Microscale study on dynamics of particles in slurry filtrated through porous media

Abstract

In porous media, migration of particles in slurry is constrained, and most particles can be retained by the structure. As a result, the structure and topology of the porous media are altered, which, in turn, varies the fluid dynamics of both the fluid and particles. Clogging issues cause a reduction in flow by reducing permeability. The pore-clogging was predominantly determined by the size ratio between the opening of the pore throat and the diameter of the particles passing through. In this study, the fluid particle flow is simulated numerically to study the dynamics of transport and retention of particles in a microscale porous medium. The determinant effects of the volume fraction of particles and stokes number were primarily investigated on particle clogging. Meanwhile, the dynamics of the particles and fluid field were studied to evaluate the permeability of the porous media due to clogging in a microscale analysis.