Rheological Properties Of Fluid Research Articles

Simulation study of two-phase flow in branched horizontal wells

Natural gas hydrate reservoirs have low permeability and uneven distribution, necessitating multiple branches for effective commercial development. Due to cost and technical constraints, multi-branch horizontal wells typically forgo packers in previously drilled sections, relying instead on intelligent completion technologies and flow control devices. This paper investigates the complex multiphase flow of drilling fluid and rock cuttings in horizontal annular spaces during the drilling of multi-branch wells. A simplified model and the Euler model are used to analyze how different drilling fluid flow rates and rheological properties affect rock cutting transport. Results show that while increasing flow rates reduces the volume fraction of rock cuttings and enhances fluid return speed, the increase in apparent viscosity diminishes. Therefore, excessively high flow rates are not economically beneficial. In multi-branch drilling, higher flow rates are necessary to minimize rock cutting invasion from active to previously drilled sections, primarily influenced by yield stress and consistency coefficient. The study concludes that while ensuring dynamic shear forces, efforts should focus on increasing yield stress and consistency coefficient to manage rock cutting invasion effectively.

Impact of flexible walls of curved channel on biological flow of Reiner-Rivlin fluid

In this study, the Reiner-Rivlin fluid model is opted for examination as the complex dynamical fluid and is flowing on account of the waves travelling on the walls of flexible curved channel. The governing equations are solved analytically up to the first order to analyse the velocity profiles. As the governing equation is highly nonlinear, so the problem is solved by regular perturbation technique about small wave number. After the implication of regular perturbation, the second order Cauchy Euler ordinary differential equations are obtained for both the systems. A detailed analysis is conducted on the effects of diverse factors, such as the rheological properties of fluid, the curvature radius of the channel, the wave amplitude and the wall properties. The velocity of the fluid enhanced by increasing wall properties parameters, wave number, Reynolds number and the amplitude ratio parameter. It is also observed that the Reiner-Rivlin fluid flows slowly as compare to the Newtonian fluid, this type of findings can be helpful for the understanding of many physiological processes, like blood flow and food swallowing. This study enlightens the interaction between the curved nature of the channel and Reiner-Rivlin fluid flow in peristalsis that can be a great contribution for the designing of biomedical devices. Such types of problems have great significance in many physiological processes and engineering applications like microfluidic devices and drug delivery systems.

Experimental investigation of biopolymers influences on rheology and filtration properties of water-based drilling fluids

Pipe-stuck, filtrate volume, and formation damage during the drilling operation are directly related to the poor performance of drilling fluids. Hence, considerable attention is required to improve the filtration and rheological properties of drilling fluids and achieve industrial and environmental qualification standards. This study experimentally investigates the impact of Pectin and Astragalus gum biopolymers on the filtration and rheological properties of the water-based drilling fluid (WBDF). It also compares the results with the base drilling fluid and those obtained by adding commercial xanthan gum to WBDF. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Zeta potential, and Scanning Electron Microscopy are applied to characterize these additives. The viscosity, filtrate volume, gel strength, and yield point of these biopolymer-added WBDFs were experimentally measured and compared. Various rheological models have been examined to correlate the experimental data shear stress versus shear rate profiles. Also, the filtration characteristics of WBDF were analyzed at high-temperature and high-pressure conditions using the filter press. The results showed that biopolymer additives considerably improve WBDF performance. The fluid formulations with Pectin presented more advantages over the other two biopolymers regarding fluid cake formation and rheological properties. The WBDF containing xanthan gum, Pectin, and Astragalus gum decreases filtrate volume by 42.9 %, 55.7 %, and 48.6 %, and increases plastic viscosity by 34.4 %, 46.9 %, and 40.6 %, respectively. Also, 56.5 %, 73.9 %, and 78.3 % increases in the yield point of WBDFs were obtained by adding xanthan gum, Pectin, and Astragalus gum to WBDF, respectively. Generally, the viscosity and yield point were more stable for biopolymer additive drilling fluids at high temperatures. In addition, the results showed that adding Pectin would cause less formation damage. The experimental results show that the optimum concentration of xanthan gum, Pectin, and Astragalus gum is 1.4, 1, and 1.05 wt.%, respectively.

