Fluid Separation Research Articles

Sorting and separation of microparticles by surface properties using liquid crystal-enabled electro-osmosis

ABSTRACTSorting and separation of microparticles is a challenging problem of interdisciplinary nature. Existing technologies can differentiate microparticles by their bulk properties, such as size, density, electric polarisability, etc. The next level of challenge is to separate particles that show identical bulk properties and differ only in subtle surface features, such as functionalisation with ligands. In this work, we propose a technique to sort and separate particles and fluid droplets that differ in surface properties. As a dispersive medium, we use a nematic liquid crystal (LC) rather than an isotropic fluid, which allows us to amplify the difference in surface properties through distinct perturbations of LC order around the dispersed particles. The particles are placed in an LC cell with spatially distorted molecular orientation subject to an alternating current electric field. The gradients of the molecular orientation perform two functions. First, elastic interactions between these pre-imposed gradients and distortions around the particles separate the particles with different surface properties in space. Second, these pre-imposed patterns create electro-osmotic flows powered by the electric field that transport the sorted particles to different locations thus separating them. The demonstrated unique sorting and separation capability opens opportunities in lab-on-a-chip, cell sorting and bio-sensing applications.

Performance assessment of density and level-set topology optimisation methods for three dimensional heat sink design

In this paper, two most prevalent topological optimisation approaches namely Density and Level set method are applied to a three dimensional heat sink design problem. The relative performance of the two approaches is compared in terms of design quality, robustness and computational speed. The work is original as for the first time it demonstrates the relative advantages and disadvantages for each method when applied to a practical engineering problem. It is additionally novel in that it presents the design of a convectively cooled heat sink by solving full thermo-fluid equations for two different solid-fluid material sets. Further, results are validated using a separate computational fluid dynamics study with the optimised designs are compared against a standard pin-fin-based heat sink design. The results show that the Density method demonstrates better performance in terms of robustness and computational speed, while Level-set method yields a better quality design in terms of final objective value.

The physical and chemical evolution of fluids in rare-element granitic pegmatites associated with the Lacorne pluton, Québec, Canada

Co-magmatic rare-element (Be, Li, Nb, Ta) granitic pegmatites associated with the Lacorne monzogranite pluton of the Preissac-Lacorne batholith (Québec) range from a least evolved beryl-type in the pluton through a transitional beryl + spodumene-type to a most evolved spodumene-type in mafic country rocks. They possess internal lithologic fabrics and primary fluid inclusions that provide evidence for saturation of the magma with aqueous fluids immediately after the formation of aplite in the beryl pegmatite, and pene-contemporaneously with formation of the beryl + spodumene and spodumene pegmatites. The early fluids are represented by aqueous liquid-vapor (Type 1a) and aqueous liquid-vapor-solid (Type 2) inclusions in beryl from beryl and beryl + spodumene pegmatites and are estimated to have been trapped between 500 and 550 °C and at 3.5 Kb. On the basis of microthermometric measurements, analyses of the compositions of the precipitates from decrepitated inclusions and the nature of the solids (trapped), these fluids are interpreted to have been NaCl-dominated (≤16 wt% NaCl eq.) and to have contained appreciable Fe and dissolved CO2. In spodumene pegmatite, the equivalent fluid, which was trapped at 450 to 500 °C, contained significant Mn, Li and Cs in place of Fe, consistent with corresponding trends in the chemical evolution of the host rock.Volatile-rich, mainly secondary, aqueous fluid inclusions (Type 1b) trapped in beryl are interpreted to reflect temporary sharp drops in pressure later in the crystallization history of the beryl-bearing pegmatites due to local fluid overpressures that led to brecciation and consequent pressure release. These inclusions have high salinity, are CaCl2-rich and are considered to represent magmatic hydrothermal fluids that acquired their calcium as a result of their interaction with the host Lacorne pluton. Incursion of CaCl2-rich fluids into the spodumene pegmatites is interpreted to have occurred earlier in their crystallization history, i.e., upon emplacement of the pegmatites, as shown by the fact that a high proportion of primary inclusions in spodumene in these pegmatites contains considerable calcium, and calcium contents are generally higher in inclusions in spodumene than in beryl. The inclusions in the spodumene pegmatites are thought to have acquired their calcium through interaction of the fluids with the amphibolites (metabasalts) that host these intrusions.The crystallization of the pegmatites terminated with the entrapment of low-salinity aqueous‑carbonic fluids (Type 3 inclusions) in quartz (6–10 wt% NaCl eq.), which most likely formed as a result of the unmixing of the magmatic fluid into separate aqueous and carbonic fluids, probably at temperatures between 250 and 350 °C.The results of this study show that aqueous fluid saturation can take place at an early stage of pegmatite emplacement, and that magma evolution is matched by changes in the solute chemistry of the exsolving aqueous fluid. They also show that evolution to a more volatile-rich composition (H2O + F + Li) may have contributed to the increased mobility of later magma batches, thereby helping to explain the regional zonation of the pegmatites, from beryl-type within the pluton to spodumene-type in the adjacent amphibolite.

