Enhanced removal of DNAPL trapped in porous media using simultaneous injection of cosolvent with air: influencing factors and removal mechanisms

Factors influencing dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) removal by concurrent injection of cosolvent and air were evaluated using micromodels and visualization techniques. Cosolvent (ethanol/water) was injected simultaneously with air into glass micromodels containing residual perchloroethylene (PCE). Impacts of the air flow rates and PCE solubility in the remedial fluid on PCE removal processes were examined. Although two major processes, immiscible displacement and dissolution, may contribute PCE removal from porous media during cosolvent-air (CA) flooding, PCE displacement occurred only in the initial flooding period and was independent of the air flow rate and ethanol content. However, faster airflow through the porous medium improved remedial fluid distribution and dynamics and resulted in enhanced dissolution of the DNAPL. Dissolution rates were directly related to PCE solubility in the remedial fluid. Enhanced contact between cosolvent and DNAPL during CA flooding was observed in a non-homogeneous micromodel with random flow paths.     

Effects of pure and dyed PCE on physical and interfacial properties of remedial solutions

Hydrophobic dyes have been used to visually distinguish dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contaminants from background aqueous phases and soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dyed DNAPL, 0.5 g Oil-Red-O/l of PCE, on the physical properties of remedial solutions: water, co-solvents (50, 70, and 90% (v/v) ethanol), and surfactants (4% (w) sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate). This study compared the densities, viscosities, and interfacial tensions (IFTs) of the remedial solutions in contact with both dyed and undyed PCE. The presence of the dye in PCE substantially alters the IFTs of water and ethanol solutions, while there is no apparent difference in IFTs of surfactant solutions. The remedial solutions saturated with PCE showed higher viscosities and densities than pure remedial solutions. Solutions with high ethanol content exhibited the largest increases in liquid density. Because physical properties affect the flow of the remedial solutions in porous media, experiments using dyed DNAPLs should assess the influence of dyes on fluid and interfacial properties prior to remediation process analysis.     

Chemical oxidation of chlorinated non-aqueous phase liquid by hydrogen peroxide in natural sand systems

This study explored the Fenton-like oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) existing as dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in natural silica sand (iron=0.04 g/kg) and the sand from an aquifer (iron=2.01 g/kg). Glass bead containing no iron mineral was used as the control. Batch oxidation experiments were conducted to assess interactions between oxidant and TCE DNAPL. Column experiments were performed to evaluate dynamics of TCE and H(2)O(2) during oxidation. The pH was not altered. In the batch system, a single application of 3% H(2)O(2) to the aquifer sand oxidized 40% of the added TCE DNAPL in 1 h, which was four times of that by dissolution with the gas purge procedure. This demonstrated the ability of mineral-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction to directly oxidize TCE in non-aqueous liquid. In the column experiments, after passing 7 pore volumes (PVs) of 1.5 and 3% H(2)O(2) solution, the residual TCE in aquifer sand column was 12.0 and 2.6% of the initial added, respectively. On the other hand, 28.4% of the added TCE still remained in the silica sand column by 7 PVs of 3% H(2)O(2). The distribution of TCE in column and effluent indicated the occurring of direct oxidation of TCE DNAPL and the increased solubilization, which probably due to size reduction of DNAPL droplets, followed by water-phased TCE oxidation.     

Microgravity investigations of instability and mixing flux in frontal displacement of fluids

The goal of the present study is to investigate analytically, numerically and experimentally the instability of the displacement of viscous fluid by a less viscous one in a two-dimensional channel, and to determine characteristic size of entrapment zones. Experiments on miscible displacement of fluids in Hele-Shaw cells were conducted under microgravity conditions. Extensive direct numerical simulations allowed to investigate the sensitivity of the displacement process to variation of values of the main governing parameters. Validation of the code was performed by comparing the results of model problems simulations with experiments and with the existing solutions published in literature. Taking into account non-linear effects in fluids displacement allowed to explain new experimental results on the pear-shape of fingers and periodical separation of their tip elements from the main body of displacing fluid. Those separated blobs of less viscous fluid move much faster than the mean flow of the displaced viscous fluid. The results of numerical simulations processed based on the dimensions analysis allow to introduce criteria characterizing the quality of displacement. The functional dependence of the dimensionless criteria on the values of governing parameters needs further investigations.     

