Microfluidic systems for the analysis of viscoelastic fluid flow phenomena in porous media

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics volume 12, pages485–498(2012)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, two microfluidic devices are proposed as simplified 1-D microfluidic analogues of a porous medium. The objectives are twofold: firstly to assess the usefulness of the microchannels to mimic the porous medium in a controlled and simplified manner, and secondly to obtain a better insight about the flow characteristics of viscoelastic fluids flowing through a packed bed. For these purposes, flow visualizations and pressure drop measurements are conducted with Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids. The 1-D microfluidic analogues of porous medium consisted of microchannels with a sequence of contractions/expansions disposed in symmetric and asymmetric arrangements. The real porous medium is in reality, a complex combination of the two arrangements of particles simulated with the microchannels, which can be considered as limiting ideal configurations. The results show that both configurations are able to mimic well the pressure drop variation with flow rate for Newtonian fluids. However, due to the intrinsic differences in the deformation rate profiles associated with each microgeometry, the symmetric configuration is more suitable for studying the flow of viscoelastic fluids at low De values, while the asymmetric configuration provides better results at high De values. In this way, both microgeometries seem to be complementary and could be interesting tools to obtain a better insight about the flow of viscoelastic fluids through a porous medium. Such model systems could be very interesting to use in polymer-flood processes for enhanced oil recovery, for instance, as a tool for selecting the most suitable viscoelastic fluid to be used in a specific formation. The selection of the fluid properties of a detergent for cleaning oil contaminated soil, sand, and in general, any porous material, is another possible application.

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Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), COMPETE and FEDER through projects PTDC/EQU-FTT/71800/2006, REEQ/262/EME/2005 and PTDC/EME-MFE/99109/2008. SEM images were taken at CEMUP, which is grateful for the financial support to FCT through projects REEQ/1062/CTM/2005 and REDE/1512/RME/2005. The technical support of L.C. Matos is also acknowledged. F.J. Galindo-Rosales would like to acknowledge FCT for financial support (SFRH/BPD/69663/2010). M.A. Alves acknowledges the Chemical Engineering Department of FEUP for conceding a sabbatical leave.

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Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudos de Fenómenos de Transporte (CEFT), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    F. J. Galindo-Rosales, E. van Bokhorst, M. S. N. Oliveira & M. A. Alves

  2. Centro de Estudos de Fenómenos de Transporte (CEFT), Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    L. Campo-Deaño & F. T. Pinho

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL, Delft, The Netherlands

    E. van Bokhorst & P. J. Hamersma

Authors
  1. F. J. Galindo-Rosales
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  2. L. Campo-Deaño
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  3. F. T. Pinho
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  4. E. van Bokhorst
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  5. P. J. Hamersma
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  6. M. S. N. Oliveira
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  7. M. A. Alves
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Correspondence to F. J. Galindo-Rosales.

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Galindo-Rosales, F.J., Campo-Deaño, L., Pinho, F.T. et al. Microfluidic systems for the analysis of viscoelastic fluid flow phenomena in porous media. Microfluid Nanofluid 12, 485–498 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-011-0890-6

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Keywords

  • Microfluidics
  • Porous media
  • Rheology
  • Contraction-expansion
  • Viscoelastic fluids