A numerical model for evaluating the long-term migration and phase transition behavior of foam-assisted injection of CO2 in saline aquifers

Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) is a rapidly developing technology with the potential to mitigate the environmental impact of excessive greenhouse gas emissions. Foam-assisted injection of CO2 can effectively alter fluid rheological properties, thereby enhancing sweep efficiency. In this paper, a numerical model to evaluate the long-term migration behavior of foam-assisted injected CO2 in saline aquifers is developed. It is found that foam-assisted injection improves storage efficiency and reduces the plume migration distance compared to direct CO2 injection. This creates higher demands on the injection pressure but minimizes the risk of leakage. The effects of injection strategy, volume fraction of foam, and reservoir heterogeneity were investigated. Modeling results show that the injection strategy with a high foam volume fraction enhances the sweep efficiency and improves the transition rate of injected CO2 to the dissolved state. This can effectively enhance the long-term security of the sequestration. Simulations of layered formations indicates that foams can potentially inhibit the rapid migration of plumes along high-permeability zones. Our study provides insights for foam-assisted injection to enhance reservoir storage efficiency and long-term safety for GCS.

Effect of Ionic Liquids with Different Structures on Rheological Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluids and Mechanism Research at Ultra-High Temperatures.

The rheology control of water-based drilling fluids at ultra-high temperatures has been one of the major challenges in deep or ultra-deep resource exploration. In this paper, the effects of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (ILA), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (ILB) and N-methyl, butylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (ILC) on the rheological properties and filtration loss of polymer-based slurries at ultra-high temperatures (200 °C and 240 °C) are investigated by the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. The results show that ionic liquids with different structures could improve the high-temperature rheological properties of polymer-based drilling fluids. The rheological parameter value (YP/PV) of the polymer-based slurry formulated with ILC is slightly higher than that with ILA at the same concentration, while the YP/PV value of the polymer-based slurry with ILA is slightly higher than that with ILB, which is consistent with the TGA thermal stability of ILA, ILB, and ILC; the thermal stability of ILC with pyrrolidine cations is higher than that of ILA with imidazole cations, and the thermal stability of ILA with bis(trifluorosulfonyl)amide anions is higher than that of ILB with tetrafluoroborate anions. Cation interlayer exchange between organic cation and sodium montmorillonite can improve the rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids. And meantime, the S=O bond in bis(trifluorosulfonyl)amide ions and the hydroxyl group of sodium montmorillonite may form hydrogen bonds, which also may increase the rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids. ILA, ILB, and ILC cannot reduce the filtration loss of polymer-based drilling fluids at ultra-high temperatures.

Rheological behavior and solution pH response properties of nanoparticle-regulated low surface tension systems.

Regarding the rheological properties of fluids, certain nanoparticles can markedly modify the rheological behavior of low surface tension solutions by interacting with surfactant molecules. In this work, a low surface tension fluid with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride was prepared, and the silica nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed into it by ultrasonic dispersion. By adjusting the size, shape, and concentration of nanoparticles, the fluid behavior can be changed from Newtonian to non-Newtonian with finely tuned viscosity and characterized by a shear-thinning rheological behavior. In addition, this work explored how variations in environmental temperature and solution pH affect the rheological responses of the low surface tension suspension system. The experimental findings revealed that increasing the temperature substantially decreases the system's viscosity and induces a shear-thickening behavior. It is particularly significant that, under extreme pH conditions (either strongly acidic or alkaline), the viscosity of the nanoparticle suspensions was markedly enhanced at a particle concentration of 10 000 ppm. This interesting result coincided with a notable reduction in the zeta potential and an increase in the average particle size, suggesting an intensified aggregation of particles within the suspension system. A mechanism detailing the interaction between silica nanoparticles and surfactant micelles was proposed. This work indicates that the incorporation of nanoparticles into surfactant solutions offers a powerful approach to modulating fluid rheology across various conditions.

Cure State Sensing of Polymethylmethacrylate Using a Vibrating Axial Probe.

A new axially vibrating sensor based on an audio voice coil transducer and a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric disc microphone was developed as a probe for the measurement of in vitro rheological fluid properties, including curing progress for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) mixtures with important uses as bone cement in the field of orthopedics. The measurement of the vibrating axial sensor's acoustic spectra in PMMA undergoing curing can be described by a damped harmonic oscillator formalism and resonant frequency (ca. 180 Hz) shift can be used as an indicator of curing progress, with shifts to the blue by as much as 14 Hz. The resonant frequency peak was measured in 19 different 4.0 g PMMA samples to have a rate of shift of 0.0462 ± 0.00624 Hz·s-1 over a period of 400 s while the PMMA was in a dough state and before the PMMA transitioned to a hard-setting phase. This transition is unambiguously indicated by this sensor technology through the generation of a distinct circa 5 kHz high-Q under-damped ring-down response.

