Abstract

Two phase flow simulations are predicted for a compacted silica sand specimen whose microstructure is obtained from three-dimensional X-ray microtomography. Direct numerical simulations using a simple full morphology method based on the measured three-dimensional geometry of the pore space is demonstrated. Additionally, an advanced two-phase lattice-Boltzmann based model is applied solving the Navier-Stokes equation numerically to simulate multi-phase flow. Experiments utilized a micro-focus X-ray system at Helmholtz-Zentrum-Berlin (HZB). Using a cold neutron imaging beam line (CONRAD) at HZB, in-situ imaging of water flow through compacted sand is performed. Water is allowed to flow from bottom to top of compacted sand specimen under controlled conditions. The flow of water is precisely controlled by using a syringe pump to a flow rate that corresponds to capillary fingering flow regime. Two-dimensional neutron radiography based cinematography was performed during the injection of water into porous media, and three-dimensional neutron tomography was performed at target states after reaching flow equilibrium. The simulation results are directly compared with the experimental results obtained from neutron tomography data. Preliminary results of the latticeBoltzmann simulation in 2D did not provide a close match to the measured water phase distribution and advancing front. This paper introduces the innovative concept of direct numerical simulations of complex multi-phase flow using realistic microstructures measured non-destructively using radiation based imaging. The technical approach used in this study shows promise for applications in diverse fields involving fluid transport and porous media.

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