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Nonlinear simulation of transverse flow interactions with chemically driven convective mixing in porous media
Author(s) -
Hejazi S. H.,
Azaiez J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1002/wrcr.20298
Subject(s) - transverse plane , buoyancy , chemical reaction , porous medium , mechanics , mixing (physics) , flow (mathematics) , materials science , homogeneous , viscosity , nonlinear system , convection , thermodynamics , porosity , chemistry , physics , composite material , biochemistry , structural engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering
Buoyancy‐driven hydrodynamic instabilities of a miscible reactive interface in a homogeneous porous medium is examined. A bimolecular chemical reaction (A+B→C) is triggered at the interface between two reactant solutions A and B resulting in a chemical product solution C with different density and the viscosity from those of the reactants. The effects of the chemical reaction and a transverse flow parallel to the initial interface between the reactants are numerically analyzed. It was found that as a result of the transverse flow, fingers with sharp concentration gradients tend to develop and advance fast downward leading to higher rates of chemical production. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the finger growth and the effects of buoyancy, transverse flow and chemical reaction allowed to reach a physical interpretation of the trends observed. Finally, a special tuning of the transverse velocity is proposed to ensure maximum or minimum chemical production applicable to subsurface flows.