Research on the effective gas diffusion coefficient in dry porous media embedded with a fractal-like tree network

Abstract

A theoretical model for the relative gas diffusion coefficient in dry porous media embedded with a Y-shaped fractal-like tree network is presented under the combination of bulk diffusion and Knudsen diffusion. The proposed model is expressed as a function of the length ratio, the diameter ratio, the branching level, the branching angle and the relative areal porosity. The effect of the structural parameters of the medium and the tortuosity on gas diffusion is analyzed in detail. Model predictions are compared with available experimental data, and a fair agreement between them is found.