The influence of porous medium characteristics and measurement scale on pore-scale distributions of residual nonaqueous-phase liquids

摘要: Abstract A series of experiments was performed to characterize the morphologic distribution nonaqueous-phase liquids (NAPL's) at residual saturation, as a function porous medium size. Morphologic characterization NAPL distributions accomplished using novel in situ polymerization technique. The consisted glass beads. Blob length, volume and shape characteristics were determined for each experiment, pore size through capillary pressure-saturation experiments. Both blob lenght fitted van Genuchten function. data could be scaled with same averaged characteristics. length found wider than distributions. Estimates representative elementary volumes (REV's) generated from statistical analysis cumulative frequency an empirical length. Simulations also Monte Carlo method. REV needed given level prediction saturation increase mean particle similar used this study. Extrapolation suggests that will rapidly uniformity decreases. If extrapolation holds true, significant uncertainty would exist most determination poorly sorted media have been reported date.