Impact of Hydrocarbons on the Rheological Properties of Seawater-Based Fracturing Fluids

Impact of Hydrocarbons on the Rheological Properties of Seawater-Based Fracturing Fluids

Bingham plastic fluids flow analysis in multimembranes fitted porous medium

A mathematical analysis is presented for the flow of a Bingham plastic fluid propelled by the multi-membranes pumping mechanism through porous media. Two successive membranes with different amplitude, diameter, and phase lag, are fitted at the upper wall of the channel, and the lower wall is stationary. Due to the simultaneous propagation of both membranes, the pressure is generated at the membrane's position, which helps in propelling the fluids in forward and backward directions depending upon the compression and expansion cycles of the membranes. The low Reynolds number assumption and lubrication theory are utilized to linearize the governing equations, which are further analytically derived, and then employing MATLAB codes to compute the illustrations for the interpretation of the results. The effects of key parameters like plug flow region, pore size and diameter of membranes on the velocity field, wall shear stress, pressure gradient, fanning friction factor, head loss and particle trajectories, are analysed in the microchannel. Results of the present model conclude that the geometrical properties of membranes, rheological properties of fluids and porosity of the medium significantly alter the flow and pumping characteristics which give valuable insights for the design of micro-valve less pumping actuators to be aimed at controlling microscale transport processes in various medical diagnoses and treatments.

Exploring double-diffusive nanofluid flow in divergent/convergent nondarcy porous space: A machine learning numerical approach with zero mass flux

In this study, authors address the problem of analyzing the Jeffrey–Hamel nanofluid flow within a nonparallel channel under the influence of a thermally balanced non-Darcy permeable medium. Our objective is to explore the behavior of the nanofluid, employing the Buongiorno nanofluid model, and considering factors such as zero mass flux conditions, variable rheological fluid properties, and the presence of temperature jump phenomena through ANN-PSO-NNA. To tackle this intricate issue, propose a novel approach using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) integrated with particle swarm optimization (PSO) hybrid with neural network algorithm (NNA). This combined technique is referred to as ANN-PSO-NNA. The governing flow equations based on the Jeffrey–Hamel analysis are first transformed into dimensionless forms. To establish the efficacy of our approach compare it with the widely used NDSolve method. Furthermore, the study presents the absolute error analysis for four distinct cases offering a quantitative assessment of the accuracy of ANN-PSO-NNA. The absolute error between the NDsolve and the proposed ANN-PSO-NNA is given for four different cases, ranging from 1.95E-06 to 1.18E-08. The biases and weights obtained through proposed method range from −10 to 10. This enables us to gauge the performance of the ANN-PSO-NNA minimum values of the fitness function 2.37E-08, 2.30E-08, 3.92E-08, and 1.22E-08 from multiple independent runs, which are showcased to be convergent, underscoring the robustness of the ANN-PSO-NNA approach. Employing graphical representations, explores the influence of various parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles. Our integrated approach offers a comprehensive understanding of the underlying dynamics, paving the way for optimized designs and enhanced efficiency across these diverse engineering applications.

Influence of rheological parameters on the performance of the aerated coaxial mixer containing a pseudoplastic fluid

Gas dispersion in non-Newtonian fluids has numerous applications in many chemical and biochemical applications. However, the effect of the power-law model constants describing the rheological behavior of the pseudoplastic fluid has never been investigated. Thus, a numerical model was developed to simulate the hydrodynamics of gas dispersion in non-Newtonian fluids with a coaxial mixer. Then, a set of experiments was conducted to assess the mass transfer efficacy of a coaxial mixer to benchmark the numerical model. In this regard, various methods, including dynamic gassing-in and electrical resistance tomography methods, were used to quantify the mass transfer and gas hold-up profiles. The influence of fluid rheological properties, gas flow number, and rotating mode on the power consumption, mass transfer coefficient, bubble size profile, and hydrodynamics were examined both experimentally and numerically. The response surface model (RSM) was employed to explore the individual effects of power-law model constants on mass transfer. The RSM model utilized five levels for the consistency index (k), five levels for the flow index (n), and three levels for the gas flow number. The statistical model proposed that the absolute model constants for the flow and consistency indices were 0.0012 and 0.0010, respectively, for the co-rotating mixer. Conversely, for the counter-rotating mixer, these constants were 0.0010 and 0.0013, respectively. Therefore, this study revealed that the co-rotating coaxial mixer was well-suited for dispersing gas within a fluid with high consistency. In contrast, the counter-rotating mixer proved effective in enhancing gas dispersion within a fluid with a lower flow index.

