Generalized Forchheimer Equation for Two-Phase Flow Based on Hybrid Mixture Theory

Abstract

In this paper, we derive a Forchheimer-type equation for two-phase flow through an isotropic porous medium using hybrid mixture theory. Hybrid mixture theory consists of classical mixture theory applied to a multiphase system with volume averaged equations. It applies to media in which the characteristic length of each phase is "small" relative to the extent of the mixture. The derivation of a Forchheimer equation for single phase flow has been obtained elsewhere. These results are extended to include multiphase swelling materials which have non-negligible interfacial thermodynamic properties.