Dispersion and mixing in heterogeneous compressible porous media under transient forcing

TL;DR

This paper investigates how periodic forcing, heterogeneity, and compressibility in porous media influence flow, dispersion, and mixing patterns, revealing complex behaviors including containment and enhanced mixing through detailed numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a stochastic simulation approach to analyze the combined effects of heterogeneity, compressibility, and periodic forcing on solute dispersion and mixing in porous media.

Findings

Heterogeneity and compressibility create stable regions that inhibit dispersion.

Chaotic regions enhance solute mixing despite containment.

Spatial heterogeneity combined with temporal forcing can both contain and promote mixing.

Abstract

Periodic forcing of flow in compressible porous media is an important driver for solute dispersion and mixing in geological and engineered porous media subject for example to tides, pumping and recharge cycles, or fluid injection and withdrawal cycles with a wide range of environmental and industrial applications. The combination of periodic forcing, spatial medium heterogeneity and medium compressibility leads to intricate spatio-temporal flow, dispersion and mixing patterns. We analyze these patterns using detailed numerical simulations based on a stochastic representation of the spatial medium heterogeneity. Solute dispersion is characterized by the interface length and width, mixing in terms of the dilution index and the distribution of concentration point values. Poincar\'e maps show how the interplay of heterogeneity and compressibility leads to the creation of stable regions that inhibit the advancement and dispersion of the mixing interface, and chaotic regions that at the same time enhance solute mixing. This means that spatial heterogeneity in combination with temporal forcing can lead to the containment of solute and at the same time promote mixing.