采用超临界CO2流体清除硅芯片上的纳米粒子

分析了Cu和Au纳米粒子在硅芯片表面的各种黏结机理,表明金属及其氧化物纳米粒子与硅芯片表面的主要黏结力为范德瓦耳斯力、静电双层吸引力和毛细吸附力．建立了高速流体清除纳米粒子的动力学模型,表明超临界CO2流体清除纳米粒子的机制是以滚动清除为主．与高压CO2气体相比,超临界CO2流体的密度高,有效增加了作用在纳米粒子上的拖拉力,同时消除了毛细吸附力,所以可以显著提高纳米粒子的清除效率．当超临界CO2流体的速度达到10．4m／s时,即可将直径为30nm的金属铜污染粒子清除掉;随着流体速度的增加,可清除更加微小的粒子．     

Correlation model to predict residual immiscible organic contaminants in sandy soils

Researchers in both environmental and petroleum engineering have conducted studies in one-dimensional columns to quantify the amount of residual nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPL) trapped in the porous media as a function of capillary, viscous and buoyancy forces. From these previous studies, it is proven that significant amounts of the original NAPL spill remain as a trapped residual. The objective of this research was to extend this body of work and to develop a correlation model that could predict residual NAPL saturation as a function of common soil characteristics and fluid properties. These properties include parameters derived from sieve analysis, namely, the uniformity coefficient (C(u)), the coefficient of gradation (C(c)), as well as fluid properties (interfacial tension, viscosity and density). Over 100 column experiments were conducted across a range of nine different soil gradations. The data produced by these tests, along with measured soil and fluid properties, were used to generate correlation models to predict residual NAPL saturation (S(rn)). The first correlation model predicts S(rn) for the region where residual NAPL saturation is independent of the capillary number, and dependent on C(u), C(c) and the Bond number. The second correlation model predicts S(rn) for the region where residual NAPL saturation is dependent on capillary number, as well as C(u), C(c) and the Bond number. The third correlation model predicts S(rn) over the entire region as a function of C(u), C(c) and the total trapping number. The correlation models have a R(2) value of 0.972, 0.934 and 0.825, respectively. Hence, the models may potentially be integrated into site characterization approaches.     

Thermophoretically driven capillary transport of nanofluid in a microchannel

We investigate the interplay of thermophoretic force and interfacial tension on the capillary filling dynamics of a Newtonian nanofluid in a microchannel. In our model, we also consider an intricate thermofluidic coupling by taking the temperature dependence of viscosity aptly into account. This, in turn, determines the evolution of the viscous resistive force as the capillary front progresses, and presents an involved inter-connection between the driving thermophoretic force and the viscous resistive force. The two distinct regimes of particle transport in a fluid medium, delineated by particle size, are expounded to peruse the impact of imposed thermal gradients and particle size on particle retaining propensity of the nanofluid. Additionally, we witness a significant reduction in particle bearing proclivity of the nanofluid with enhancement in a thermal gradient. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the thermophoretic actuation towards the filling of narrow capillaries under the influence of a thermal gradient.     

Dynamic forces on an immersed cylindrical tube and analysis of particle interaction in 2D-gas fluidized beds

The interactions of bubbles and particles with fixed cylindrical tubes in two-dimensional fluidized beds were investigated by experiments and by simulations, based on results for single bubbles impinging on a tube. The experimental results based on PIV analysis support our previous force origin model and indicate that the model is able to successfully model bubble behavior and particle motion around fixed objects. The simulation results give useful predictions, dynamic force induced on a tube consists of the force from pressure gradient, fluid viscous force and particle contact force. The predominant force component is from the pressure gradient. As bubbles directly interact with a tube, the particle contact force contribution briefly becomes predominant.Bubble behavior and particle motion are greatly affected by the state of the emulsion phase as the medium of the fluidized bed into which gas is injected. Hence the dynamic forces on immersed objects are directly affected by the state of the emulsion phase.     

