Fluid Density Research Articles

Machine Learning model for the prediction of self-diffusion coefficients in liquids, compressed gases and supercritical fluids

Machine Learning (ML) models were developed in this work to predict self-diffusion coefficients (D11) of dense fluids using four training algorithms: Gradient Boosting, k-Nearest Neighbors, Decision Tree, and Random Forest. A database of 7931 experimental points from 223 substances, at different pressures and temperatures, was used to train the models. From an initial set of 34 input features (variables/properties), the eight most important ones, ranked by decreasing relevance, were: density, acentric factor, temperature, critical temperature, critical volume, number of NH and/or OH bonds, pressure, and number of rotatable bonds. The best performance was achieved by models using the first 5 and 8 input features (ML5-D11 and ML8-D11) using the Gradient Boosting algorithm, for which the average absolute relative deviations (AARDglobal) were 9.06 % and 7.14 %, for the test set. The performance of the ML5-D11 and ML8-D11 models was compared with four phenomenological models – the predictive Zhu et al. equation, the 2-parameters Dymond-Hildebrand-Batschinski correlation, and the 1-parameter and 4-parameters Lennard-Jones correlations (LJ1 and LJ4) – which showed AARDglobal of 104.05 %, 82.94 %, 16.92 % and 7.97 %, respectively, for the same test set. Despite the good results of LJ4 equation, it is worth noting it embodies 4 substance-specific parameters that must be fitted to experimental data in advance. The new ML5-D11 and ML8-D11 models are purely predictive and can be applied to polar/nonpolar, spherical/non-spherical, and even hydrogen-bonding molecules in liquids, compressed gases or supercritical fluids. The ML5-D11 and ML8-D11 are provided for use as a Python program.

Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Liver: Case Report and Review of the Literature

AbstractMucinous cystic neoplasms of the liver (MCN-L) are a rare benign neoplasm of the biliary system that grows slowly with vague clinical symptoms. The malignant transformation in these tumors is high, and preoperative diagnosis using radiography or endoscopy is challenging. We present a case report of a 58-year-old female patient who presented with diffuse abdominal pain and nonprojectile vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound revealed characteristics that point to a hydatid cyst. The enhanced computed tomography revealed a well-defined multiloculated thin-walled fluid density lesion in the left lobe of the liver. After a left hemi-hepatectomy, a multiloculated cystic lesion in the liver with mucinous material as the content was discovered. Histopathology showed multiple cystic spaces were lined by mucin-secreting columnar epithelium without nuclear atypia, the wall of the cysts showed ovarian-like stroma, and the diagnosis of MCN-L was made. There was no recurrence after 6 months of regular follow-up.

Transient internal wave excitation of resonant modes in a density staircase

The density of the ocean generally increases continuously with depth as a consequence of variations in salinity and temperature. In some regions, however, the density profile of the ocean adopts a (double diffusive) staircase structure in which successive layers of uniform density fluid are separated by rapid density jumps. Previous work has theoretically examined the transmission and reflection of periodic internal (gravity) waves incident upon a density staircase. This predicted the existence of transmission spikes (global modes) for certain combinations of frequency and horizontal wave number in which the incident waves transmit perfectly across a density staircase. It was hypothesized that the transmission spikes occur when the incident waves resonate with natural modes of disturbances in the staircase. Here we derive theory to investigate the interactions between incident internal waves and modes. We demonstrate a close correspondence between the frequency for incident waves at a transmission spike and the real part of the frequency of modes at the same horizontal wave number. However, the frequency of the corresponding modes has a negative imaginary part corresponding to exponential decay of the modes in time. We perform numerical simulations to examine the impact of this near-resonant coupling when a vertically localized, quasimonochromatic internal wave packet interacts with a density staircase. In a range of simulations with fixed incident wave frequency and varying horizontal wave number, the measured transmission coefficient does not exhibit transmission spikes, but decreases monotonically with increasing horizontal wave number about the critical wave number separating strong and weak transmission. We show this occurs because the incident wave excites modes that then slowly transmit energy above and below the staircase at a rate consistent with the predicted decay rate of the modes. This rate is slower for staircases with more steps with the decay time increasing as the cube of the number of steps. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Managed aquifer recharge in island aquifer under thermal influences on the fresh-saline water interface

