On the experimental evaluation of permeability in porous media using a gas flow method

Several studies indicate that experimental determination of porous medium permeability by a gas flow method may be influenced by gas properties and ambient temperature. In order to explain these influences, a very simple model is developed based on the idea that the flow in the porous medium may results from both pressure-driven and free molecular flows. Measurements of the permeability of sand and a woven fibrous material performed with air and helium flows seem to corroborate this view. Based on the approach developed, we also study the phenomenon known as slip, and a methodology to quantify the slip length is presented.