Hydrodynamic permeability of membranes built up by spherical particles covered by porous shells: effect of stress jump condition

This paper concerns the flow of an incompressible, viscous fluid past a porous spherical particle enclosing a solid core, using particle-in-cell method. The Brinkman’s equation in the porous region and the Stokes equation for clear fluid are used. At the fluid–porous interface, the stress jump boundary condition for the tangential stresses along with continuity of normal stress and velocity components are employed. No-slip and impenetrability boundary conditions on the solid spherical core have been used. The hydrodynamic drag force experienced by a porous spherical particle enclosing a solid core and permeability of membrane built up by solid particles with a porous shell are evaluated. It is found that the hydrodynamic drag force and dimensionless hydrodynamic permeability depends not only on the porous shell thickness, particle volume fraction γ and viscosities of porous and fluid medium, but also on the stress jump coefficient. Four known boundary conditions on the hypothetical surface are considered and compared: Happel’s, Kuwabara’s, Kvashnin’s and Cunningham’s (Mehta–Morse’s condition). Some previous results for the hydrodynamic drag force and dimensionless hydrodynamic permeability have been verified.     

Application of surfactant enhanced permanganate oxidation and bidegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater

The industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) is among the most ubiquitous chlorinated solvents found in groundwater contamination. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of using non-ionic surfactant Simple Green™ (SG) to enhance the oxidative dechlorination of TCE by potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) employing a continuous stir batch reactor system (CSBR) and column experiments. The effect of using surfactant SG to enhance the biodegradation of TCE via aerobic cometabolism was also examined. Results from CSBR experiments revealed that combination of KMnO₄ with surfactant SG significantly enhanced contaminant removal, particularly when the surfactant SG concentrated at its CMC. TCE degradation rates ranged from 74.1% to 85.7% without addition of surfactant SG while TCE degradation rates increased to ranging from 83.8% to 96.3% with presence of 0.1 wt% SG. Furthermore, results from column experiments showed that TCE was degraded from 38.1 μM to 6.2 μM in equivalent to 83.7% of TCE oxidation during first 560 min reaction. This study has also demonstrated that the addition of surfactant SG is a feasible method to enhance bioremediation efficiency for TCE contaminated groundwater. The complete TCE degradation was detected after 75 days of incubation with both 0.01 and 0.1 wt% of surfactant SG addition. Results revealed that surfactant enhanced chemical oxidation and bioremediation technology is one of feasible approaches to clean up TCE contaminated groundwater.     

Surface periarterial spaces of the mouse brain are open,not porous

Fluid-dynamic models of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain have treated the perivascular spaces either as open (without internal solid obstacles) or as porous. Here, we present experimental evidence that pial (surface) periarterial spaces in mice are essentially open. (1) Paths of particles in the perivascular spaces are smooth, as expected for viscous flow in an open vessel, not diffusive, as expected for flow in a porous medium. (2) Time-averaged velocity profiles in periarterial spaces agree closely with theoretical profiles for viscous flow in realistic models, but not with the nearly uniform profiles expected for porous medium. Because these spaces are open, they have much lower hydraulic resistance than if they were porous. To demonstrate, we compute hydraulic resistance for realistic periarterial spaces, both open and porous, and show that the resistance of the porous spaces are greater, typically by a factor of a hundred or more. The open nature of these periarterial spaces allows significantly greater flow rates and more efficient removal of metabolic waste products.     

