Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel
A fundamental understanding of the flow of polymer solutions through the pore spaces of porous media is relevant and significant to enhanced oil recovery and groundwater remediation. We present in this work an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on non-Newtonian flows in a simple lab...
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/3/278 |
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| author | Purva P. Jagdale Di Li Xingchen Shao Joshua B. Bostwick Xiangchun Xuan |
| author_facet | Purva P. Jagdale Di Li Xingchen Shao Joshua B. Bostwick Xiangchun Xuan |
| author_sort | Purva P. Jagdale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A fundamental understanding of the flow of polymer solutions through the pore spaces of porous media is relevant and significant to enhanced oil recovery and groundwater remediation. We present in this work an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on non-Newtonian flows in a simple laboratory model of the real-world pores—a rectangular sudden contraction−expansion microchannel. We test four different polymer solutions with varying rheological properties, including xanthan gum (XG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and polyacrylamide (PAA). We compare their flows against that of pure water at the Reynolds (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) and Weissenburg (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>W</mi> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) numbers that each span several orders of magnitude. We use particle streakline imaging to visualize the flow at the contraction−expansion region for a comprehensive investigation of both the sole and the combined effects of fluid shear thinning, elasticity and inertia. The observed flow regimes and vortex development in each of the tested fluids are summarized in the dimensionless <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>W</mi> <mi>i</mi> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> parameter spaces, respectively, where <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> is the normalized vortex length. We find that fluid inertia draws symmetric vortices downstream at the expansion part of the microchannel. Fluid shear thinning causes symmetric vortices upstream at the contraction part. The effect of fluid elasticity is, however, complicated to analyze because of perhaps the strong impact of polymer chemistry such as rigidity and length. Interestingly, we find that the downstream vortices in the flow of Newtonian water, shear-thinning XG and elastic PVP solutions collapse into one curve in the <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> space. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c2a364898971495a865396c7d1795c352022-12-22T03:00:52ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2020-03-0111327810.3390/mi11030278mi11030278Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion MicrochannelPurva P. Jagdale0Di Li1Xingchen Shao2Joshua B. Bostwick3Xiangchun Xuan4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921 USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921 USAA fundamental understanding of the flow of polymer solutions through the pore spaces of porous media is relevant and significant to enhanced oil recovery and groundwater remediation. We present in this work an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on non-Newtonian flows in a simple laboratory model of the real-world pores—a rectangular sudden contraction−expansion microchannel. We test four different polymer solutions with varying rheological properties, including xanthan gum (XG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and polyacrylamide (PAA). We compare their flows against that of pure water at the Reynolds (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) and Weissenburg (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>W</mi> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) numbers that each span several orders of magnitude. We use particle streakline imaging to visualize the flow at the contraction−expansion region for a comprehensive investigation of both the sole and the combined effects of fluid shear thinning, elasticity and inertia. The observed flow regimes and vortex development in each of the tested fluids are summarized in the dimensionless <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>W</mi> <mi>i</mi> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> parameter spaces, respectively, where <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> is the normalized vortex length. We find that fluid inertia draws symmetric vortices downstream at the expansion part of the microchannel. Fluid shear thinning causes symmetric vortices upstream at the contraction part. The effect of fluid elasticity is, however, complicated to analyze because of perhaps the strong impact of polymer chemistry such as rigidity and length. Interestingly, we find that the downstream vortices in the flow of Newtonian water, shear-thinning XG and elastic PVP solutions collapse into one curve in the <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mi>χ</mi> <mi>L</mi> </msub> <mo>−</mo> <mi>R</mi> <mi>e</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> space.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/3/278non-newtonian fluidelasticityshear thinninginertiamicrofluidics |
| spellingShingle | Purva P. Jagdale Di Li Xingchen Shao Joshua B. Bostwick Xiangchun Xuan Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel Micromachines non-newtonian fluid elasticity shear thinning inertia microfluidics |
| title | Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel |
| title_full | Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel |
| title_fullStr | Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel |
| title_short | Fluid Rheological Effects on the Flow of Polymer Solutions in a Contraction–Expansion Microchannel |
| title_sort | fluid rheological effects on the flow of polymer solutions in a contraction expansion microchannel |
| topic | non-newtonian fluid elasticity shear thinning inertia microfluidics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/3/278 |
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