Numerical simulation of flow behavior of particles in a porous media based on CFD-DEM

Abstract

The movements of particles in porous media exist in various modules of oil field development and production. Flow behavior of particles in a porous media is simulated by means of CFD-DEM. The lubrication force originated from the normal “squeezing” motion of the particles is considered. By changing the porosity of the porous media, the distributions of velocity, residence time of particles, and granular temperature are analyzed within the porous media. At a low porosity, particles will be blocked and deposited in the porous media. Increasing porosity prolongs the trajectory of particles, and particles do reciprocating motion and flow out the microchannel. Simulated results indicate that with an increase of porosity, the residence time is decreased, and then increased, while the granular temperature is in reverse. The predicted axial velocity of particles and the granular temperature decrease with an increase of liquid viscosity, while the mean residence time and contact force increase with an increase of liquid viscosity. Simulations indicate that the granular temperature and the contact force are increased, and the residence time of grains is reduced, with an increase of liquid velocity. The main contribution here is that the hydrodynamic characteristics of particles in a porous media are revealed based on the detail information of flow behaviors of particles.