Centrifuge modeling of air sparging - a study of air flow through saturated porous media

The success of air sparging as a remedial technology for treatment of contaminated aquifers is well documented. However, there is no consensus, to date, on the mechanisms that control the flow of injected air through the saturated ground. Currently, only qualitative results from laboratory experiments are available to predict the zone of influence of a sparging well. Given that the patterns of air flow through the soil will ultimately determine the efficiency of an air sparging treatment, it is important to quantify how sparged air travels through a saturated porous medium. The main objective of this research is to develop a model that describes air transport through saturated porous media. This paper presents results from an ongoing study that employs centrifuge modeling to reproduce in situ air sparging conditions. Centrifuge testing is an experimental technique that allows reduced-scale duplication, in the laboratory, of the stresses and pressure distributions encountered in the field. In situ conditions are critical in the development of actual air flow patterns. Experiments are being conducted in a transparent porous medium consisting of crushed borosilicate glass submerged in fluids of matching indices of refraction. Air is observed as it flows through the porous medium at varying gravitational accelerations. Recorded images of experiments allow the determination of flow patterns, breakthrough velocities, and plume shapes as a function of g-level and injection pressure. Results show that air flow patterns vary from fingering, at low g-levels, to pulsing at higher accelerations. Grain and pore size distribution of the porous medium do not exclusively control air flow characteristics. Injector geometry has a definite effect on breakthrough velocities and air plume shapes. Experiments have been conducted to compare the velocity of air flow through the saturated porous medium to that of air in pure liquids. Results show that the velocity of air through the medium is lower than that in the pure fluid, as expected. At high g-levels however, plume breakthrough velocities are proportional to the velocity of the air in the pure fluid.     

Si芯片表面纳米粒子的粘结力及其干法清除

系统地研究了纳米粒子在硅芯片表面的各种附着力,如范德瓦耳斯力、塑性形变吸附力、毛细现象凝聚力、静电力和重力附加力,以及高速流体对它的拖动力和提拉力,并简单计算了在各种情况下这些力的大小。介绍了干法清除纳米污染物的几种新方法,如超临界流体清除法、高速气凝胶清除法、激光清除法、气相化学清除法和光化学清除法。     

A Theoretical Study of the Pressure for Liquid Metal Infiltration of a Fiber Preform

A theoretical model has been established for calculating the infiltration pressure of metal melt into the preform of ceramic fibers according to the basic principle of hydromechanics. There are three forces acting on the infiltration process in the model, i.e. viscous friction, capillary force, and gravity The effects of the volume fraction of fibers (Vf) and infiltrating depth on the infiltration pressure are discussed. The results show that the infiltration pressure increases with the increase of fiber volume fraction and infiltration depth. There is a linear relationship between infiltration pressure and infiltiation depth. The effect of gravity on the infiltration pressure can be ignored     

Analysis of vapor condensation in porous media

Abstract

The present work analyzes the problem of vapor condensation in porous media. Specific consideration is given to a transient‐state one‐dimensional formulation, representing a porous slab exposed to the saturated vapor from one side and the cold plate on the other side. When condensation occurs, three zones will exist inside the porous medium. Near the cold plate, a liquid zone is expected. Adjacent to this zone and extending into the medium will be a two‐phase zone which is dominated by capillary and vapor phase transport. Ahead of this zone the medium will remain saturated with vapor phase. Predictions from the three‐zone model used in this study have been compared with the two‐zone model which neglects the effect of surface tension forces. The results show that the two‐zone model can only predict the condensation phenomena in low permeability media. Capillary pressure or surface tension effects become significant and cannot be neglected during the condensation of vapor in high permeability media.     

