Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yasushi Mino, Chika Tanaka, Hazuki Tanaka, Koichi Nakaso, Kuniaki Gotoh
Summary: A computational method based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed to simulate the drying process of a colloidal suspension on a wettable substrate. The study found that particles with higher wettability aggregated more slowly but the aggregation was more significant, which can be explained by capillary interactions between the particles.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammad Amin Razbani, Espen Jettestuen, Anja Royne
Summary: Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a promising method in geotechnical engineering with eco-friendly solutions. It involves coupled processes in geochemistry and bacterial metabolism, leading to calcite crystal growth and a decrease in porosity and permeability. Mathematical models are being developed to predict the system's fate under different conditions, but further investigation is needed on the bio-geochemical evolution and its influence on the overall MICP process.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Yi Zhou, Zhengdao Wang, Yuehong Qian, Hui Yang, Yikun Wei
Summary: This study presents a numerical investigation on flow around two square cylinders in different arrangements, revealing various flow patterns that can be categorized into three types depending on the spacing between the cylinders. The dependence of flow parameters on spacing is demonstrated, and the relationship between flow pattern and lift and drag coefficients is explored.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Can Liang, Lizhi Xiao, Zijian Jia, Long Guo, Sihui Luo, Zhengyi Wang
Summary: Rock wettability significantly affects fluid distributions in reservoirs and enhanced oil recovery. This study constructs a new pore-scale mixed-wet rock model considering the contact angle and wetting area, investigating the T2 responses and NMR T2-based wettability indices. The results show that wetting area ratio, actual contact angle, and fluid saturation significantly impact T2 distributions of fluid-saturated mixed-wet rocks.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Can Liang, Lizhi Xiao, Zijian Jia, Long Guo, Sihui Luo, Zhengyi Wang
Summary: Rock wettability is important for reservoirs and enhanced oil recovery. This study constructs a new mixed-wet rock model that considers contact angle and wetting area. The results show that current NMR wettability indices are not suitable for weakly wet or intermediate-wet rocks, and provide a theoretical basis for interpreting NMR T2 characterizations in rocks with mixed wettability.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Marc Siodlaczek, Maximilian Gaedtke, Stephan Simonis, Marcel Schweiker, Naohiko Homma, Mathias J. Krause
Summary: This paper introduces a new thermal large eddy lattice Boltzmann method for transient turbulence modeling, successfully evaluating thermal comfort and improving the accuracy and model quality of simulations.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Lei Tian, Liu-chao Qiu, Feng Jin, Duruo Huang, Yi Liu
Summary: In cold and humid regions, the entry of external water is closely related to the deterioration and failure of concrete structures. Hydrophobic surfaces are increasingly being studied to reduce the entry of external water and improve the durability of concrete structures. This manuscript investigates the effect of microstructure on the surface hydrophobicity of hydrophobic rubberized concrete through wettability tests and numerical simulations.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Boyang Xia, Jun Li
Summary: This paper presents an efficient implementation of nodal discontinuous Galerkin lattice Boltzmann method, which improves computational efficiency while maintaining a certain level of accuracy. Numerical simulations of various benchmark cases demonstrate better accuracy and stability compared to the standard method.
COMPUTERS & MATHEMATICS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xiangwei Yin, Gangtao Liang, Jiajun Wang, Shengqiang Shen
Summary: This study numerically simulates the condensation process and heat transfer on micropillar structured surfaces with different wettabilities. The results reveal that the corner between micropillar sides and subcooled substrate, as well as the center of substrate, are favorable droplet nucleation sites. Moreover, it is found that as the contact angle increases, nucleation of condensate is delayed, the departure diameter is reduced, and departure frequency is increased. The study also presents an optimal heat transfer surface configuration based on the research findings.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Alexander Nee, Ali J. Chamkha
Summary: This paper investigates the capability of hybrid lattice Boltzmann method in simulating developed turbulent buoyancy-driven flows. The numerical simulation shows that the hybrid approach accurately predicts the location of thermal plumes, despite a small error in heat transfer rate at high Rayleigh numbers.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alexandre Epalle, Mathilde Catherin, Manuel Cobian, Stephane Valette
Summary: To understand the relationship between topography and wetting, it is not sufficient to study the contact angle. This study proposes a numerical approach to characterize the wetting behavior on textured surfaces, overcoming experimental limitations. The simulations successfully capture the wetting state and contact angle, allowing for the quantification of the liquid-solid interface and impregnation within textures.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jia Xu, TieZhu Qiao, Qing Li, GuoWei Zhang, GuiRong Hao
Summary: This study proposes an optimization method of crystal rotation to improve the quality of crystal seeding under complex convection. By calculating and analyzing the unsteady melt flow rate, internal temperature of the melt, and crystal rotation speed, the results show that this method can effectively restrain melt convection and improve the temperature distribution on the surface of the melt.
