. The columns were also joined end to end to create an in series layered heterogeneous porous media. Each column, all combinations of columns and several permutations were studied with a factorial experimental design to determine the effects of porosity, permeability, velocity, length, and column order upon dispersion. Attempts to predict the heterogeneous results from the homogeneous results were made, and a statistical regression based on the factorial design was calculated. Results showed that no simple averaging procedure accurately predicted the heterogeneous results. The statistical regression showed permeability, velocity, viscosity, length and column order to be significant.     

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media: The method of large-scale averaging

The analysis of two-phase flow in porous media begins with the Stokes equations and an appropriate set of boundary conditions. Local volume averaging can then be used to produce the well known extension of Darcy's law for two-phase flow. In addition, a method of closure exists that can be used to predict the individual permeability tensors for each phase. For a heterogeneous porous medium, the local volume average closure problem becomes exceedingly complex and an alternate theoretical resolution of the problem is necessary. This is provided by the method of large-scale averaging which is used to average the Darcy-scale equations over a region that is large compared to the length scale of the heterogeneities. In this paper we present the derivation of the large-scale averaged continuity and momentum equations, and we develop a method of closure that can be used to predict the large-scale permeability tensors and the large-scale capillary pressure. The closure problem is limited by the principle of local mechanical equilibrium. This means that the local fluid distribution is determined by capillary pressure-saturation relations and is not constrained by the solution of an evolutionary transport equation. Special attention is given to the fact that both fluids can be trapped in regions where the saturation is equal to the irreducible saturation, in addition to being trapped in regions where the saturation is greater than the irreducible saturation. Theoretical results are given for stratified porous media and a two-dimensional model for a heterogeneous porous medium.     

Determination of permeability tensors for two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media: Theory

In this paper we continue previous studies of the closure problem for two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media, and we show how the closure problem can be transformed to a pair of Stokes-like boundary-value problems in terms of pressures that have units of length and velocities that have units of length squared. These are essentially geometrical boundary value problems that are used to calculate the four permeability tensors that appear in the volume averaged Stokes' equations. To determine the geometry associated with the closure problem, one needs to solve the physical problem; however, the closure problem can be solved using the same algorithm used to solve the physical problem, thus the entire procedure can be accomplished with a single numerical code.Nomenclature a a vector that maps V onto , m^-1. - A a tensor that maps V onto . - A area of the - interface contained within the macroscopic region, m². - A area of the -phase entrances and exits contained within the macroscopic region, m². - A area of the - interface contained within the averaging volume, m². - A area of the -phase entrances and exits contained within the averaging volume, m². - Bo Bond number (= (=(–)g²/). - Ca capillary number (= v/). - g gravitational acceleration, m/s². - H mean curvature, m^-1. - I unit tensor. - permeability tensor for the -phase, m². - viscous drag tensor that maps V onto V. - ^* dominant permeability tensor that maps onto v , m². - ^* coupling permeability tensor that maps onto v , m². - characteristic length scale for the -phase, m. - l characteristic length scale representing both and , m. - L characteristic length scale for volume averaged quantities, m. - n unit normal vector directed from the -phase toward the -phase. - n unit normal vector representing both n and n . - n unit normal vector representing both n and n . - P pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p superficial average pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p intrinsic average pressure in the -phase, N/m². - p –p , spatial deviation pressure for the -phase, N/m². - r ₀ radius of the averaging volume, m. - r position vector, m. - t time, s. - v fluid velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v superficial average velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v intrinsic average velocity in the -phase, m/s. - v –v , spatial deviation velocity in the -phase, m/s. - V volume of the -phase contained within the averaging volmue, m³. - averaging volume, m³. Greek Symbols V /, volume fraction of the -phase. - viscosity of the -phase, Ns/m². - density of the -phase, kg/m³. - surface tension, N/m. - (v +v ^T ), viscous stress tensor for the -phase, N/m².     

Boundary domain integral method for transport phenomena in porous media

A boundary domain integral method (BDIM) for the solution of transport phenomena in porous media is presented. The complete, so‐called modified Navier–Stokes equations (Brinkman‐extended Darcy formulation with inertial term included) have been used to describe the fluid motion in porous media. Velocity–vorticity formulation (VVF) of the conservative equations is employed. In this paper, the proposed numerical scheme is tested on a particular case of natural convection and the results of flow and heat transfer characteristics of a fluid in a vertical porous cavity heated from the side and saturated with Newtonian fluid are presented in detail. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.