Iterative Coupled Experimental-numerical Evaluation of Dispersivity in Fractured Porous Media Using Micromodel System

摘要

In this study a new iterative algorithm is developed to evaluate dispersivity in fracture and matrix, distinctly. The novelty of proposed algorithm is using mathematical model of solute transport in fractured porous media coupled with experimental data iteratively.Afractured glass micromodel has been designed to visualize the interaction between fracture and matrix during displacement of n-Decane by n-Octane at constant rate. The similarity between numerical and experimental model has been enhanced by reducing the assumptions which were applied in previous related studies. The iteration is performed on velocity components of solute transport and longitudinal as well as transversal dispersivity values. The results of this work illustrate the successful application of a new coupled numerical-experimental iterative algorithm for evaluating solute dispersivities in fractured porous media. The major significance of this work is the robustness of proposed iterative algorithm which results same dispersivity values at different initial guesses. The proposed method could be useful for studying effective parameters such as injection rate and geometry of fracture and matrix on the dispersivity value, and the behavior of dispersivity value with time and traveled distance, which are still subject of challenge in literature.