An industrial perspective on membrane distillation processes

AbstractProcess intensification has led to significant developments in both distillation and membrane technology. Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging technology for fluid separations that are typically performed by conventional separation processes, such as distillation or reverse osmosis (e.g. water desalination, or water removal). Compared with other membrane technologies, the driving force in MD is the difference in vapor pressure across the hydrophobic membrane, rather than the total pressure. MD can be a cost effective separation process, especially when more sustainable alternative sources of energy (e.g. geothermal and solar) or waste heat sources are used. Many review papers on MD are available in the open literature, but most of them focus on the membrane characteristics (e.g. material aspects).This industrial perspective paper assesses the MD technology and reports on relevant issues by offering a concise overview of MD technology, addressing different MD configurations, current major applications, operating parameters and their effect on the MD process, commercially available membranes, as well as cost estimations to determine the feasibility of MD processes. While successfully applied in desalination and a few other niche applications, MD has failed to make a strong industrial impact in other areas still dominated by distillation. A key message is that membrane distillation is still a growing technology for separation and purification processes, but it needs further exploration and optimization to become a mature technology applicable to more industrial processes in the chemical process industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Factor structure of the WISC‐V in four standardization age groups: Exploratory and hierarchical factor analyses with the 16 primary and secondary subtests

AbstractThis study examined the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children‐Fifth Edition (WISC‐V) with four standardization sample age groups (6–8, 9–11, 12–14, 15–16 years) using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), multiple factor extraction criteria, and hierarchical EFA not included in the WISC‐V Technical and Interpretation Manual. Factor extraction criteria suggested that one to four factors might be sufficient despite the publisher‐promoted, five‐factor solution. Forced extraction of five factors resulted in only one WISC‐V subtest obtaining a salient pattern coefficient on the fifth factor in all four groups, rendering it inadequate. Evidence did not support the publisher's desire to split Perceptual Reasoning into separate Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning dimensions. Results indicated that most WISC‐V subtests were properly associated with the four theoretically oriented first‐order factors resembling the WISC‐IV, the g factor accounted for large portions of total and common variance, and the four first‐order group factors accounted for small portions of total and common variance. Results were consistent with EFA of the WISC‐V total standardization sample.

Foam Flow Investigation in 3D-Printed Porous Media: Fingering and Gravitational Effects

Flow in porous media investigations have shown foam injection has a higher sweep efficiency compared to gas injection. However, fingering of highly mobile gas within the foam bank and separation of fluids (gas and surfactant) resulting from gravity segregation can influence the performance of the foam injection project. To the best of our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been investigated experimentally in the literature. In this study, foam injection experiments have been performed in a model oriented in horizontal and perpendicular orientations with respect to gravity using different flow rates. High-resolution imaging tools were utilized to record the displacement process of oil by gas/surfactant/foam. The recorded images enabled us to monitor gas fingering and the foam flow dynamics at the pore scale. The obtained results highlighted the adverse effect of fingering of gas phase into the foam bank and fluid separation by gravity segregation on the performance of the foam projects.

Low Correlations between Intelligence and Big Five Personality Traits: Need to Broaden the Domain of Personality.

The correlations between the measures of cognitive abilities and personality traits are known to be low. Our data based on the popular Big Five model of intelligence show that the highest correlations (up to r = 0.30) tend to occur with the Openness to Experience. Some recent developments in the studies of intelligence (e.g., emotional intelligence, complex problem solving and economic games) indicate that this link may become stronger in future. Furthermore, our studies of the processes in the “no-man’s-land” between intelligence and personality suggest that the non-cognitive constructs are correlated with both. These include the measures of social conservatism and self-beliefs. Importantly, the Big Five measures do not tap into either the dark traits associated with social conservatism or self-beliefs that are known to be good predictors of academic achievement. This paper argues that the personality domain should be broadened to include new constructs that have not been captured by the lexical approach employed in the development of the Big Five model. Furthermore, since the measures of confidence have the highest correlation with cognitive performance, we suggest that the trait of confidence may be a driver that leads to the separation of fluid and crystallized intelligence during development.

