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Linear permeability evolution of expanding conduits due to feedback between flow and fast phase change
Author(s) -
Wang Lichun,
Cardenas M. Bayani
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl073161
Subject(s) - electrical conduit , dissolution , geology , damköhler numbers , permeability (electromagnetism) , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , calcite , petrology , mineralogy , turbulence , chemistry , physics , computer science , telecommunications , biochemistry , membrane
Conduits are ubiquitous and critical pathways for many fluids relevant for geophysical processes such as magma, water, and gases. Predicting flow through conduits is challenging when the conduit geometry coevolves with the flow. We theoretically show that the permeability ( k ) of a conduit whose walls are eroding due to fast phase change increases linearly with time because of a self‐reinforcing mechanism. This simple result is surprising given complex feedbacks between flow, transport, and phase change. The theory is congruent with previous experimental observations of fracture dissolution in calcite. Supporting computational fracture dissolution experiments showed that k only slightly increases until the dissolution front reaches the narrowest conduit constriction, after which the linear evolution of k manifests. The theory holds across multiple scales and a broad range of Peclet and Damkohler numbers and thus advances the prediction of dynamic mass fluxes through expanding conduits in various geologic and environmental settings.