APS Logo

Immiscible Fluid Disposition and Permeability in Thin Porous Structures

ORAL

Abstract

The disposition of immiscible fluid phases in porous media is a key characteristic determining multiphase transport properties within a structure. For bulk porous media, the saturation/capillary pressure and saturation/permeability relationships describe this mechanism and have been characterized for a wide array of porous structures. For thin porous structures without delineated internal pores, such as free standing meshes, these relationships are less clearly defined. Here we measure the effective permeability of metallic mesh with liquid-vapor interfaces at both sides at a range of capillary pressures. As expected, increasing capillary pressure reduces the liquid volume present in the structure and the corresponding permeability. We characterize the evolution of the liquid vapor meniscus with capillary pressure and relate this to the measured flow resistance. We also explore the degree to which these results can be generalized via dimensional analysis of the capillary pressure/permeability relationship. Finally, we consider the design of porous structures for specific two-phase transport problems such as liquid-vapor phase change heat transfer.

Publication: A Method to Determine Permeability of Single-Layer-Free-Standing Copper Mesh at Different Capillary Pressures.

Presenters

  • Muhammad R Shattique

    University of California, Merced

Authors

  • Muhammad R Shattique

    University of California, Merced

  • Kamila Ramirez

    University of California, Merced

  • George Montross

    University of California, Merced

  • Amani Byron

    University of California, Merced

  • Carlos Cruz

    University of California, Merced

  • Roman Giglio

    University of California, Merced

  • Ercan M. Dede

    Electronics Research Department, Toyota Research Institute of North America

  • Mehdi Asheghi

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford University

  • Kenneth E E Goodson

    Stanford University, USA, Stanford Univ, Stanford University

  • James W Palko

    University of California, Merced