Study of Lactobacillus plantarum coated with Tremella polysaccharides to improve its intestinal adhesion.

The adhesion of probiotics to the intestine is crucial for their probiotic function. In previous studies, Tremella polysaccharides (TPS) (with sodium casein) have shown the potential to encapsulate probiotics and protect them in a simulated gastrointestinal tract. This study explored the effect of TPS (with sodium casein) on the adhesion of probiotics. Lactobacillus plantarum was coated with TPS and sodium casein in different proportions, and was freeze-dried. The rheological properties of the mixture of probiotics powder and mucin solution were determined by static and dynamic rheological analysis. Aqueous solutions of probiotic powder and mucin mixture exhibited pseudoplastic fluid rheological properties. The higher the proportion of TPS content, the higher the apparent viscosity and yield stress. The mixed bacterial powder and mucin fluid displayed thixotropy and was in accordance with the Herschel-Bulkley model. The TPS increased the bio-adhesive force of the probiotic powder and mucin. When using TPS as the only carbon source, the adhesion of L. plantarum to Caco-2 cells increased by 228% in comparison with glucose in vitro. Twelve adhesive proteins were also detected in the whole-cell proteome of L. plantarum. Among them, ten adhesive proteins occurred abundantly when grown with TPS as a carbon source. Tremella polysaccharides therefore possess probiotic properties and can promote the intestinal adhesion of L. plantarum. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Effects of Organically Modified Lithium Magnesium Silicate on the Rheological Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluids.

To address the problem of insufficient temperature and salt resistance of existing polymer viscosity enhancers, we designed an organic-inorganic hybrid composite as a viscosity enhancer for water-based drilling fluids, named LAZ, and it was prepared by combining a water-soluble monomer and lithium magnesium silicate (LMS) using an intercalation polymerization method. The composite LAZ was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transformed target X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The rheological properties of the composite LAZ were evaluated. The composite LAZ was used as a water-based drilling fluid viscosity enhancer, and the temperature and salt resistance of the drilling fluid were evaluated. The results showed that the composite LAZ presented a complex reticulation structure in an aqueous solution. This reticulation structure intertwined with each other exhibited viscosity-enhancing properties, which can enhance the suspension properties of water-based drilling fluids. The aqueous solution of the composite LAZ has shear dilution properties. As shear rate increases, shear stress becomes larger. The yield stress value of the aqueous solution increases as the composite LAZ's concentration increases. The aqueous solution of the composite LAZ exhibits strong elastic characteristics with weak gel properties. The addition of the composite LAZ to 4% sodium bentonite-based slurry significantly increased the apparent viscosity and dynamic shear of the drilling fluid. The drilling fluids containing the composite LAZ had good temperature resistance at 150 °C and below. The rheological properties of brine drilling fluids containing the composite LAZ changed slightly before and after high-temperature aging at 150 °C.

Investigating the efficacy of novel organoclay as a rheological additive for enhancing the performance of oil-based drilling fluids

Oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) are extensively used in the drilling industry due to their superior performance in challenging drilling conditions. These fluids control wellbore stability, lubricate the drill bit, and transport drill cuttings to the surface. One important component of oil-based drilling fluids is the viscosifier, which provides rheological properties to enhance drilling operations. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Claytone-IMG 400, a novel rheological agent, in enhancing the performance of OBDFs under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. A comparative analysis was conducted with a pre-existing organoclay (OC) to assess the improvements achieved by Claytone-IMG 400. The OCs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution (PSD) to identify their mineral and chemical compositions, morphologies, and particle sizes. The drilling fluid density, electrical stability, sagging tendency, rheological properties, viscoelastic properties, and filtration properties were studied to formulate a stable and high-performance drilling fluid. The results confirmed that the novel OC does not affect the drilling fluid density but enhances the emulsion stability with a 9% increment compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The sagging experiments showed that Claytone-IMG 400 prevented the sagging issues in both static and dynamic conditions. Also, Claytone-IMG 400 improved the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and apparent viscosity (AV). The PV, YP, and AV were improved by 30%, 38%, and 33% increments respectively compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The YP/PV ratio increased with a 6% increment from 1.12 to 1.19. Moreover, the gel strength (GS) was significantly increased, and the filtration properties were enhanced. The filtration volume was reduced by 10% from 5.0 to 4.5 cm3, and the filter cake thickness had a 37.5% reduction from 2.60 to 1.89 mm. The novelty of this study is highlighted by the introduction and evaluation of Claytone-IMG 400 as a new rheological additive for safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling operations. The results indicate that Claytone-IMG 400 significantly improves the stability and performance of OBDFs, thereby reducing wellbore instability and drilling-related problems.

