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Microfluidic Hydrodynamic of Gas-Liquid flow in Single Microchannel and Porous Media with Microchannel Network

Yang, Shuo LU orcid (2022)
Abstract
In this thesis, a microfluidics platform with high-speed imaging system was built to investigate gas-liquid flow
in single microchannel and interfacial instability in porous media with microchannel network:
The mass transfer of slug flow in the rectangular and square microchannels was experimentally studied by using
water as liquid phase and CO2 as gas phase. Depending on flow rates, flow patterns including slug flow, bubbly
flow, and annular flow were observed in rectangular and square microchannels. Flow pattern map was proposed
and compared with the maps in the literatures. By using digital image processing, the bubble volume especially
deformed bubbles in rectangular and square microchannels was calculated... (More)
In this thesis, a microfluidics platform with high-speed imaging system was built to investigate gas-liquid flow
in single microchannel and interfacial instability in porous media with microchannel network:
The mass transfer of slug flow in the rectangular and square microchannels was experimentally studied by using
water as liquid phase and CO2 as gas phase. Depending on flow rates, flow patterns including slug flow, bubbly
flow, and annular flow were observed in rectangular and square microchannels. Flow pattern map was proposed
and compared with the maps in the literatures. By using digital image processing, the bubble volume especially
deformed bubbles in rectangular and square microchannels was calculated based on 2D projection and 3D slicing,
correspondingly. Scaling laws including important parameters of bubbles were derived to provide the guidance
of microreactor design. Mass transfer coefficients were calculated based on bubble volume. The empirical
correlations involving dimensionless numbers were fitted to precisely predict mass transfer coefficients. Further,
to be universality, a semi-theoretical model considering length ratio of liquid and gas phases was developed to
predict measured mass transfer coefficients in square microchannel precisely.
The gas-liquid displacement in porous media with microchannel network was experimentally investigated. By
varying capillary numbers Ca and viscosity ratios M in a wide range, flow pattern involving viscous fingering
(VF), capillary fingering (CF) and crossover zone (CZ) can be observed. Finger morphologies at breakthrough
moment and steady state in three different flow regions was visualized. The main difference between VF and CF
is that the gas stops invading in CF region after breakthrough, whereas in VF region gas can continue to expand
until almost all the liquid phase is displaced. Invasion velocity, phase saturation and fingering complexity were
quantified based on digital image processing. Fingering dynamical behaviors in different flow pattern before and
after breakthrough was investigated. Time evolution of fingering displacement after breakthrough demonstrated
an unobserved circle, consisting of new finger generation, cap invasion, breakthrough and finger disappearance.
The circle repeats until steady state. Finally, local dynamical invasion behavior was studied and a stepwise way
of gas invasion was exposed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
mass transfer, slug flow, porous media, interficial instability, fingering displacement
pages
59 pages
publisher
Lund University (Media-Tryck)
ISBN
978-91-8039-458-1
978-91-8039-457-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b8c6cb8-abcf-4484-a762-36055528801d
date added to LUP
2022-11-11 14:40:57
date last changed
2023-02-21 13:46:20
@phdthesis{6b8c6cb8-abcf-4484-a762-36055528801d,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis, a microfluidics platform with high-speed imaging system was built to investigate gas-liquid flow <br/>in single microchannel and interfacial instability in porous media with microchannel network:<br/>The mass transfer of slug flow in the rectangular and square microchannels was experimentally studied by using <br/>water as liquid phase and CO2 as gas phase. Depending on flow rates, flow patterns including slug flow, bubbly <br/>flow, and annular flow were observed in rectangular and square microchannels. Flow pattern map was proposed <br/>and compared with the maps in the literatures. By using digital image processing, the bubble volume especially <br/>deformed bubbles in rectangular and square microchannels was calculated based on 2D projection and 3D slicing, <br/>correspondingly. Scaling laws including important parameters of bubbles were derived to provide the guidance <br/>of microreactor design. Mass transfer coefficients were calculated based on bubble volume. The empirical <br/>correlations involving dimensionless numbers were fitted to precisely predict mass transfer coefficients. Further, <br/>to be universality, a semi-theoretical model considering length ratio of liquid and gas phases was developed to<br/>predict measured mass transfer coefficients in square microchannel precisely.<br/>The gas-liquid displacement in porous media with microchannel network was experimentally investigated. By <br/>varying capillary numbers Ca and viscosity ratios M in a wide range, flow pattern involving viscous fingering <br/>(VF), capillary fingering (CF) and crossover zone (CZ) can be observed. Finger morphologies at breakthrough <br/>moment and steady state in three different flow regions was visualized. The main difference between VF and CF <br/>is that the gas stops invading in CF region after breakthrough, whereas in VF region gas can continue to expand <br/>until almost all the liquid phase is displaced. Invasion velocity, phase saturation and fingering complexity were <br/>quantified based on digital image processing. Fingering dynamical behaviors in different flow pattern before and <br/>after breakthrough was investigated. Time evolution of fingering displacement after breakthrough demonstrated <br/>an unobserved circle, consisting of new finger generation, cap invasion, breakthrough and finger disappearance. <br/>The circle repeats until steady state. Finally, local dynamical invasion behavior was studied and a stepwise way <br/>of gas invasion was exposed.}},
  author       = {{Yang, Shuo}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8039-458-1}},
  keywords     = {{mass transfer; slug flow; porous media; interficial instability; fingering displacement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University (Media-Tryck)}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Microfluidic Hydrodynamic of Gas-Liquid flow in Single Microchannel and Porous Media with Microchannel Network}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/128239830/Thesis_Shuo_Yang_WEB.pdf}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}