Multiphase flow in porous media

The pore geometry described in the above section plays a dominant role in the fluid transport through the media. For example, Katz and Thompson [64] reported a strong correlation between permeability and the size of the pore throat determined from Hg intrusion experiments. This is often understood in terms of a capillary model for porous media in which the main contribution to the single phase flow is the smallest restriction in the pore network, i.e., the pore throat. On the other hand, understanding multiphase flow in porous media requires a more complete picture of the pore network, including pore body and pore throat. For example, in a capillary model, complete displacement of both phases can be achieved. However, in real porous media, one finds that displacement of one or both phases can be hindered, giving rise to the concept of residue saturation. In the production of crude oil, this often dictates the fraction of oil that will not flow. 

Kalay jian, F. and C.M. Marie, 1987. Thermodynamic aspects of multiphase flow in porous media. In Doligez, B. (ed.), 1987. Migration of hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins. 3rd IFP Exploration and Production Research Conference, 1987. Editions Technip, Paris, pp. 513-531... 

Hassanizadeh M, Gray WG (1990) Mechanics and thermodynamics of multiphase flow in porous media including interphase boundaries. Adv Water Resources 13(4) 169-186... 

Mohanty, K.K., Salter, S.J., 1983. Multiphase flow in porous media 111. Oil mobilization, transverse dispersion and wettability. Paper SPE 12127 presented at the 58th Annual Conference of the SPE, San Francisco, 5-8 October. 

Celia, M.A., PC. Reeves, and L.A. Ferrand. 1995. Pore scale models for multiphase flow in porous media. Rev. Geophys. Suppl. 33 1049-1057. 

Snap-off. Snap-off is a very significant mechanism for bubble generation in porous media. This phenomenon was first identified and explained by Roof (54) to understand the origin of residual oil. Snap-off is not restricted to the creation of trapped oil globules. It repeatedly occurs during multiphase flow in porous media regardless of the presence or absence of surfactant. Hence, snap-off is recognized as a mechanical process. 

P. Bastian. Numerical computation of multiphase flows in porous media, 1999. 

W.L. Olbricht, Pore-scale prototypes of multiphase flow in porous media. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics. 1996, 28. 187-213. 

Bastian, P. Numerical Computation of Multiphase Flows in Porous Media. Christian-Albrechts-Universitat Kiel, 236 p. (1999)... 

Marie, C.M., Multiphase Flow in Porous Media, Gulf Publishing, Houston, 1981. 

Allen, M.B., Behie, G.A., and Trangenstein, J.A. (1988) Lecture Notes in Engineering, in Multiphase Flow in Porous Media, vol. 34, Springer. 

J. A. Trangenstein Multiphase Flow in Porous Media Mechanics, Mathematics, and Numerics IV, 312 pages 1988... 

Gas-liquid interfaces exert forces due to the surface tension of the liquid. For most systems of engineering importance, these forces are negligible. However, for small bubbles and drops, surface forces are very important, as shown here. Several other situations in which surface tension is important are not considered here, such as emulsions, coatings, candle wicks, sweat solder fittings, multiphase flow in porous media, and ink-jet printers [6, Chapter 14],... 

Multiphase flow in porous media is a very important topic for low-temperature PEFCs because water produced at the cathode flows through the porous catalyst layers and porous gas diffusion media. Any local blockage of normally open pores restricts reactant flow to the reaction sites, a phenomenon known as flooding. The water balance and flooding in a PEFC is described in detail in Chapter 6. Here, the basic fundamentals that describe two-phase flow in porous media are described to guide and understanding. 

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