Анализ причин низкой наработки на отказ насосного оборудования объекта с высоковязкой нефтью пермокарбоновой залежи

Sucker-rod pumping unit in operation after huff and puff cyclic steam injection operates in a wide range of rheological properties of fluids and medium temperatures. During the initial stage after steam injection, hot liquid fluids are extracted with a temper­ature of about 200°C and a viscosity of several tens of cP. Dur­ing this period, all injected water is also pumped out of the res­ervoir, which entered the reservoir in the form of steam during steam injection phase. After several months of operation, after the bottom-hole zone cools down, the viscosity of the oil increas­es to several hundred cP. The influence of stable emulsions on the properties of fluids also increases. These changes lead to in­creased loads and torque on pumping equipment during opera­tion, which leads to premature failures. The challenge to secure long-term operations with a high mean time between failures of pumping units is critical and demanding. The analysis of the main causes and trends of low mean time between failure using a large array of information and data was performed. Certain big data analysis approaches have been developed and presented and used to formulated qualitative and quantitative conclusions and recommendations. The field uses the same type of pump­ing equipment with only a change in the diameter of the plunger depending on the flow rate. Based on the results of the analysis, the area of the field was identified where it is necessary to make significant changes in the pump parameters due to the increased viscosity of the oil. In such conditions according to world prac­tice longer stroke sucker-rod pumping unit is used reducing the number of strokes, increasing mean time between failure. Expe­rience in similar fields in other regions of the world also indicates the need to use machine learning to improve pump performance.

Towards Semi-Solid Organic Redox Flow Batteries: Material Screening, Electrochemical Performance, and Reactor Design Optimization

As our society transitions to cleaner sources of energy, the need for stationary electricity storage becomes increasingly important. In this context, redox flow batteries (RFBs) have emerged as a promising solution to provide electricity storage at full scale, due to their high scalability and flexibility. However, despite the growing research interest, there is still a urgent need of novel batteries, which are able to operate at high energy densities while relying on sustainable, abundant, and cost-effective electrolytes.In this work we report the development of novel semi-solid RFBs based on cost-effective and environmentally friendly organic materials. We have systematically screened different classes of organic molecules, to identify suitable redox couples that can operate under stable conditions (i.e., >5,000 cycles) in a wide pH range. Therefore, we have experimentally investigated the most promising redox couples in a 10-cm2 electrochemical cell, to understand the behavior of the systems under different carbon and active molecule loadings. Finally, we have simulated the performance of the battery under dynamic and steady-state conditions, aiming to quantify the influence of fluid dynamics and rheological properties of the carbon slurry on the electrochemical performance. Based on our simulations results, we have identified new reactor designs for the RFB, aiming to optimize both fluid dynamics and electrochemical performance of the battery. Such designs represent an important first step towards future upscaling strategies.

Experimental Investigations on Thermophysical, Tribological and Rheological Properties of MoS2 and WS2 Based Nanolubricants with Castor Oil as Base Lubricant

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and Tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanoparticles addition to castor oil produce nano lubricants of novel properties. These nanomaterial additives are dispersed thoroughly in the liquid phase and are intended to boost the base fluid's thermo-physical, rheological, and tribological properties. All these properties have been studied by varying concentrations of nanoparticles from 0.05 to 2.5%. The size of both nanoparticles are in the range of <20nm. The density of nano lubricants was found to change with respect to nanoparticle concentration and temperature. The density increases from 0.06 to 0.6% with respect to the increase in concentration and decreases by 4%, for increasing temperature from 25 to 100 o C. A significant (15 %) increase in thermal conductivity with MoS2 nanoparticles in lubricants could be observed while with WS2 nanoparticles only 8 % enhancement was observed. The rheological study suggests that nano lubricants have better dynamic viscosity and shear stress than neat castor oil. A tribology study showed improved lubrication properties of the nanolubricants as compared with base castor oil. The addition of MoS2 and WS2 nanoparticles in castor oil decreased the friction coefficient by 53 % and 42 %, respectively, and reduced the wear scar diameter by 24% and 20 %, respectively, as compared to base castor oil. This study was done to develop nonedible vegetable oil based nanolubricants exploring their potential as emerging lubricants.