Storing and utilizing freshwater in coastal aquifers with managed aquifer recharge (MAR) presents significant challenges, particularly in small island settings where seawater intrusion is a major source of groundwater salinization. Existing studies usually evaluate density-dependent flow under isothermal condition, which neglects the potential impact of temperature on fluid density. To fill the knowledge gap, we performed both laboratory experiments and numerical modeling to investigate the impact of warmer water injection on freshwater storage and extracted water quality for island aquifer. It is found that warmer water (70 °C) injection compromise the “barrier effect” achieved by normal water injection, resulting in a reduced ability to prevent coastal seawater intrusion by, creating an upward hydraulic gradient beneath the injection well. In addition, warm water injection result in a 5 % decrease in freshwater storage capacity for island aquifer. However, by employing a combination of receding tide cycles and intermittent injection-extraction operations, the duration of lowered saline concentration within the extracted water can be extended by approximately 10 % with an 11 % reduction in the overall extracted saline concentration. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of warmer water injection on coastal aquifer quality. The findings from both the laboratory experiments and numerical simulations enhance the understanding of thermal density-dependent dynamics of coastal aquifers, offering valuable guidance for effective freshwater storage and usage in island settings.

Photon superfluidity through dissipation

Superfluidity—frictionless flow—has been observed in various physical systems such as liquid helium, cold atoms, and exciton polaritons. Superfluidity is usually realized by cooling and suppressing all dissipation. Here we challenge this paradigm by demonstrating signatures of superfluidity, enabled by dissipation, in the flow of light within a room-temperature oil-filled cavity. Dissipation in the oil mediates effective photon-photon interactions which are noninstantaneous and nonlocal. Such interactions were expected to severely limit the emergence of superfluidity in conservative photonic systems. Surprisingly, when launching a photon fluid with sufficiently high density and low velocity against an obstacle in our driven-dissipative cavity, we observe a record suppression of backscattering. Our experiments also reveal the reorganization dynamics of photons into a nonscattering steady state and a qualitatively changing behavior of the optical phase as light propagates around the obstacle. The phase is locked between the laser and the obstacle but evolves with the intensity in the wake of the obstacle where the density of the photon fluid and its mean-field interaction energy decrease. Using a generalized Gross–Pitaevskii equation for photons coupled to a thermal field, we model our experiments and elucidate how the noninstantaneous and nonlocal character of interactions influences the suppression of scattering associated with superfluidity. Beyond providing the first signatures of cavity photon superfluidity, and of any superfluid both at room temperature and in steady state, our results pave the way for probing photon hydrodynamics in arbitrary potential landscapes using structured mirrors. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Dark matter and spacetime symmetry restoration

We examine local physics in the presence of variables: variables associated with the whole of the spacelike surfaces of a foliation. These could be the (pseudo)constants of nature and their conjugate times, but our statements are more general. Interactions between the local and the global (for example, dependence of the local action on global times dual to constants) degrades full space-time diffeomorphism invariance down to spatial diffeomorphism invariance, and so an extra degree of freedom appears. When these presumably primordial global interactions switch off, the local action recovers full invariance and so the usual two gravitons, but a legacy matter component is left over, bearing the extra degree of freedom. Under the assumption that the preferred foliation is geodesic, this component behaves like dark matter, except that 3 of its 4 local degrees of freedom are frozen, forcing its rest frame to coincide with the preferred foliation. The nonfrozen degree of freedom (the number density of the effective fluid) is the survivor of the extra “graviton” present in the initial theory and keeps memory of all the past global interactions that took place in a given location in the preferred foliation. Such “painted-on” dark matter is best distinguished from the conventional one in situations where the preferred frame would be preposterous if all 4 degrees of freedom of dark matter were available. We provide one example: an outflowing halo of legacy matter with exact escape speed at each point and a very specific profile, surrounding a condensed structure made of normal matter. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Solid–fluid force modeling: Insights from comparing a reduced order model for a pair of particles with resolved CFD-DEM

Solid–fluid force models are essential to efficiently model multiple industrial apparatuses such as fluidized beds, spouted beds, and slurry transport. They are generally built using strong hypotheses (e.g. fully developed flow and no relative motion between particles) that affect their accuracy. We study the effect of these hypotheses on particle dynamics using the sedimentation of a pair of particles. We develop new induced drag, lift and torque models for pairs of particles based on an artificial neural network (ANN) regression. The fluid force model covers a range of Reynolds numbers of 0.1 to 100 and particle centroid distance of up to 9 particle diameters. The ANN model uses 3475 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results as the training data set. Using this fluid force model, we develop a reduced-order model (ROM), which includes the virtual mass force, the Meshchersky force, the history force, the lubrication force, and the Magnus force. Using the results of a resolved computational fluid dynamics coupled with a discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model as a reference, we analyze the discrepancies between the ROM and CFD-DEM results for a series of sedimentation cases that cover particle Archimedes number from 20 to 2930 and particle to fluid density ratio of 1.5 to 1000. The errors primarily stem from particle history interactions that are not accounted for by the fully developed flow hypothesis. The importance of this effect on the dynamic of two particles is isolated and it is shown that it is more pronounced in cases with a lower particle-to-fluid density ratio (such as solid–liquid cases). This work underscores the need for more research on these effects to increase the precision of solid–fluid force models for small particle-to-fluid density ratios (1.5).

