Physics-based models of hysteresis in multiphase flow in porous media
Author(s)
Gu, Zongyu,Ph.D.Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Download1138228067-MIT.pdf (17.99Mb)
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering.
Advisor
Martin Z. Bazant.
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Show full item recordAbstract
We propose a novel probabilistic framework based on pore-scale probabilistic events to derive a theory of hysteresis in multiphase flow in porous media. In particular, we define the pore-space accessivity to contrast the serial and parallel arrangement of different-radius pore slices, and the radius-resolved saturations to detail the pore-scale distribution of immiscible fluids. We show that accessivity can be measured by mercury cyclic porosimetry. Our microscopic theory of hysteresis produces simple formulae that are suitable for use as hysteresis-enabling constitutive laws for capillary pressure and relative permeabilities in conventional continuum simulations of multiphase flow.
Description
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, 2019 Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-177).
Date issued
2019Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical EngineeringPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Chemical Engineering.