Interfacial Fluid Dynamics in Porous Media
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Primkulov_bprimkul_PhD_CEE_2022.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
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126.9 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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a869e75612e92ac7e6b2f92de4ec8599
Author(s)
Primkulov, Bauyrzhan K.
Advisor(s)
Juanes, Ruben
Date Issued
May 2022
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
A beautiful array of patterns emerges when one fluid displaces another in porous media, a physical situation prevalent in many clean energy production and storage applications. These patterns can be reminiscent of dielectric breakdown, diffusion-limited growth of crystals, or percolation clusters in polymer gelation, depending on the relative affinity of the two fluids to the porous medium (wettability) and the balance of viscous and capillary forces. Examining this rich system at microscopic and macroscopic scales is at the center of this dissertation.
In Part I, we build computational models to capture macroscopic fluid-fluid displacement patterns in disordered porous media, which helps synthesize decades' worth of experimental observations. We draw parallels between electrical circuits and flow in porous media, where resistors model viscous effects and a combination of batteries and capacitors model capillary forces. This simple analogy, augmented with wettability-dependent pore-invasion mechanisms, allows capturing the rich dynamics of pattern formation within a single pore-network model and helps delineate the role of wettability. Finally, we explore intriguing features of self-organized criticality during fluid-fluid displacement in disordered porous media.
In Part II, we examine fluid displacement at a scale of a single capillary. We use lubrication theory to produce precise predictions of film evolution during spin-coating of capillary tubes---a technique one can use to fabricate capillaries with controlled surface properties. We then study the spontaneous imbibition of liquids in capillary tubes, where classical imbibition front slows with time. We propose a simple modification that renders imbibition constant-rate in capillary tubes and allows tuning of viscous dissipation; we use this system to characterize sources of dissipation during fluid-fluid displacement. We conclude Part II by revisiting the theory of moving contact lines over heterogeneous surfaces and rationalizing the transition from stick-slip to steady sliding.
The physical problems we investigate in this dissertation may prove helpful in addressing our current environmental challenges by inspiring physics-informed advances in CO₂ storage, electrolyzers and fuel cells, design of sustainable micromechanical devices and self-cleaning surfaces.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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