Article
Thermodynamics
Shakeel Ahmad, Huaqiang Liu, Yu Shi, Jingtan Chen, Jiyun Zhao
Summary: The study investigates the nucleation site interactions between two hydrophobic cavities on a hydrophilic surface using a two-dimensional pseudopotential phase-change lattice Boltzmann method. The research shows that there is an optimal pitch distance for a mixed wettability surface, where heat flux and heat transfer coefficient are highest due to hydrodynamic interaction intensity and low thermal interaction intensity. Additionally, bubble nucleation mechanism and time differ among surfaces.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bifeng Yin, Sheng Xu, Shuangyu Yang, Fei Dong
Summary: The study found that the microhole surface can achieve a superhydrophobic state, with the contact angle rapidly decreasing when the diameter is too large. As the microhole diameter increases, the relative radii of the x- and y-directions show an increasing trend, while an increasing spacing leads to a decreasing trend in the relative radii of x- and y-directions.
Article
Mechanics
Peifei Fan, Zhaowu Lin, Jian Xu, Zhaosheng Yu
Summary: In this study, a three-dimensional fictitious domain method is proposed for particulate flows with heat transfer. For the case of fixed particle temperature, an iterative scheme for the temperature Lagrange multiplier is proposed to overcome the spurious oscillation of the explicit scheme. Both explicit and implicit schemes are proposed for the solution of coupled fluid and solid temperature equations in the case of freely evolving particle temperature. The method is verified and applied to various test problems and simulations.
Article
Water Resources
Abdulla Alhosani, Ahmed Selem, Sajjad Foroughi, Branko Bijeljic, Martin J. Blunt
Summary: We used three-dimensional X-ray imaging to study steady-state three-phase flow in a mixed-wet reservoir rock, measuring relative permeability and capillary pressure. We observed a distinct flow pattern where gas flows in disconnected ganglia, periodically opening critical flow pathways. Despite capillary-controlled displacements, a significant portion of the pore space was intermittently occupied by gas-oil and oil-water phases. Both types of intermittency occurred in intermediate-sized pores. No trapped gas was detected in the rock due to mixed-wettability, which has implications for gas storage design in three-phase systems.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Guanglei Zhang, Sajjad Foroughi, Ali Q. Raeini, Martin J. Blunt, Branko Bijeljic
Summary: This study used pore-scale X-ray imaging combined with a steady-state flow experiment to investigate the displacement processes during waterflooding in an altered-wettability carbonate. The results showed that both wettability and pore size distribution and microporosity have significant impacts on displacement processes.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Hamidreza Khoshtarash, Majid Siavashi, Milad Ramezanpour, Martin J. Blunt
Summary: By conducting pore-scale simulations, the flow characteristics and convective heat transfer of two-phase nanofluid flow in open-cell metal foams (OCMFs) were investigated. The results showed that parameters such as non-Michaelis flow patterns, nanoparticle concentration and diameter, and pore density have significant effects on heat transfer.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
F. Amrouche, M. J. Blunt, S. Iglauer, M. Short, T. Crosbie, E. Cordero, D. Xu
Summary: A hybrid technique using magnetic field and magnesium oxide nanoparticles has the potential to enhance oil production from oil-wet carbonate reservoirs. The addition of MgO nanoparticles to water increased the recovery factor of oil from rock samples. This cleaner alternative can improve oil extraction efficiency from existing reservoirs.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yihuai Zhang, Branko Bijeljic, Ying Gao, Sepideh Goodarzi, Sajjad Foroughi, Martin J. Blunt
Summary: We used high-resolution three-dimensional X-ray imaging to investigate hydrogen injection and withdrawal in the pore space of Bentheimer sandstone. The results were compared with a similar experiment using nitrogen. It was found that hydrogen showed less trapping due to lower initial saturation, and after imbibition, there was a significant rearrangement of the trapped hydrogen with no change in overall gas volume. This rearrangement was facilitated by concentration gradients of dissolved gas in the aqueous phase, potentially leading to improved gas connectivity and more efficient withdrawal.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ramin Moghadasi, Sajjad Foroughi, Farzad Basirat, Steven R. McDougall, Alexandru Tatomir, Branko Bijeljic, Martin J. Blunt, Auli Niemi
