Scholarly record

ASSESSMENT OF HYDRODYNAMICS OF GAS FLOW THROUGH THE POROUS ROCK STRUCTURES

Magdalena Tutak

Abstract

Flow of gases through the porous media is a phenomenon commonly occurring in nature and in industrial processes. Very often these flows take place in rock media. Most often these media occur in a form of porous rock massifs (used in exploitation of crude oil and natural gas), broken roof rock blocks (forming the goaf with cacing in hard coal mines) and post-mining waste dumps (mining dumps). In each of these porous media there occur free, often empty spaces of different shapes and dimensions. These spaces, depending on the longitudal to lateral dimensions ratio, are called pores or slits. Flow of fluids (liquid and gases) through these media, called also filtration or filtering flow, is possible only thanks to stable connections between these free spaces. Hydrodynamics of such flow depends on many factors and parameters characterizing the porous medium and flowing fluid (gas). In a case of natural gas and crude oil, this hydrodynamics decides about efficiency and effectiveness of mining process of these raw materials from the rock massif. Due to the commonness of phenomenon of flow of gases through the porous media and its meaning for the economy, it is necessary to conduct studies in this field. In the paper there are presented results of modelling studies, in order to define the hydrodynamics of fluids flow through the granular porous media. The basic goal of these studies was to define the influence of porosity and permeability of porous rock medium on the physical parameters of the gas flowing through this medium. Determination of these parameters and pressure losses enabled to perform an assessment of process conditions, which accompany to such a flow. Obtained results can be used for detailed description of given medium and to determine the optimum parameters of the flow of gas through this medium. Modelling tests were carried out using the numerical method of finite volumes for velocity corresponding to the laminar and turbulent flow. Numerical solution of hydrodynamics equations enabled to simulate the phenomena of transport of the gases through the porous structures. Simulation analyses were carried out in ANSYS Fluent software. Developed models enabled to perform multi-variant analyses of flow of different gases through the porous rock media. In a development of the models of porous media, there were used results of laboratory tests of the rocks forming these media. Developed models and obtained results enriched the knowledge on the hydrodynamics of flow of gases through the porous rock media. They can be also a significant source of information on the studied phenomena.

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