Darcys Law in Complex Porous Media

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S. Majid Hassanizadeh
Environmental Hydrogeology
Department of Earth Sciences
Utrecht University
The Netherlands
Simple System
Complex System
Governing Equations of Two-Phase Flow
Continuity equation for each phase:
Extended Darcy Equation:
Capillary-pressure saturation relationship:
0
w
w
S
t

+ =

q
( )
,
r
k
p w n

= =
k
q g
0
w
n
S
t

+ =

q
( )
n w c w
p p p S =
Governing Equations of Two-Phase Flow
Two-phase flow equations:
( )
w rw
n c w
w
S k
p p
t

k
g
( )
w rn
n n
n
S k
p
t

k
g
Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow
Extended Darcy Equation:
Define total head for a phase:
( )
r
k
p

=
k
q g
h
q K
L

=
p
h z
g

= +
( )
:
r r
k k
h let




= =
k k
q K
h
q K
x

Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow

Capillary-pressure saturation relationship:
( )
n w c w
p p p S =
Capillary pressure-saturation curves are obtained by
measurement of saturation inside and fluid pressures
outside the porous medium under quasi-equilibrium
conditions.
Time to equilibrium can be days to weeks.
Measurement of Capillary Pressure-Saturation Curves
*
Air chamber
Porous
Medium
Porous Plate
(impermeable to air)
Water reservoir
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Wetting curve
Drying curve
a
p
w
p
S
c
a w
p
p p
=

*
*
1 0
Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow
Forces acting within interfaces control fluid
distribution within the porous medium.
Mass transfer
among phases
occurs through
fluid-fluid
interfaces.
Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow
Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow
Where are
interfacial forces and
interfacial energies in
theories of two-phase
flow in porous media!?
Dewatering of paper pulp
press nips
The paper pulp layer is transported through the press
aperture on a felt. The paper-felt sandwich is thus
compressed, so that the water is pressed out of the paper,
is absorbed by the felt, and then flows laterally away
from the nips. Pictures courtesy of Oleg Iliev of ITWM, Kaiserslautern
Dewatering of paper pulp
The felt must have enough retaining and conducting
capacity for the water pressed from the paper layer.
Pictures courtesy of Oleg Iliev of ITWM, Kaiserslautern
Simulation of dewatering of paper pulp
Pictures courtesy
of Oleg Iliev of
ITWM,
Kaiserslautern
Simulation of dewatering of paper pulp
Capillary pressure curves are measured for felt
under quasi-static conditions. It takes around
24 hours to obtain them.
They are then used to model a process that
takes only seconds!
Air and oil flow in oil filters
Oil filters contain various layers of glas fiber papers
and non-woven materials. Properties of these materials
are important for the efficiency of the filters. Aim is the
development of a filter with minimal pressure decrease
and minimal rest oil at the end of filter.
Air and oil flow in oil filters
Air and oil flow in oil filters
Equations of two-phase flow (air and oil) are solved
for the filter.
Input:
Properties of the fiber materials (e.g. porosity,
permeability), relative permeability,
capillary pressure-saturation relationship
Output:
Oil distribution and pressure distribution
Air and oil flow in oil filters
Pictures courtesy of Oleg Iliev of ITWM, Kaiserslautern
Pressure distribution in an isotropic fiber material
In the droplets the pressure is higher.
Air and oil flow in oil filters
Here, fluid-fluid interfaces play a major role
Two-phase PEM flow in Fuel Cells
Two-phase PEM flow in Fuel Cells
Two-phase PEM flow in Fuel Cells
Two-phase flow
Diffusion
Osmosis
Heat transport
Unsaturated flow in thin fibers
Unsaturated flow in pampers
Unsaturated flow in pampers
Measurement of
capillary pressure
curves takes about
12 hours.
It is then used to
model a process
that takes only 10
to 30 seconds!!
Darcys law in complex porous media
Flow in plant roots and tissues
Flow of resin in porous molds
Flow in ceramics and ceramic foams
Unsaturated flow in food drying industry
Flow in biological tissues
Criticisms of current theories of two-phase flow
Extended Darcy Equation is basically the same
as the original equation. It includes pressure
forces only.
No account of interfacial forces and interfacial
energies is taken in the momentum equation.
No equation for the evolution of interfacial areas.
Quasi-static capillary pressure curves are used for
highly dynamic flow processes.
Area balance equation for fluid-fluid interfaces
( ) ( )
,
wn
wn wn wn wn w
a
a r a S
t

+ =

w i
New theories of two-phase flow
Volume balance equation for each phase
0
S
n
t

+ =

q i
where G

is the Gibbs free energy of a phase:

Extended Darcys law :
New theories of two-phase flow
( )
G

= q K g i
Extended Darcys law :
( )
a wn S
p a S

= q K g i
( )
, , ,
wn
G G a S T

=
New theories of two-phase flow
Static capillary pressure:
( )
n w c
stat
equil
p p p =
Under non-equilibrium conditions:
n w c
stat
S
p p p
t

Difference in fluids pressures are equal to static

capillary pressure but only at equilibrium.
( )
,
w wn
S a
New theories of two-phase flow
( ) ( )
,
wn
wn wn wn wn w
a
a r a S
t

+ =

w i
0
S
n
t

+ =

q i
( )
a wn S
S p a

= q K g i
n w c
stat
p
t
p p
S

=
CONCLUSIONS
Use of Darcys law for complex porous media flow
systems is not warranted.
Traditional capillary pressure-saturation curves are
not valid under dynamic (flow) conditions.
Dynamic capillary pressure is a function of time rate
of change of saturation as well as saturation.
Fluid-fluid interfacial areas should be included in
multiphase flow theories.
Hysteresis should be modelled by introducing
interfacial area into the two-phase flow theory.