HR: 14:25h
AN: H43J-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Investigating Interfacial Area in a Multiphase Porous System Using Computed Microtomography and Lattice-Boltzmann Simulations
AU: * Porter, M L
EM: porterma@engr.orst.edu
AF: Oregon State University, 220 Owen Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
AU: Wildenschild, D
EM: dorthe@engr.oregonstate.edu
AF: Oregon State University, 102 Gleeson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
AU: Schaap, M G
EM: mschaap@cals.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Shantz 524, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
AB: The interface that exists between immiscible fluids plays an important role in multiphase flow and transport in subsurface environments. In this study interfacial area per volume was investigated using computed microtomographic image data and lattice-Boltzmann simulations. A multicomponent lattice-Boltzmann model was used to simulate air-water drainage and imbibition experiments. The pore geometry for the simulations was generated using computed microtomographic image data from the experiments. Based on analysis of the Reynolds, Capillary and Bond number it was determined that capillarity was the dominating force in the experiments, thus gravity, viscous and inertial forces were not taken into account in the simulations. Both pressure and flux boundary conditions were investigated with the simulations. The flux boundary conditions reflect the conditions in the experiments. The pressure boundary conditions are consistent with the more traditional methods for measuring capillary pressure - saturation curves. Simulations with both boundary conditions are in good agreement for the capillary pressure saturation curves. Comparisons between experimental and simulated capillary pressure - saturation curves show relatively good agreement. A preliminary comparison between nonwetting - wetting phase interfacial area per volume estimates indicates good agreement for drainage, however, the simulated interfacial area estimates for imbibition were significantly higher than those obtained in the experiments. The exact cause of the high estimates during imbibition is currently under investigation.
DE: 1805 Computational hydrology
DE: 1847 Modeling
DE: 1849 Numerical approximations and analysis
DE: 1875 Vadose zone
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting