Localization in Flow of Non-Newtonian Fluids Through Disordered Porous Media

We combine results of high-resolution microfluidic experiments with extensive numerical simulations to show how the flow patterns inside a swiss-cheese type of pore geometry can be systematically controlled through the intrinsic rheological properties of the fluid. Precisely, our analysis reveals that the velocity field in the interstitial pore space tends to display enhanced channeling under certain flow conditions. This observed flow localization, quantified by the spatial distribution of kinetic energy, can then be explained in terms of the strong interplay between the disordered geometry of the pore space and the nonlinear rheology of the fluid. Our results disclose the possibility that the constitutive properties of the fluid can enhance the performance of chemical reactors and chromatographic devices through control of the channeling patterns inside disordered porous media.

Automated summary

Through high-resolution microfluidic experiments and extensive numerical simulations, we demonstrate how the flow patterns inside a swiss-cheese type of pore geometry can be systematically controlled by the intrinsic rheological properties of the fluid. The observed flow localization can be explained by the strong interplay between the disordered geometry of the pore space and the nonlinear rheology of the fluid, highlighting the potential enhancement of chemical reactors and chromatographic devices by controlling the channeling patterns inside disordered porous media.