Behavior of β-cyclodextrin/naproxen inclusion complex in supercritical carbon dioxide. Computer simulation

The research of the behavior of β-cyclodextrin/naproxen inclusion complexes in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of a cosolvent (ethanol) has been carried out using the molecular dynamics method. The processes of encapsulation and release of naproxen and the role of the cosolvent in the formation and destruction of the inclusion complex have been studied. The influence of cosolvent concentration, temperature and density of the supercritical fluid on the probability of encapsulation of naproxen by cyclodextrin and on the duration of existence of the inclusion complex has been considered.

Fluid energy theory of membrane

Membrane science is the key strategy to solve water shortage in the future, and its essence is energy and mass transfer. Due to the complexity and variety of the internal structure of membrane, the energy transfer theory of membrane is still a black box theory. Herein, a new fluid mechanics principle is introduced to establish the energy fluid theory of membrane, which is translated into the energy formula: such as the initial total pressure difference (ΔP), the flow rate of fluid exiting the membrane (v1 and v2), fluid density (ρ), and energy consumption by salt resistance (NSR): {ΔP2ΔPρ=ΔP2ΔPρ[1−v1ρ2ΔP]+NSR+[ΔPv1(v2v1)2−12ρv23]+12ρv23}. The theoretical framework is not only helpful for the data analysis of the energy transfer process of membranes, but also helps to allow for more in-depth and specific theoretical research. For instance, the relationship between NSR and the concentration difference (C) of salt can be expressed as NSR = aCb (a-product constant, b-exponential constant, R2>0.99). Hence, the basic theory can not only be widely applied to a variety of membranes with complex internal structure, but also have a profound impact on the application and research of membrane science.

Linear temporal stability of Jeffery–Hamel flow of nanofluids

Flow stability plays a key role in transition to turbulence in various systems. This transition initiates with disturbances appearing in the laminar base flow, potentially amplifying over time based on flow and fluid parameters. In response to these amplified disturbances, the flow undergoes successive stages of different laminar flows, ultimately transitioning to turbulence. One influential parameter affecting flow stability is the nanoparticle volume fraction (ϕ) in nanofluids, extensively employed in thermofluid systems like cooling devices to enhance fluid thermal conductivity and the heat transfer coefficient. Focusing on the impact of nanoparticles on Jeffery–Hamel flow stability, this study assumes fluid properties are temperature- and pressure-independent, exclusively examining the momentum transfer aspect. The analysis commences by deriving the base laminar flow solution. Subsequently, linear temporal stability analysis is employed, imposing infinitesimally-small perturbations on the base flow as a modified form of normal modes. A generalized Orr–Sommerfeld equation is derived and solved using a spectral method. Results indicate that, assuming nanofluid viscosity as μnf=μf/(1−ϕ)2.5, nanoparticle effects on momentum transfer and flow stability hinge on the ratio of nano-solid particle density to base fluid density (Rρ=ρs/ρf). For ϕ∈(0,0.1], flow stabilization occurs with ϕ when Rρ<3.5000, while destabilization is observed when Rρ>4.0135. Notably, nanoparticles exhibit a negligible impact on flow stability when 3.5000≤Rρ≤4.0135.

Study of wellbore instability in shale formation considering the effect of hydration on strength weakening

