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Methodology for the nonlinear coupled multi‐physics simulation of mineral dissolution
Author(s) -
Li Li,
Rivas Endrina,
Gracie Robert,
Dusseault Maurice B.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.3262
Subject(s) - dissolution , mechanics , nonlinear system , brine , vortex , flow (mathematics) , geology , mineralogy , materials science , physics , thermodynamics , chemistry , quantum mechanics
This article presents a numerical methodology for the simulation of mineral dissolution which couples brine flow, dissolved mineral transport, and cavity evolution. The proposed model considers both (1) the varying density brine flow within the cavity governed by the compressible Navier‐Stokes equations and (2) the evolution of the cavity boundary using a sharp interface model with a physically‐derived dissolution rate equation. The proposed nonlinear multi‐physics model can capture complex flow patterns such as the generation of a vortex in the cavity. The impact of those complex flow patterns on the cavity development can be studied because of the coupling of brine flow and dissolution front movement. The model employs a new strategy to explicitly track the dissolution front, which results in low computational cost for long‐term dissolution simulations. The proposed model is verified through a convergence analysis, showing both spatial and temporal convergence. Numerical simulations of mineral dissolution in horizontal cavities are conducted to investigate the flow velocity, mass fraction of dissolved mineral, cavity shape evolution, and dissolution rate over time. Additionally, a discussion on the effect of Peclet number on mineral dissolution in the cavity is undertaken.