Transparent aquabeads to visualize flow in porous material

Kazunori Tabe, Magued Iskander, Shigeo Honma

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Use of transparent synthetic soils to visualize flow problems has recently been developed with an optical system and digital image processing. This paper proposes a new water-based transparent material called Aquabeads suitable for modeling natural soils. As feasibility of using Aquabeads to visualize geoenvironmental problems, surfactant flushing tests were conducted to simulate Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) ganglia transport through Aquabeads model with clay lens was performed. The upward migration of motor oil ganglia during surfactant flushing was visualized. Aquabeads possess advantages over available transparent synthetic soils; water-based material, similar macroscopic hydraulic characteristics to natural soils, compatible with water- oil- selected surfactants-alcohols used for simulating multiphase flow. Therefore, it is ideal for visualizing 2D flow, and soil contamination problems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvanced Materials
Pages2602-2605
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event2011 International Conference on Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, CEAM 2011 - Changsha, China
Duration: May 28 2011May 30 2011

Publication series

NameAdvanced Materials Research
Volume239-242
ISSN (Print)1022-6680

Other

Other2011 International Conference on Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, CEAM 2011
Country/TerritoryChina
CityChangsha
Period5/28/115/30/11

Keywords

  • Digital image processing
  • Model
  • Multiphase flow
  • NAPL
  • Tank test
  • Transparent soil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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