Experimental investigation of microsuspension filtration in a highly-permeable porous medium

Filtration of a microsuspension of aluminosilicate particles in a highly-permeable porous medium formed by a glass-sphere filling is investigated. The particle-to-filling granule diameter ratio varied from 0.046 to 0.109 and the volumic particle concentration ratio from 0.001 to 0.02. The data on the specimen permeability dynamics and its dependence on the initial concentration of the suspension microparticles and the ratio of their diameter to that of the porous medium granules are obtained. The permeability is shown to considerably vary along the specimen. Two stages of the porous medium damage by the trapped microparticles are established. The critical parameter of the formation of an impermeable cake in the initial region of the specimen are determined.