Microscopic insights of phase-transition-induced vapor transport enhancement in porous media
Li, Hongxia ; Li, Jiabao ; Yang, Shuo LU
; Wang, Chengyao
and Wu, Zan
(2024)
In International Journal of Multiphase Flow
177.
- Abstract
Vapor transport in porous media, often associated with liquid-vapor phase change, is an fundamental process in many emerging underground energy storage and extraction processes (i.e., seasonal solar thermal aquifer storage, geothermal extraction, extraterrestrial in-situ water extraction). By jointly using experimental imaging and numerical modeling at the micro-scale, we conduct mechanistic pore scale investigation of capillarity-dominated phase change dynamics and its influence on vapor transport in partially saturated porous rock micromodel. Strongly linked to surface roughness and wettability condition, the capillarity hinders water vaporization from rock surface micro/nano-structures as observed under the environmental scanning... (More)
Vapor transport in porous media, often associated with liquid-vapor phase change, is an fundamental process in many emerging underground energy storage and extraction processes (i.e., seasonal solar thermal aquifer storage, geothermal extraction, extraterrestrial in-situ water extraction). By jointly using experimental imaging and numerical modeling at the micro-scale, we conduct mechanistic pore scale investigation of capillarity-dominated phase change dynamics and its influence on vapor transport in partially saturated porous rock micromodel. Strongly linked to surface roughness and wettability condition, the capillarity hinders water vaporization from rock surface micro/nano-structures as observed under the environmental scanning electron microscope. By varying the contact angle of 0°, 60°, and 120°, the lattice Boltzmann simulation shows the wettability-dependent vaporization process of capillary-hold water, where pores with hydrophilic surfaces contains significantly more liquid water than that of the hydrophobic ones under the same temperature. When saturated vapor flows through rock porous patterns, capillarity further induces water condensation on the strongly water-wet surfaces. Water condensation, yet forming water bridges/islands and causing the blockage of vapor diffusion, enhances the vapor diffusion ability counterintuitively. The reduction of diffusion path is revealed as the main reason by assessing the local vapor pressure distribution before and after the pore filling by condensate. The findings support the debatable enhancement mechanisms postulated by Philip and de Vries. This work offers the insightful interfacial hydrodynamics of vapor transport in porous media and potentially provides operational guidance for geothermal applications and beyond.
(Less)
- author
- Li, Hongxia
; Li, Jiabao
; Yang, Shuo
LU
; Wang, Chengyao
and Wu, Zan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), Phase transition, Porous media, Vapor transport
- in
- International Journal of Multiphase Flow
- volume
- 177
- article number
- 104855
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85192718956
- ISSN
- 0301-9322
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2024.104855
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 878dcbf8-f3fd-4250-86fc-f9a062d3094f
- date added to LUP
- 2024-05-23 11:03:08
- date last changed
- 2024-05-23 11:04:06
@article{878dcbf8-f3fd-4250-86fc-f9a062d3094f,
abstract = {{<p>Vapor transport in porous media, often associated with liquid-vapor phase change, is an fundamental process in many emerging underground energy storage and extraction processes (i.e., seasonal solar thermal aquifer storage, geothermal extraction, extraterrestrial in-situ water extraction). By jointly using experimental imaging and numerical modeling at the micro-scale, we conduct mechanistic pore scale investigation of capillarity-dominated phase change dynamics and its influence on vapor transport in partially saturated porous rock micromodel. Strongly linked to surface roughness and wettability condition, the capillarity hinders water vaporization from rock surface micro/nano-structures as observed under the environmental scanning electron microscope. By varying the contact angle of 0°, 60°, and 120°, the lattice Boltzmann simulation shows the wettability-dependent vaporization process of capillary-hold water, where pores with hydrophilic surfaces contains significantly more liquid water than that of the hydrophobic ones under the same temperature. When saturated vapor flows through rock porous patterns, capillarity further induces water condensation on the strongly water-wet surfaces. Water condensation, yet forming water bridges/islands and causing the blockage of vapor diffusion, enhances the vapor diffusion ability counterintuitively. The reduction of diffusion path is revealed as the main reason by assessing the local vapor pressure distribution before and after the pore filling by condensate. The findings support the debatable enhancement mechanisms postulated by Philip and de Vries. This work offers the insightful interfacial hydrodynamics of vapor transport in porous media and potentially provides operational guidance for geothermal applications and beyond.</p>}},
author = {{Li, Hongxia and Li, Jiabao and Yang, Shuo and Wang, Chengyao and Wu, Zan}},
issn = {{0301-9322}},
keywords = {{Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM); Phase transition; Porous media; Vapor transport}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{International Journal of Multiphase Flow}},
title = {{Microscopic insights of phase-transition-induced vapor transport enhancement in porous media}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2024.104855}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2024.104855}},
volume = {{177}},
year = {{2024}},
}