A new friction factor correlation for laminar, single-phase flows through rock fractures

摘要: Single-phase flow through fractured media occurs in various situations, such as transport of dissolved contaminants geological strata, sequestration carbon dioxide depleted gas reservoirs, and primary oil recovery. In the present study, fluid flows a rock fracture were simulated. The geometry was obtained from CT scans produced by Brazilian method sandstone sample. A post-processing code using CAD package developed used to generate three-dimensional scan data. Several sections along considered Gambit™ unstructured grids for simulations. FLUENT™ analyze conditions section different rates. Because small aperture fractures, gravitational effects could be neglected. It confirmed that pressure drop dominated smallest passages fracture. accuracy parallel plate models estimating drops fractures studied. shown model with use an appropriate effective inclusion tortuosity factor provide reasonable estimates On basis CFD simulation data, new expression friction developed. predictions compared results favorable agreement found. when length mean standard deviation are known, loss function rate estimated. These findings may prove useful design lab experiments, computational studied real or inclusions simulators large-scale highly rocks.