The influence of magmatic fluids and phase separation on B systematics in submarine hydrothermal vent fluids from back-arc basins

The composition of submarine hydrothermal vent fluids is affected by a variety of processes, such as interaction of heated seawater with rocks and sediments, addition of magmatic fluids, as well as phase separation and segregation. How these processes specifically affect the vent fluid composition is still poorly understood. In particular, the relative role of phase separation and magmatic degassing, which is common in arc/back-arc hydrothermal systems, is not well known. To provide new insights into these processes, we analysed B contents and isotope ratios in hydrothermal vent fluids and volcanic rocks from the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea, and Nifonea volcano, New Hebrides back-arc. These fluids show a range of salinities, gas contents, acidities, and host rock compositions; many of them are influenced by phase separation and by addition of magmatic volatiles (both CO2 and SO2). Previous studies of hydrothermal vents in arc/back-arc settings suggest that B contents and isotopic composition of vent fluids are controlled by interactions between seawater, basement and sediments, and propose that phase separation and magmatic fluids play only a subordinate role. In our study, we demonstrate that vent fluids with minor magmatic input indeed reflect the interaction between seawater and oceanic crust. In contrast, the low-salinity Nifonea fluids and some of the acid-sulphate fluids from the Manus Basin have higher B contents as expected, whereas other volatile-rich fluids from the Manus Basin show B depletions. The lack of correlation between B contents and the intensity of magmatic fluid influx (CO2 and SO2) may indicate that magma degassing is not responsible for the B enrichments or depletions in these vent fluids. B enrichments might be related to preferential partitioning of B into the vapour phase during phase separation under PT-conditions well above the two-phase curve and critical line (i.e. T >> Tcritical, P >> Pcritical). However, this cannot explain the low B concentrations in the vapour-rich vent fluids from the Manus Basin and the low B isotope ratios in the Nifonea fluids. Instead, we propose that B concentrations and isotope ratios in submarine vent fluids largely depend on the residence and reaction time of the vent fluid in the subsurface. In general, all vent fluids are still influenced by water-rock interaction during hydrothermal circulation. However, vent fluids with short residence times define a trend towards lower B concentrations and isotope ratios, which can be explained by mixing between hydrothermal and magmatic fluid, which is similar to the composition of the host rock. In contrast, the B signature of the magmatic fluid can be overprinted due to preferential mobilisation of B from the oceanic crust into vapour-rich fluids at longer reaction times. Thus, B may provide a tool for estimating the extent of B leaching and hence hydrothermal alteration in the subseafloor.

Coupling of CFD and semiempirical methods for designing three-phase condensate separator: case study and experimental validation

This study presents an approach to determine the dimensions of three-phase separators. First, we designed different vessel configurations based on the fluid properties of an Iranian gas condensate field. We then used a comprehensive computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method for analyzing the three-phase separation phenomena. For simulation purposes, the combined volume of fluid–discrete particle method (DPM) approach was used. The discrete random walk (DRW) model was used to include the effect of arbitrary particle movement due to variations caused by turbulence. In addition, the comparison of experimental and simulated results was generated using different turbulence models, i.e., standard k–ε, standard k–ω, and Reynolds stress model. The results of numerical calculations in terms of fluid profiles, separation performance and DPM particle behavior were used to choose the optimum vessel configuration. No difference between the dimensions of the optimum vessel and the existing separator was found. Also, simulation data were compared with experimental data pertaining to a similar existing separator. A reasonable agreement between the results of numerical calculation and experimental data was observed. These results showed that the used CFD model is well capable of investigating the performance of a three-phase separator.

