Quantification of transport properties in microfluidic porous media

• Author / Creator

  Joseph,Jerry

• Quantification of transport properties at pore scale is important for efficient oil extraction, improving fuel cell performance etc. An experimental methodology is developed for calculating permeability and porosity in microfluidic devices that contain structured and unstructured porous media. First, fluid
  flow experiments are conducted in micro channels with integrated micropillars (MCIPs) that mimic structured porous media and the obtained results are compared with available theoretical predictions. It is also found that the resistance to flow is higher in square arrangement of micropillars than in stag-
  gered arrangement. Second, experiments are conducted in micro channels containing realistic reservoir pore networks etched in silicon. Analogous to real reservoirs, it is found that the permeability increases with porosity and the flow resistance decreases with increase in Darcy number. Finally, a Monte Carlo based simulation technique is provided for determination of effective gas
  diffusivity by using realistic images of such unstructured porous media.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Porous media
  • Porosity
  • Pressure drop
  • Permeability
  • Microfluidics

• Graduation date

  Fall 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3P55DR2G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.