Taylor dispersion in a polymer solution flowing in a capillary tube

Abstract

AbstractTracer dispersion in polysaccaride (scleroglucan) solution flowing through 0.56‐mm‐ID capillary tubes was studied experimentally. In contrast with experiments modeling enhanced recovery processes, the polymer concertration remains constant during a given experiment, while the tracer concerntration varies. A preparation procedure giving stable rheological characteristics is described, as well as their dependence on the polymer concentration Cp (100 mg/L ≤ Cp ≤ 2,000 mg/L). Dispersion measurements are performed with ionic tracers at Péclet numbers between, showing that the Taylor dispersion mechanism remains dominant. At a constant flow velocity, K decreases by about 75% when Cp increases from 0 to 2,000 mg/L. This variation is related to the flattening of the velocity profile and can be predicted both with a power‐law rheological model and Monte Carlo simulations. The extension of these measurements to heterogeneous porous media is discussed.