Fluid and carbon flux estimation of regional metamorphic fluid flow in Glen Esk, SE Scottish Highlands: The role of hydrodynamic dispersion for broadening of an isotopic front

During metamorphism, large quantities of fluids are mobilized and transported through the crust. Such fluids may interact with surrounding rock and serve as a medium for chemical transport. In this study, we use coupled carbonation and oxygen isotope fronts to estimate fluid and carbon fluxes for metamorphic fluid flow in vein pathways in the Dalradian metasediments that crop out in Glen Esk, SE Scottish Highlands. Comparison of wall rock and vein oxygen isotope ratios indicate that the Barrovian sequence in Glen Esk was infiltrated by at least two separate fluid flow events, where fluid flow from the North Esk Fault overprints an earlier fluid flow event, for which the syn-metamorphic magmatic intrusions north of Glen Esk are a probable fluid source. Advection is the dominating mode of fluid transportation in veins. By advection-dispersion and advection-diffusion modeling, we estimate a time-averaged fluid flux of 0.0005 to 0.0135 m3 · m−2 · yr−1 and a carbon flux of 0.04 to 0.71 mol C · m−2 · yr−1for fluid flow from the North Esk fault into the Dalradian metasediments. The duration of this fluid flow event is estimated to between 11 and 230 kyr. Our results also indicate that hydrodynamic dispersion was the main reason for broadening of the oxygen isotope front.

Geometrically-mediated snap-off of water-in-oil emulsion droplets in microfluidic flow focusing devices.

Microfluidic channel networks allow the control of flowing fluids within structures with length scales on the order of single or tens of micrometers (μm). This affords the opportunity to mix and separate fluids with fine precision and, in the case of immiscible multiphase flows, generate stable emulsions with well-controlled sizes and size distributions. It is generally well understood that emulsion droplet size can be regulated by carefully balancing capillary-associated parameters, such as relative fluid velocity, with the interfacial tension of the immiscible phases. Channel size and geometry, particularly that of the junction where fluids merge in microfluidic flow focusing (or "pinch flow") devices, has been shown to scale droplet size and bound the lower droplet size. Channel constrictions or "nozzles" are commonly employed to amplify the extensional flow at channel junctions, but their function has not been quantified and is, therefore, not well understood. This paper describes the use of geometry as a tunable parameter in microfluidic droplet generator design by focusing upon the effect of nozzle geometry (relative width, length and depth) upon droplet snap off behavior. Our results show that nozzle geometry can dramatically influence droplet size by shifting its snap-off position, an effect that can be anticipated by Raleigh-Plateau theory.

Control of separated fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics over a backward facing step

ABSTRACTThe control of laminar fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics over a backward facing step have been studied by varying location and orientation of a thin adiabatic fin mounted on the top wall. The detailed investigation of geometrical parameters of fin (length, location and orientation) for two different Reynolds numbers is performed numerically and the results are compared to the case without fin. It is found that fin location and orientation can be used to control the primary reattachment point and the peak of local Nusselt number effectively and it acts as a passive controller.

Volatile contents of primitive bubble-bearing melt inclusions from Klyuchevskoy volcano, Kamchatka: Comparison of volatile contents determined by mass-balance versus experimental homogenization

Primitive olivine-hosted melt inclusions provide information concerning the pre-eruptive volatile contents of silicate melts, but compositional changes associated with post-entrapment processes (PEP) sometimes complicate their interpretation. In particular, crystallization of the host phase along the wall of the melt inclusion and diffusion of H+ through the host promote CO2 and potentially S or other volatiles to exsolve from the melt into a separate fluid phase. Experimental rehomogenization and analysis of MI, or a combination of Raman spectroscopy, numerical modeling, and mass balance calculations are potentially effective methods to account for PEP and restore the original volatile contents of melt inclusions. In order to compare these different approaches, we studied melt inclusions from a suite of samples from Klyuchevskoy volcano (Kamchatka Arc) for which volatile compositions have been determined using experimental rehydration, Raman spectroscopy, and numerical modeling. The maximum CO2 contents of melt inclusions are in agreement (~3600–4000 ppm), regardless of the method used to correct for CO2 in the bubble, but significantly more uncertainty is observed using mass balance calculations. This uncertainty is largely due to the lack of precision associated with the petrographic method of determining bubble volumes and may also be related to the presence of daughter minerals at the glass-bubble interface.

A modified anisotropic [formula omitted] model for predicting flow and heat transfer in a rotating channel

A modified anisotropic k-ω model that takes into account turbulence pulsation was proposed. The model was then used to study the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a rotating channel. The study considered Reynolds numbers ranging from 3000 to 15,000, rotation numbers from 0 to 1.31, and temperature ratios of 0.1, 0.17, and 0.22. The results obtained by the anisotropic k-ω model were compared with those obtained by the standard k-ω model. The anisotropic k-ω model was demonstrated to accurately predict the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the rotating channel and the results were in good agreement with the experimental data. By contrast, the standard k-ω model underestimated the heat transfer effect, especially for the trailing edge. Detailed flow analysis using the anisotropic k-ω model showed an inversely proportional relationship between the critical rotation number and the dimensionless distance. In addition, the study also found that the change of temperature ratio had an impact on the location of the fluid separation, the greater the temperature ratio, the earlier the fluid separation appears.

