On the problem of optimal fluid transport in capillaries

Abstract

In this note, we revisit the problem of the pressure-driven transport of a meniscus through a narrow cylindrical capillary or pore. This generic process finds many applications in science and technology. As it is known that Direct Numerical Simulations of moving contact line problems are highly demanding in terms of computational costs, simplified models in the form of ordinary differential equations offer an interesting alternative to perform a mathematical optimization of the flow. Blake and De Coninck studied the pressure-driven transport of a meniscus and identified two major competing mechanisms. While a hydrophilic surface is favorable to enhance the spontaneous imbibition into the pore, the friction is known to be significantly reduced on a hydrophobic surface. Blake and De Coninck showed that, depending on the applied pressure difference, there exists an optimal wettability that minimizes the time required to move the meniscus over a certain distance. We revisit this problem and derive analytical solutions in the limiting cases of negligible inertia and negligible contact line friction.