Hydrophobic,Electrostatic, and Dynamic Polymer Forces at Silicone Surfaces Modified with Long‐Chain Bolaform Surfactants

Surfactant self‐assembly on surfaces is an effective way to tailor the complex forces at and between hydrophobic‐water interfaces. Here, the range of structures and forces that are possible at surfactant‐adsorbed hydrophobic surfaces are demonstrated: certain long‐chain bolaform surfactants—containing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mid‐block domain and two cationic α, ω‐quarternary ammonium end‐groups—readily adsorb onto thin PDMS films and form dynamically fluctuating nanostructures. Through measurements with the surface forces apparatus (SFA), it is found that these soft protruding nanostructures display polymer‐like exploration behavior at the PDMS surface and give rise to a long‐ranged, temperature‐ and rate‐dependent attractive bridging force (not due to viscous forces) on approach to a hydrophilic bare mica surface. Coulombic interactions between the cationic surfactant end‐groups and negatively‐charged mica result in a rate‐dependent polymer bridging force during separation as the hydrophobic surfactant mid‐blocks are pulled out from the PDMS interface, yielding strong adhesion energies. Thus, (i) the versatile array of surfactant structures that may form at hydrophobic surfaces is highlighted, (ii) the need to consider the interaction dynamics of such self‐assembled polymer layers is emphasized, and (iii) it is shown that long‐chain surfactants can promote robust adhesion in aqueous solutions.     

Wave field simulation for heterogeneous transversely isotropic porous media with the JKD dynamic permeability

Poroelastic wave field in a 2D heterogeneous transversely isotropic porous medium is calculated. The Johnson-Koplik-Dashen (JKD) dynamic permeability is assumed with two scalar JKD permeability operators for vertical and horizontal direction, respectively. The time domain expression of drag force in the JKD model is expressed in terms of the shifted fractional derivative of the relative fluid velocity. A method for calculating the shifted fractional derivative without storing and integrating of the entire velocity histories is developed. By using the new method for calculating the shifted fractional derivative, the governing equations for the 2D transversely isotropic porous medium are reduced to a system of first-order differential equations for velocities, stresses, pore pressure and the quadrature variables associated with the drag forces. The spatial derivatives involved in the first-order differential equation system are calculated by the Fourier pseudospectral method, while the time derivatives of the system are discretized by a predictor-corrector method. For the demonstration of our method, some numerical results are given in the paper.     

Viscous dissipative power density function for poroelastic saturated materials at high frequencies

A viscous dissipative power density function is defined for poroelastic saturated materials at high frequencies. In the framework of Biot’s general theory of acoustics of poroelastic materials, the correction factor of the flow resistance of the fluid from low to high frequencies is derived from the power density function. For this aim the dissipative forces per unit volume are obtained from the viscous dissipative power density. The complex dynamic correction function of the viscosity is derived for the motion of a fluid limited by two parallel planes’ boundaries. It is also derived for the motion of a fluid in a cylindrical duct. Analytical solutions and impedance tube test results on air saturated porous metals are compared to validate the viscous dissipative power density up to frequencies of 6 kHz. A second comparison is performed for kerosene saturated porous metals. Finally, a validation is performed using ultrasonic experiments on water saturated bones.     

On the performance of narrow porous journal bearing lubricated with couple stress fluid

Summary In the present analysis an attempt has been made to study the performance characteristics of a narrow porous journal bearing lubricated with couple stress fluid. A modified form of Reynolds equation is derived for the lubrication of porous journal bearings with couple stress fluid as lubricant. The analysis takes into account the velocity slip at the surface of a porous medium by using Beavers-Joseph criterion. The governing equation for flow in the porous media and the modified Reynolds equation derived from the Stokes [1] constistutive equations for the couple stress fluid satisfying the velocity slip boundary condition, are solved analytically for the film pressure distribution. Eigen type of expansions for the field variations are obtained. The dimensionless load capacity, attitude angle and coefficient of friction are presented for different operating parameters. The effect of couple stress and velocity slip on the dynamic characteristics of narrow porous journal bearings are discussed. It is observed that the bearings with couple stress fluid as lubricant provide significant load carrying capacity and ensure considerable reduction in the coefficient of friction compared with viscous lubricants.