Two-Phase Fluid Transport Phenomena in Phloem Vessels

Abstract

In this study, the two-phase (particle-fluid) Newtonian fluid is studied when flowing through a sieve tube. The model of phloem is assumed with permeable walls. The flow is important for the study of the transport of food in plants. Leaves prepare food using sunlight and minerals transported from roots to leaves using xylem cells which operate predominantly on the concept of Poiseuille flow. The pressure is generated due to processes of transpiration. While prepared food is transported from leaves to stems for storage and other parts of the plant body to perform desired operations. Phloem operates with the concept of diffusion. Each phloem cell is a long tube with a permeable membrane at each end, which helps to keep the mineral fixed in food and transported to different parts of the plant. The reflection coefficient is an important parameter that helps to show the effects of the permeability of the diffusion membrane. Equations are modelled and solved using perturbation and HAM Solutions are displayed in graphical form.