arXiv subjects

Santanu Sinha

Publications and source records attributed to Santanu Sinha.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Flow-Area Relations in Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We present a theoretical framework for immiscible incompressible two-phase flow in homogeneous porous media that connects the distribution of local fluid velocities to the average seepage velocities. By dividing the pore area along a cross-section transversal to the average flow direction up into differential areas associated with the local flow velocities, we construct a distribution function that allows us not only to re-establish existing relationships between the seepage velocities of the immiscible fluids, but also to find new relations between their higher moments. We support and demonstrate the formalism through numerical simulations using a dynamic pore-network model for immiscible two-phase flow with two- and three-dimensional pore networks. Our numerical results are in agreement with the theoretical considerations.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2019

Effective rheology of two-phase flow in a capillary fiber bundle model

We investigate the effective rheology of two-phase flow in a bundle of parallel capillary tubes carrying two immiscible fluids under an external pressure drop. The diameter of each tube varies along its length and the corresponding capillary threshold pressures are considered to be distributed randomly according to a uniform probability distribution. We demonstrate through analytical calculations that a transition from a linear Darcy regime to a non-linear behavior occurs while decreasing the pressure drop $ΔP$, where the total flow rate $\langle Q \rangle$ varies with $ΔP$ with an exponent $2$. This exponent for the non-linear regime changes when a lower cut-off $P_m$ is introduced in the threshold distribution. We demonstrate analytically that, in the limit where $ΔP$ approaches $P_m$, the flow rate scales as $\langle Q \rangle \sim (|ΔP|-P_m)^{3/2}$. We have also provided some numerical results in support to our analytical findings.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2019

A Dynamic Network Simulator for Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We present in detail a set of algorithms to carry out fluid displacements in a dynamic pore-network model of immiscible two-phase flow in porous media. The algorithms are general and applicable to regular and irregular pore networks in two and three dimensions with different boundary conditions. Implementing these sets of algorithms, we describe a dynamic pore-network model and reproduce some of the fundamental properties of both the transient and steady-state two-phase flow. During drainage displacements, we show that the model can reproduce the flow patterns corresponding to viscous fingering, capillary fingering and stable displacement by altering the capillary number and the viscosity ratio. In steady-state flow, the model verifies the linear to non-linear transition of the effective rheological properties and satisfy the relations between the seepage velocities of two-phase flow in porous media.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Relations between Seepage Velocities in Immiscible, Incompressible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

Based on thermodynamic considerations we derive a set of equations relating the seepage velocities of the fluid components in immiscible and incompressible two-phase flow in porous media. They necessitate the introduction of a new velocity function, the co-moving velocity. This velocity function is a characteristic of the porous medium. Together with a constitutive relation between the velocities and the driving forces, such as the pressure gradient, these equations form a closed set. We solve four versions of the capillary tube model analytically using this theory. We test the theory numerically on a network model.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Rheology of High-Capillary Number Flow in Porous Media

Immiscible fluids flowing at high capillary numbers in porous media may be characterized by an effective viscosity. We demonstrate that the effective viscosity is well described by the Lichtenecker-Rother equation. The exponent $α$ in this equation takes either the value 1 or 0.6 in two- and 0.5 in three-dimensional systems depending on the pore geometry. Our arguments are based on analytical and numerical methods.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

A new set of equations describing immiscible two-phase flow in isotropic porous media

Based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics we derive a set of general equations relating the partial volumetric flow rates to each other and to the total volumetric flow rate in immiscible two-phase flow in porous media. These equations together with the conservation of saturation reduces the immiscible two-phase flow problem to a single-phase flow problem of a complex fluid. We discuss the new equation in terms of the relative permeability equations. We test the equations on model systems, both analytically and numerically.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

A Monte Carlo Algorithm for Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We present a Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm based on the Metropolis algorithm for simulation of the flow of two immiscible fluids in a porous medium under macroscopic steady-state conditions using a dynamical pore network model that tracks the motion of the fluid interfaces. The Monte Carlo algorithm is based on the configuration probability, where a configuration is defined by the positions of all fluid interfaces. We show that the configuration probability is proportional to the inverse of the flow rate. Using a two-dimensional network, advancing the interfaces using time integration the computational time scales as the linear system size to the fourth power, whereas the Monte Carlo computational time scales as the linear size to the second power. We discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of the algorithm.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

Effective Rheology of Two-phase Flow in Three-Dimensional Porous Media: Experiment and Simulation

We present an experimental and numerical study of immiscible two-phase flow in 3-dimensional (3D) porous media to find the relationship between the volumetric flow rate ($Q$) and the total pressure difference ($ΔP$) in the steady state. We show that in the regime where capillary forces compete with the viscous forces, the distribution of capillary barriers at the interfaces effectively creates a yield threshold, making the fluids reminiscent of a Bingham viscoplastic fluid in the porous medium, introducing a threshold pressure $P_t$. In this regime, $Q$ depends quadratically on an excess pressure drop ($ΔP-P_t$). While increasing the flow-rate, there is a transition, beyond which the flow is Newtonian and the relationship is linear. In our experiments, we build a model porous medium using a column of glass beads transporting two fluids -- de-ionized water and air. For the numerical study, reconstructed 3D pore-networks from real core samples are considered and the transport of wetting and non-wetting fluids through the network are modeled by tracking the fluid interfaces with time. We find agreement between our numerical and experimental results. Our results match the mean-field results reported earlier.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

