A semi‐discrete central scheme for scalar hyperbolic conservation laws with heterogeneous storage coefficient and its application to porous media flow

In this paper, we develop a new Godunov‐type semi‐discrete central scheme for a scalar conservation law on the basis of a generalization of the Kurganov and Tadmor scheme, which allows for spatial variability of the storage coefficient (e.g. porosity in multiphase flow in porous media) approximated by piecewise constant interpolation. We construct a generalized numerical flux at element edges on the basis of a nonstaggered inhomogeneous dual mesh, which reproduces the one postulated by Kurganov and Tadmor under the assumption of homogeneous storage coefficient. Numerical simulations of two‐phase flow in strongly heterogeneous porous media illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme and highlight the important rule of the permeability–porosity correlation on finger growth and breakthrough curves. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.