Particle-wall hydrodynamic effects on optical trapping viscometry

Optical tweezers are a versatile setup used to measure forces in soft materials and characterize the rheological properties of fluids and gels. An accurate measurement of these forces is complicated by the interaction between the optically trapped materials and nearby substrate walls. This work presents a comprehensive Brownian Dynamic (BD) model that accounts for the hydrodynamic interactions between an optically trapped particle and a nearby boundary. The model is based on a midpoint algorithm, which simplifies accounting for diffusion gradients that arise from hydrodynamic interactions. Experiments using an optical tweezer and a quadrant position detector (QPD) are performed to validate these experiments. We conduct experiments by varying input laser current from 100 mA to 300 mA. Our experiments show that measured viscosity at 100 mA is ∼19% higher than the value expected for room temperature water (0.89 mPa-s). The discrepancy diminishes to 4% when a 300 mA current is used. Simulations performed with the BD model show that, for a nominal spring constant of ks=4.332×10−4IlaserpN/μm, the discrepancy can be explained via hydrodynamic interactions that influence the measured effective viscosity. Wide variability in confidence interactions observed in our data can be replicated by using a range of diameters in our simulation. This is consistent with DLS measurements of the particles used in this study, which show that the mean diameter was (1.63 ± 0.28) μm. This work has implications for measuring Newtonian media viscosities up to ∼63 mPa-s, as determined by a scaling analysis of limitations for our measurement system.

High efficiency regulating sedimentation and rheological properties of copper tailings using polycarboxylate superplasticizers

The recovery of low grade and fine particle copper ore usually requires sufficient dissociation, which reduces the particle size to the submicron level, presenting new challenges in subsequent copper tailings disposal. Flocculants can improve tailings sedimentation efficiency, but they also change the rheological properties of the slurry, resulting in low efficiency and high energy consumption during long-distances pumping. To address this issue, this study introduced polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizers as auxiliary additives for tailings treatment to improve fine particles sedimentation efficiency while enhancing slurry flowability. The results showed that compared to non-ionic polyacrylamide (NPAM) treated slurries, the synergistic effects of PCE and NPAM increased the initial sedimentation rate (ISR) by up to 3.4 times while decreasing the yield stress by up to 8 times and the thixotropic loop area by 10.5 times. DLVO theory calculations showed that PCE mainly affects particle interactions through a significant decrease in electrostatic repulsion. By in-situ monitoring with a focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) device, it was demonstrated that the synergistic effect of PCE improved the flocculation ability, strength, and regrowth ability of flocs. Furthermore, strong correlations were found between floc properties and fluid rheological properties. Overall, this study indicated that PCE additive was a promising reagent for fine particles slurry rapid settling and flowability enhancement, providing a new approach for copper tailings disposal.

Longitudinal wave propagation in an elastic cylinder embedded in a viscoelastic fluid

Abstract A novel analytical investigation of longitudinal wave propagation in an elastic cylinder embedded in a viscoelastic fluid is proposed. The Maxwell model is used to describe the viscoelastic fluid behavior. With appropriate boundary conditions, a complex dispersion equation of longitudinal wave has been established. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of the fluid rheological properties on the longitudinal wave characteristics (attenuation and velocity). It is shown that the attenuation is the sum of a viscous and non viscous component. The viscosity induced attenuation is predominant at low frequencies. On the other hand, the effect of the liquid amount and elastic cylinder radius on the attenuation and velocity are studied. A critical normalized liquid thickness is highlighted. Beyond this critical value, the influence of the outer boundary condition can be neglected. At last, among other interesting phenomena, it is highlighted that if the Deborah number increases, the attenuation decreases. This variation characterize a stiffening of the viscoelastic medium. In addition, the obtained results show that the viscosity measurement should be performed at low frequencies using small elastic cylinder radius. Accordingly, these investigations are novel and can be applied in geophysics, food industry, medicine, non-destructive testing of materials, design and development of fluid sensors.