Ensemble Distribution for Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We construct an ensemble distribution to describe steady immiscible two-phase flow of two incompressible fluids in a porous medium. The system is found to be ergodic. The distribution is used to compute macroscopic flow parameters. In particular, we find an expression for the overall mobility of the system from the ensemble distribution. The entropy production at the scale of the porous medium is shown to give the expected product of the average flow and its driving force, obtained from a black-box description. We test numerically some of the central theoretical results.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2015

Dynamic wettability alteration in immiscible two-phase flow in porous media: Effect on transport properties and critical slowing down

The change in contact angles due to the injection of low salinity water or any other wettability altering agent in an oil-rich porous medium is modeled by a network model of disordered pores transporting two immiscible fluids. We introduce a dynamic wettability altering mechanism, where the time dependent wetting property of each pore is determined by the cumulative flow of water through it. Simulations are performed to reach steady-state for different possible alterations in the wetting angle ($θ$). We find that deviation from oil-wet conditions re-mobilizes the stuck clusters and increases the oil fractional flow. However, the rate of increase in the fractional flow depends strongly on $θ$ and as $θ\to 90^\circ$, a critical angle, the system shows critical slowing down which is characterized by two dynamic critical exponents.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2015

The Local load sharing fiber bundle model in higher dimensions

We consider the local load sharing fiber bundle model in one to five dimensions. Depending on the breaking threshold distribution of the fibers, there is a transition where the fracture process becomes localized. In the localized phase, the model behaves as the invasion percolation model. The difference between the local load sharing fiber bundle model and the equal load sharing fiber bundle model decreases with increasing dimensionality as a power law.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2013

History-independence of steady-state in simultaneous two-phase flow through porous media

It is well known that the transient behavior during drainage or imbibition in multiphase flow in porous media strongly depends on the history and initial condition of the system. However, when the steady-state regime is reached and both drainage and imbibition take place at the pore level, the influence of the evolution history and initial preparation is an open question. Here, we present an extensive experimental and numerical work investigating the history dependence of simultaneous steady-state two-phase flow through porous media. Our experimental system consists of a Hele-Shaw cell filled with glass beads which we model numerically by a network of disordered pores transporting two immiscible fluids. From the measurements of global pressure evolution, histogram of saturation and cluster-size distributions, we find that when both phases are flowing through the porous medium, the steady state does not depend on the initial preparation of the system or on the way it has been reached.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Effective Rheology of Bubbles Moving in a Capillary Tube

We calculate the average volumetric flux versus pressure drop of bubbles moving in a single capillary tube with varying diameter, finding a square-root relation from mapping the flow equations onto that of a driven overdamped pendulum. The calculation is based on a derivation of the equation of motion of a bubble train from considering the capillary forces and the entropy production associated with the viscous flow. We also calculate the configurational probability of the positions of the bubbles.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Effective Rheology of Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We demonstrate through numerical simulations and a mean field calculation that immiscible two-phase flow in a porous medium behaves effectively as a Bingham viscoplastic fluid. This leads to a generalized Darcy equation where the volumetric flow rate depends quadratically on an excess pressure difference in the range of flow rates where the capillary forces compete with the viscous forces. At higher rates, the flow is Newtonian.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Local Wettability Reversal during Steady-State Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

We study the effect of local wettability reversal on remobilizing immobile fluid clusters in steady-state two-phase flow in porous media. We consider a two dimensional network model for porous medium and introduce a wettability alteration mechanism. A qualitative change in the steady state flow patterns, destabilizing the percolating and trapped clusters, is observed as the system wettability is varied. When capillary forces are strong a finite wettability alteration is necessary to move the system from single-phase to two-phase flow regime. For the case of both phases being mobile we find a linear relationship between fractional flow and wettability alteration.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2008

Finite-Size Scaling for Directed Percolation Models

A simple finite-size scaling theory is proposed here for anisotropic percolation models considering the cluster size distribution function as generalized homogeneous function of the system size and two connectivity lengths. The proposed scaling theory has been verified numerically on two different anisotropic percolation models.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Multifractality in Rotational Percolation Models

In rotationally constrained percolation models, a site of a percolation cluster could be occupied more than once from different directions due to the nature of the rotational constraint. A state variable $s_i$ is assigned to each lattice site whose value corresponds to the number times it has been visited during the growth of a cluster. It is proposed here that the percolation transition and the multifractal aspects of infinite percolation clusters under rotational constraint can be studied defining suitable measures in terms of the state variable $s_i$. This method does not require to introduce any external agency like an electric current or a random walker in order to explore multifractality as in the case of ordinary percolation. The state variable representation also describes the universality class of the percolation models appropriately.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2005

Effect of Field Direction and Field Intensity on Directed Spiral Percolation

Directed spiral percolation (DSP) is a new percolation model with crossed external bias fields. Since percolation is a model of disorder, the effect of external bias fields on the properties of disordered systems can be studied numerically using DSP. In DSP, the bias fields are an in-plane directional field ($E$) and a field of rotational nature ($B$) applied perpendicular to the plane of the lattice. The critical properties of DSP clusters are studied here varying the direction of $E$ field and intensities of both $E$ and $B$ fields in 2 dimensions. The system shows interesting and unusual critical behaviour at the percolation threshold. Not only the universality class of DSP model is found to belong in a new universality class than that of other percolation models but also the universality class remains invariant under the variation of $E$ field direction. Varying the intensities of the $E$ and $B$ fields, a crossover from DSP to other percolation models has been studied. A phase diagram of the percolation models is obtained as a function of intensities of the bias fields $E$ and $B$.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