Abstract
An appropriate understanding of the hydraulic characteristics of the two-phase flow in the rock fracture network is important in many engineering applications. To investigate the two-phase flow in the fracture network, a study on the two-phase flow characteristics in the intersecting fractures is necessary. In order to describe the two-phase flow in the intersecting fractures quantitatively, in this study, a gas-water two-phase flow experiment was conducted in a smooth 3D model with intersecting fractures. The results in this specific 3D model show that the flow structures in the intersecting fractures were similar to those of the stratified wavy flow in pipes. The nonlinearity induced by inertial force and turbulence in the intersecting fractures cannot be neglected in the two-phase flow, and the Martinelli-Lockhart model is effective for the two-phase flow in intersecting fractures. Delhaye’s model can be adapted for the cases in this experiment. The turbulence of the flow can be indicated by the values of C in Delhaye’s model, but resetting the appropriate range of the values of C is necessary.
Highlights
In the subsurface space, multiple phases exist in the rock fracture network, such as geothermal energy reservoirs, natural gas-oil reservoirs, coal seams, and shale gas reservoirs [1,2,3,4,5]
This study presents a basis for further studies to understand the two-phase flow properties in the rock fracture network and the mechanism of groundwater inflow in engineering applications
A two-phase flow experiment is conducted in a 3D fracture model with smooth intersecting fractures to investigate its hydraulic characteristics
Summary
Multiple phases exist in the rock fracture network, such as geothermal energy reservoirs, natural gas-oil reservoirs, coal seams, and shale gas reservoirs [1,2,3,4,5]. Studies on the single-phase flow indicate that the fluid flow in the Geofluids intersecting fractures shows quite different characteristics from that in a single fracture due to the energy loss and interference induced by the fracture intersection [23, 24]. Kosakowski and Berkowitz [26] numerically investigated the hydraulic properties of the intersecting fractures with Navier-Stokes equation, and their results indicate that when the Reynolds number is within 1 to 100, the inertial effect occurs and leads to a nonlinear flow. All the abovementioned studies indicate that the hydraulic properties in the intersecting fractures have a nonlinearity and additional pressure drop and Darcy’s law is generally not effective in such situations. This study presents a basis for further studies to understand the two-phase flow properties in the rock fracture network and the mechanism of groundwater inflow in engineering applications
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