An Electrokinetic Separation Route to Source Dialysate from Excess Fluid in Blood.

To improve the health of patients with end-stage renal disease, there is a clear need for slow, continuous hemodialysis, and the primary barrier to a wearable device is the requirement of a large reservoir of dialysate. We describe an electrokinetic means of producing dialysate from the excess fluid extant in the peripheral blood of patients undergoing therapy. A critical feature of this process is the retention of essential components of blood, especially serum albumin. In progress toward this goal, we demonstrate the separation of charged from neutral species in blood plasma at a branched microchannel junction by ion concentration polarization (ICP). Further, we introduce a method that reduces the opportunity for damage to proteins and prevents electrode biofouling. The present approach results in as high as 99.7% retention of albumin and successful separation of neutral metabolites and excess fluid to be utilized as a precursor to dialysate.

Insights into the selection and design of fluid separation processes

Abstract Separations account for approximately 50% of all manufacturing costs, making the selection of the proper technology, and a potential affinity separation agent (ASA) of essential importance for process design. This selection is not straightforward. In this paper, aspects of fluid separation technologies, including shortcut calculations to estimate heat duties, are reviewed and applied to create insights in ab initio fluid separation process selection without extensive process simulations. It was found that composition and state of the feed can have major impacts on the minimal required heat duty, as well as the desired product purity. Distillation of dilute feeds is intrinsically hindered by a low internal efficiency and solvent based separations should be considered. Furthermore, the minimal heat duty for liquid-liquid extraction (LLX) with high boiling solvents is primarily feed composition dependent, while for low boiling solvents the solvent to feed ratio is important. This is also the case for the minimal duty for extractive distillation (ED) with light solvents, whereas the minimal duty of ED using high boiling solvents is independent of the composition, and generally higher than the minimal LLX duty. ED can be operated with only two columns, whereas LLX generally requires at least three, leading to higher capital costs. The feed composition dependence of the LLX minimal heat duty can result in a feed compositional break-even point when comparing LLX with ED. Using these theoretical insights in fluid separations, a series of industrial cases was reviewed and critical aspects in technology selection, and solvent selection and design such as selectivity and capacity are discussed. The results confirm the applicability of the minimal heat duty approach as a quick prediction tool for opportunities of solvent based technologies, as well as the need for including other considerations such as the number of required columns (capital costs) and the possibility to recover sensible heat.

Sensitivity analysis of wind pressure coefficients on CAARC standard tall buildings in CFD simulations

Constructing tall buildings has been a common trend for many cities due to rapid increase of population, therefore, it is essential to analyze wind pressure around and over these tall buildings. CFD simulation is an effective approach to realize this, in which CAARC (Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council) standard tall building has been a well-acknowledged model to validate and calibrate tall building models. Nevertheless, less work has been conducted to study sensitivity of wind pressures over CAARC standard tall building to geometric and computational parameters in CFD simulation. This paper is therefore designed to fill this gap by analysing impacts of various parameters like turbulence model, approaching-flow speed and grid type on wind pressure coefficients over CAARC buildings. In this paper, wind pressure coefficients over CAARC models subjected to four wind directions were numerically analyzed for validating the correctness and effectiveness of numerical model. Sensitivity of wind pressures to geometric and computational parameters was analyzed through comparisons of deviation and absolute deviation. Results indicated that various phenomena such as fluid separation, vortex, wake effect and reattachment were sensitive to wind direction, resulting in great variations in wind pressure. Maximum positive wind pressure coefficients emerged around 0.8–0.85H of windward surface, while maximum negative one occurred at foreside of top surface. Furthermore, turbulence model had significant influences on the accuracy of numerical results, where Realizable k-ε and SST were the most accurate turbulence models, and standard k-ε and RNG k-ε models were the second accurate ones, but BSL was not recommended for wind resistance design. Approaching-flow speed and grid type exerted insignificant influences on pressure coefficient distribution, while grid resolution had significant effects on negative wind pressure distribution. In general, conclusions obtained in this study can assist structural engineers to select practical geometric and computational parameters in predicting wind pressure distribution against tall buildings.

