Author(s)

S. Liu & J.H. Masliyah

Abstract

A volume averaging technique is employed to study single phase fluid (Newtonian or non-Newtonian) flow in porous media. New terms evolve from the volume averaged governing equations: macroscopic viscosity, hydraulic dispersivity, shear factor and tortuosity. The macroscopic viscosity is the viscous diffusion coefficient for the averaged flow momentum. When fluid is Newtonian, the macroscopic viscosity reduces to the viscosity of the fluid. When the fluid is non-Newtonian, the macroscopic viscosity is the apparent viscosity of the fluid under the average microscopic shear stress and shear rate conditions. The hydraulic dispersivity is the dispersion coefficient of the flow induced "diffusion". The hydraulic dispersivity increases with the flow velocity. When the flow is very strong, it is proporti

Keywords