Shale formations often contain a high proportion of clay minerals, which, upon contact with drilling fluid, undergo hydration expansion. This leads to wellbore instability, a problem that poses significant challenges globally. This study aims to investigate the variation of mechanical properties of shale with respect to hydration time. We employ an empirical model that relates shale strength parameters to the time of drilling through geological formations. Additionally, we consider both shear failure along the wellbore boundary and shear sliding along bedding planes in the analysis. We establish a predictive model for wellbore instability in shale formations. The model quantitatively analyzes the variation of wellbore collapse pressure with drilling time. The research findings indicate that, when the influence of bedding is considered, both the wellbore collapse pressure and the optimal well trajectory undergo significant changes, in addition, for some wellbore trajectories, the collapse pressure can increase by more than 30%. Therefore, it is essential to account for the influence of bedding in wellbore stability analysis in shale formations. As the bedding dip angle changes, both the numerical values and distribution range of wellbore collapse pressure and the optimal well trajectory change noticeably. Changes in bedding dip direction, however, do not affect the numerical values of collapse pressure but do influence the distribution region of the optimal well trajectory. Thus, in wellbore trajectory design within shale formations, it is crucial to determine the orientation of bedding and adjust the well trajectory accordingly to enhance wellbore stability. Furthermore, shale hydration does not impact the optimal well trajectory for a block, but with prolonged hydration, the minimum drilling fluid density required to maintain wellbore stability gradually increases. This suggests that hydration intensifies the weakening effect on bedding plane strength. The research results are helpful to understand the effect of hydration on shale wellbore stability and ensure shale wellbore stability during drilling cycle.

The motion state of a spherical detector in a horizontal pipeline under different density ratio

Abstract Pipeline leakage can lead to serious environmental damage and industrial hazards. A spherical detector is a device for detecting pipeline leakage, which can locate the leakage position. To ensure the stable operation of the detector in a variety of media fluids, this paper uses the numerical simulation method to study the motion state of the sphere and the influence of different density fluids on its motion. It is found that the resistance and lift of the sphere under different density fluids are different, which will affect the motion trajectory of the detector and the speed of the stable stage. Therefore, the working environment of fluids with different densities needs to be considered when designing a spherical detector to ensure its stable operation in various fluid media.

The Chain of Processes Forming Porphyry Copper Deposits—An Invited Paper

Abstract Porphyry-related mineral deposits are giant geochemical anomalies in the Earth’s crust with orders-of-magnitude differences in the content and proportion of the three main ore metals Cu, Au, and Mo. Deposit formation a few kilometers below surface is the product of a chain of geologic processes operating at different scales in space and time. This paper explores each process in this chain with regard to optimizing the chances of forming these rare anomalies. On the lithosphere scale, deposits with distinct metal ratios occur in provinces that formed during brief times of change in plate motions. Similar metal ratios of several deposits in such provinces compared with global rock reservoirs suggest preceding enrichment of Au or Mo in lithospheric regions giving rise to distinct ore provinces. The largest Cu-dominated deposits and provinces are traditionally explained by selective removal of Au during generation or subsequent evolution of mantle magmas, but the possibility of selective Cu pre-enrichment of lithosphere regions by long-term subduction cannot be dismissed, even though its mechanism remains speculative. Evolution of hydrous basaltic melts to fertile magmas forming porphyry Cu deposits requires fractionation toward more H2O-rich magmas in the lower crust, as shown by their adakite-like trace element composition. The prevailing interpretation that this fractionation leads to significant loss of chalcophile ore metals by saturation and removal of magmatic sulfide might be inverted to a metal enrichment step, if the saturating sulfides are physically entrained with the melt fraction of rapidly ascending magmas. Ascent of fertile magma delivers a large mass of H2O-rich ore fluid to the upper crust, along points of weakness in an overall compressive stress regime, within a limited duration as required by mass and heat balance constraints. Two mechanisms of rapid magma ascent are in debate: (1) wholesale emplacement of highly fractionated and volatile-rich granitic melt into a massive transcrustal channelway, from which fluids are exsolved by decompression starting in the lower crust, or (2) partly fractionated magmas filling a large upper crustal magma chamber, from which fluids are expelled by cooling and crystallization. Transfer of ore-forming components to a hydrothermal ore fluid is optimized if the first saturating fluid is dense and Cl rich. This can be achieved by fluid saturation at high pressure, or after a moderately H2O rich intermediate-composition melt further crystallizes in an upper crustal reservoir before reaching fluid saturation. In either case, metals and S (needed for later hydrothermal sulfide precipitation) are transferred to the fluid together, no matter whether ore components are extracted from the silicate melt or liberated to the ore fluid by decomposition of magmatic sulfides. Production and physical focusing of fluids in a crystallizing upper crustal magma chamber are controlled by the rate of heat loss to surrounding rocks. Fluid focusing, requiring large-scale lateral flow, spontaneously occurs in mushy magma because high water content and intermediate melt/crystal ratio support a network of interconnected tubes at the scale of mineral grains. Calculated cooling times of such fluid-producing magma reservoirs agree with the duration of hydrothermal ore formation measured by high-precision zircon geochronology, and both relate to the size of ore deposits. Ore mineral precipitation requires controlled flow of S- and metal-rich fluids through a vein network, as shown by fluid inclusion studies. The degree of hydrothermal metal enrichment is optimized by the balance between fluid advection and the efficiency of cooling of the magmatic fluid plume by heat loss to convecting meteoric water. The depth of fluid production below surface controls the pressure-temperature (P-T) evolution along the upflow path of magmatic fluids. Different evolution paths controlling density, salinity, and phase state of fluids contribute to selective metal precipitation: porphyry Au deposits can form at shallow subvolcanic levels from extremely saline brine or salt melt; high-grade Au-Cu coprecipitation from coexisting and possibly rehomogenizing brine and vapor is most efficient at a depth of a few kilometers; whereas fluids cooling at greater depth tend to precipitate Cu ± Mo but transport Au selectively to shallower epithermal levels. Exhumation and secondary oxidation and enrichment by groundwater finally determine the economics of a deposit, as well as the global potential of undiscovered metal resources available for future mining.

