Pore scale mixing and macroscopic solute dispersion regimes in polymer flows inside 2D model networks

Abstract

A change of solute dispersion regime with the flow velocity has been studied both at the macroscopic and pore scales in a transparent array of capillary channels using an optical technique allowing for simultaneous local and global concentration mappings. Two solutions of different polymer concentrations (500 and 1000 ppm) have been used at different P\'eclet numbers. At the macroscopic scale, the displacement front displays a diffusive spreading: for $Pe \leq 10$, the dispersivity $l\_d$ is constant with $Pe$ and increases with the polymer concentration; for $Pe > 10$, $l\_d$ increases as $Pe^{1.35}$ and is similar for the two concentrations. At the local scale, a time lag between the saturations of channels parallel and perpendicular to the mean flow has been observed and studied as a function of the flow rate. These local measurements suggest that the change of dispersion regime is related to variations of the degree of mixing at the junctions. For $Pe \leq 10$, complete mixing leads to pure geometrical dispersion enhanced for shear thinning fluids; for $Pe >10$ weaker mixing results in higher correlation lengths along flow paths parallel to the mean flow and in a combination of geometrical and Taylor dispersion.