Effects of crude oil composition on interfacial activity and recovery efficiency of ASP flooding in Daqing oilfield in China

To evaluate the reservoir adaptability of a strong-alkali ternary compound system, field trials of alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding has been carried out in Lamadian, Saertu and Xingshugang oilfields in Daqing, China. The crude oil compositions have significant effects on retention time of ASP fluid and on chemicals concentrations in produced fluid. Here, to investigate the effects of crude oil compositions on enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of ASP flooding, we studied the crude oil compositions in the three oilfields and the interaction between crude oils and the strong-alkali ternary compound system in laboratory. We find that the great differences in contents and structures of crude-oil compositions more severely affect the interfacial tension (IFT). In the three oilfields, higher contents of high-carbon normal alkane and aromatics lead to the lower contents of polar compounds comprised of O, S and N, and the longer chain organic acid reduces the emulsified ability of Lamadian crude oil. The Lamadian crude oil shows higher IFTs between the ASP fluid and active components, raffinate, and crude oil compared with other two oilfields. Also, differences in contents and structures of crude oil components aggravate the chromatographic separation of ASP fluid and reduce recovery efficiency, especially in the Lamadian oilfield. [Received: February 13, 2015; Accepted: October 20, 2016]

Nonlinear eigen-structures in star-forming gyratory nonthermal complex molecular clouds

This paper deals with the nonlinear gravito-electrostatic fluctuations in star-forming rotating complex partially ionized dust molecular clouds, evolutionarily well-governed by a derived pair of the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equations of a unique analytical shape, in a bi-fluidic-model fabric. The lighter constituent species, such as electrons and ions, are considered thermo-statistically as the nonthermal ones in nature, governed by the anti-equilibrium kappa-distribution laws, due to inherent nonlocal gradient effects stemming from large-scale inhomogeneity. The heavier species, such as the constitutive identical neutral and charged dust micro-spheres, are treated as separate turbulent viscous fluids in the Larson logatropic tapestry. Application of a standard technique of multiple scale analysis over the nonlinearly perturbed cloud procedurally yields the pair KdV system. It comprises of the gravitational KdV and electrostatic KdV equations with exclusive constructs of diversified multi-parametric coefficients. A numerical constructive platform is provided to see the excitation and propagatory dynamics of gravitational rarefactive periodic soliton-trains and electrostatic rarefactive aperiodic damped soliton-trains of distinctive patterns as the pair-KdV-supported discrete coherent eigen-mode structures illustratively. The varied key stabilizing and tonality destabilizing factors behind the cloud dynamics are identified. An elaborated contrast of the eigen-mode conjugacy is reconnoitered. The main implications and applications of the semi-analytical results explored here are summarily outlined in the real astro-space-cosmic statuses.

Investigation of dynamical properties of methane in slit-like quartz pores using molecular simulation.

The dynamical properties of adsorption media confined in micropores play an important role in the adsorptive separation of fluids. However, a problem is that it is difficult to directly use approaches based on experimental measurements. Molecular simulation has been an effective tool for investigating the diffusion of fluids on the microscale in recent years. In this work, the diffusion properties of methane in quartz were mainly investigated from a microscale viewpoint using MD (molecular dynamics) methods, and this paper primarily discusses the influence of parameters such as pressure, temperature, pore size and water content on the diffusion and thermodynamic parameters of methane in slit-like quartz pores. The results demonstrate that the transport ability of quartz pores decreases with an increase in pressure in pores of a fixed size at a certain temperature and increases with an increase in pore size or temperature at a fixed pressure, which is related to changes in the interaction between methane molecules and quartz. In the pressure range used in the simulation, the average isosteric heat of adsorption of methane increases with an increase in pressure and is in the range of 6.52–10.794 kJ mol−1. Therefore, the gas adsorption behavior is classed as physical adsorption because the heat of adsorption is significantly lower than the minimum heat of gas adsorption for chemisorption. The increase in the total adsorption entropy is caused by an increase in temperature due to an increase in internal energy, which brings about a reduction in the interactions between gas molecules and walls of quartz. However, with an increase in pore size the total adsorption entropy increases, for which an explanation may be that in pores of a larger size methane molecules are adsorbed at higher-energy sites and generate a higher isosteric heat, which causes a reduction in interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent. Regarding the influence of different water contents on the diffusion of methane, it was demonstrated that with an increase in moisture the mobility of methane molecules initially increases and then decreases, which is related to the distance between gas molecules.