Richtmyer–Meshkov instability at high Mach number: Non-Newtonian effects

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) occurs when a shock wave passes through an interface between fluids of different densities, a phenomenon prevalent in a variety of scenarios including supersonic combustion, supernovae, and inertial confinement fusion. In the most advanced current numerical modeling of RMI, a multitude of secondary physical phenomena are typically neglected that may crucially change in silico predictions. In this study, we investigate the effects of shear-thinning behavior of a fluid on the RMI at negative Atwood numbers via numerical simulations. A parametric study is carried out over a wide range of Atwood and Mach numbers that probes the flow dynamics following the impact on the interface of the initial shock wave and subsequent, reflected shocks. We demonstrate agreement between our numerical results and analytical predictions, which are valid during the early stages of the flow, and examine the effect of the system parameters on the vorticity distribution near the interface. We also carry out an analysis of the rate of vorticity production and dissipation budget which pinpoints the physical mechanisms leading to instability due to the initial and reflected shocks. Our findings indicate that the shear-thinning effects have a significant impact on instability growth and the development of secondary instabilities, which manifest themselves through the formation of Kelvin–Helmholtz waves. Specifically, we demonstrate that these effects influence vorticity generation and damping, which, in turn, affect the RMI growth. These insights have important implications for a range of applications, including inertial confinement fusion and bubble collapse within non-Newtonian materials.

Density Stratification and Buoyancy Evolution in Pyroclastic Density Currents

AbstractPyroclastic density currents (PDCs) are density‐stratified along their vertical axis, with the near‐bed portion being denser than the upper portion, resulting from particle settling and ambient air entrainment at current margins. Whereas vertical density stratification likely influences mixing, sedimentation, and buoyancy of PDCs, many depth‐averaged models of PDC dynamics assume currents are well‐mixed. We investigated this discrepancy by performing sub‐aqueous laboratory experiments and conducted complementary numerical simulations to interrogate current dynamics at finer scales. Currents with small temperature difference with the ambient fluid become density‐stratified during propagation. The dynamics of such currents resemble two‐phase flows, in which particles move freely and particle concentration becomes stratified, but fluid density remains constant. Currents with large temperature difference with the ambient fluid, however, do not develop density stratification during propagation, due to current dynamics becoming dominated by the fluid phase and the lessening importance of particles. Currents that develop density stratification do not lift off from the bed within the domain of the setup, whereas poorly stratified currents do lift off, forming a rising plume. Strong density stratification within currents inhibits turbulence production, preventing entrained ambient fluid on current edges from mixing into current interiors. Poorly stratified currents are highly turbulent, have vigorous internal mixing, thereby achieving lift‐off. The strongly stratified currents are analogous to PDCs that result from eruption column collapse, maintaining fast velocity, low internal mixing, and high temperature over long distances. The poorly stratified currents are analogous to dilute ash‐cloud surges that develop atop basal avalanches, having short runout distances.

Analysis of the number of topological defects in active nematic fluids under applied shear flow.

The number of topological defects in the shear flow of active nematic fluids is numerically investigated in this study. The evolution of the flow state of extensile active nematic fluids is explored by increasing the activity of active nematic fluids. Evidently, medium-activity active nematic fluids exhibit a highly ordered vortex lattice fluid state. However, high-activity active nematic fluids exhibit a meso-scale turbulent flow accompanied by topological defects. The number of topological defects (Ndef) increases with increasing shear Reynolds number (Res). Fluid viscosity strongly influences Ndef, while the influence of fluid density is relatively weak. Ndef decreases with increasing activity length scale (lζ) value. A small Res value strongly influences Ndef, whereas a large lζ value only weakly influences Ndef. As the activity increases, Ndef in contractile active nematic fluids becomes larger than that of extensile active nematic fluids.