Summary: Pore-network modeling is used to understand the physics of remobilization of trapped CO2. The study reveals that gas remobilization occurs at a higher saturation than residual trapping, and is influenced by network properties and mechanisms. The findings also show a reduction in gas relative permeability, indicating a slow release of trapped gas due to remobilization. These results have important implications for underground gas and CO2 storage.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke M. Giudici, A. Qaseminejad Raeini, Martin J. Blunt, Branko Bijeljic
Summary: This study extends the quasi two-dimensional approximations of interfacial curvature to three dimensions in multiphase flow network models. The new expressions for threshold capillary pressure are validated and calibrated using direct numerical simulations. The effects of pore-space expansion and sagittal interface curvature on displacement are quantified, leading to improved physical accuracy of network models. The calibrated model is then used to predict relative permeability and capillary pressure in a water-wet Bentheimer sandstone, with the inclusion of three-dimensional interfacial curvature resulting in more accurate predictions.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Ramin Moghadasi, Sepideh Goodarzi, Yihuai Zhang, Branko Bijeljic, Martin J. Blunt, Auli Niemi
Summary: The process of remobilizing CO2 trapped under pressure depletion was studied using high-resolution 3D X-ray microtomography. The results showed that an increase in saturation beyond the residual value is required for the gas to be mobilized, and Ostwald ripening and continuing exsolution can significantly change the fluid saturation, leading to gas flow upwards. This has important implications for CO2 storage, as it enhances gas migration and reduces the potential for gas trapping during storage operations.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ming-Liang Qu, Martin J. Blunt, Xiaolei Fan, Sajjad Foroughi, Zi-Tao Yu, Qingyang Lin
Summary: A dual-network model (DNM) was developed to study incompressible water flow and heat transport from pore-scale to mesoscale. It considered the effect of temperature-dependent fluid viscosity and successfully simulated the pore-scale fluid flow and heat transfer. By varying the pore volume, the effect of bed porosity on transport processes was demonstrated, providing insights into the trade-off between flow conditions and heat transfer.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Guanglei Zhang, Mohamed Regaieg, Martin J. Blunt, Branko Bijeljic
Summary: A porous plate technique was developed to measure capillary pressure in carbonate rock samples. The study showed that in mixed-wet media, displacement of oil from micro-porosity can occur at much lower capillary pressures than previously estimated.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Guanglei Zhang, Sajjad Foroughi, Branko Bijeljic, Martin J. J. Blunt
Summary: Traditionally, relative permeability is calculated assuming a homogenous saturation profile and constant capillary pressure, but this is seldom accurate due to inhomogeneities and the capillary end effect. We have introduced a new method to correct the relative permeabilities for an inhomogeneous saturation profile. Our method only requires pressure drop measurements, an estimate of capillary pressure, and saturation profiles. The corrections are significant for strongly wetting media with capillary end effects, but less significant for mixed-wet media with lower capillary pressure.
TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Luke M. Giudici, Ali Q. Raeini, Takashi Akai, Martin J. Blunt, Branko Bijeljic
Summary: Despite recent advances in pore-scale modeling of two-phase flow through porous media, the relative strengths and limitations of different modeling approaches remain largely unexplored. This study compares two-phase flow simulations from the generalized network model (GNM) and the lattice-Boltzmann model (LBM) for drainage and waterflooding in two different samples. The results show that the GNM captures the effect of layers and provides predictions closer to experimental observations, while the LBM fails to capture layer flow and shows discrepancies with experimental data. The importance of small-scale flow features in accurate pore-scale physics representation is highlighted.