Structure and properties of electrochemical interfaces with grafting polyelectrolyte: A fluid density functional theory study

The structure of the electrode/electrolyte interface directly determines electrochemical performance. One effective method for controlling this interface structure is by grafting polyelectrolyte onto the electrode surface, which can significantly alter the double layer structure and enhance electrochemical performance. This study focuses on the graft modification of polyelectrolytes at the electrochemical interface and investigates the impact of the length and density of the grafted polyelectrolyte chain on the structure and capacitance of the electrode/ionic liquid interface using fluid density functional theory (FDFT). The findings indicate that the grafted polymerbrush disrupts the alternating layer of anions and cations at the conventional interface and exerts an additional adsorption effect on counter ions, thereby reducing the density of freely movable co-ions. Consequently, this process increases the effective charge and capacitance of the interface. The results of this investigation contribute to a deeper comprehension of polyelectrolyte solutions at solid–liquid interfaces and guide the regulation of electrochemical interface properties.

Mechanism of displacement gas kick in horizontal well drilling into deep fractured gas reservoir

The risk of well control is high when displacement gas kick occurs in the deep fractured reservoir, and improper handling can easily lead to blowout, which will seriously affect the deep well drilling. Using Fluent software, a simulation model was constructed to depict the interaction of a horizontal well with vertical fractures. The displacement gas kick process was simulated in horizontal well under formation temperature and pressure conditions. An analysis was conducted to assess the impact of fracture width, quantity, as well as the viscosity and density of drilling fluid on the process of gas-liquid displacement. It further compared the effectiveness of three measures in counteracting displacement gas kick: applying back pressure at the wellhead, altering the viscosity and density of the drilling fluid. New findings suggest that the gas-liquid interface within the fracture exhibits a funnel-like shape, where the gas and liquid phases are layered in the annulus and manifest in a streak-like pattern. Fracture width, quantity, and drilling fluid density promote displacement, while drilling fluid viscosity inhibits the displacement. Different from vertical wells, in horizontal wells, displacement gas kick mainly appears in the underbalanced interval. The fracture width primarily determines the size of the displacement window, while the density and viscosity of the drilling fluid exert lesser influence. Horizontal wells are highly sensitive to variations in external conditions when it comes to displacement gas kick. Therefore, enhancing the wellhead back pressure is advisable to address the displacement gas kick in horizontal wells.

Emerging Mesoscale Flows and Chaotic Advection in Dense Active Matter

We study two models of overdamped self-propelled disks in two dimensions, with and without aligning interactions. Both models support active mesoscale flows, leading to chaotic advection and transport over large length scales in their homogeneous dense fluid states, away from dynamical arrest. They form streams and vortices reminiscent of multiscale flow patterns in turbulence. We show that the characteristics of these flows do not depend on the specific details of the active fluids, and result from the competition between crowding effects and persistent propulsions. This observation suggests that dense active suspensions of self-propelled particles present a type of “active turbulence” distinct from collective flows reported in other types of active systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A Study on the Heterogeneity and Anisotropy of the Porous Grout Body Created in the Stabilization of a Methane Hydrate Reservoir through Grouting

To solve the sand problem during the depressurization of methane hydrate (MH), we proposed a method to build a porous grout body with sufficient permeability and strength around the wellbore through inhibitor pre-injection and grouting, and verified its effectiveness and potential in our previous research using artificial cores created with silica sand and alternative hydrates such as TBAB- hydrate and iso-butane hydrate. However, all of the artificial cores mentioned above were created with high homogeneity, injected, cured, and had their physical properties measured in the vertical direction, which differs from real reservoir conditions. To investigate the effects of grouting in a more realistic fluid flow, we conducted further experiments using horizontal 1D cores, 1D cubic models, and a 2D cross-sectional model mimicking the near wellbore. These experiments revealed that (1) the generated gas somewhat suppressed the effects of grouting as in the case of previous experiments, and (2) grouted reservoirs would be heterogenous and anisotropic due to the fluid densities and the distribution of grout particles and turbidite sediments, but sufficient permeability and satisfactory strength could still be attained. The above series of experiments demonstrated that our method has the potential to effectively produce actual MH, preventing sand problems even in heterogeneous and anisotropic grouted reservoirs.