Flow over a Darcy Porous Layer of Variable Permeability

M. S. Abu Zaytoon, T. L. Alderson, M. H. Hamdan^*

Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/jamp.2016.41013                

Abstract

In this work we consider coupled-parallel flow through a finite channel bounded below by a porous layer that is either finite or infinite in depth. The porous layer is one in which Darcy’s equation is valid under the assumption of variable permeability. A suitable permeability stratification function is derived in this work and the resulting variable velocity profile is analyzed. It will be shown that when an infinite porous layer is implemented, Darcy’s equation must be used with a constant permeability.

Keywords

Coupled-Parallel Flow, Darcy Equation, Variable Permeability

Received 27 December 2015; accepted 22 January 2016; published 25 January 2016

1. Introduction

Flow through and over porous layers is encountered in natural and industrial settings. These include the natural flow of ground water and flow oil through the porous bedrock, the flow of nutrients into plants and blood flow in animal tissues [1] -[3] . Flow over porous layers, and over porous plates and surfaces is also driven by various industrial applications including lubrication mechanisms involving porous plates and linings, design of heating and cooling systems, engine cooling systems, and the design of porous surfaces (such as aircraft wings with porous cavities) to reduce drag. In addition, studies of fuel cells heavily depend on analysis of flow through and over porous layers.

The above and many other applications, together with a literature review of what has been accomplished in this field, have been discussed in greater details by Vafai and Thiagarajah [4] , who presented a classification of three fundamental problems and interface zones, involving interfacial interactions in saturated porous media.

Vafai and Thiagarajah [4] contend that most attention in the literature has been devoted to the problem of the interface region between a porous medium and a fluid. This problem involves coupled parallel flow through a free-space channel underlain by a porous layer of either finite or infinite depth. Flow through free-space is governed by Navier-Stokes equations and in the porous sediment by an appropriate model [5] . The use of Darcy’s law in the porous sediment has been predominant. This has received the most attention in order to determine the most appropriate model to use in the porous layer (that is, a Darcy or a non-Darcy model) and the most appropriate matching condition at the interface between the fluid layer and the porous medium. A survey of the various models employed in the porous layer, and the matching conditions at the interface, have been provided in an elegant article by Alazmi and Vafai [5] . Models of Darcy, Brinkman, and Forchheimer have been used, without consensus, by various authors to govern the flow in the porous layer, and matching conditions have ranged from Beavers and Joseph’s slip hypothesis [6] to the jump stress condition of Ochoa and Whitaker [7] , and continuity of velocity and shear stress at the interface (as suggested by Neale and Nader [8] ). Other theoretical and experimental conditions have been reviewed and discussed by Ehrhardt [9] .

Coupled parallel flow gained interest following the experiments of Beavers and Joseph [6] , approximately five decades ago, to determine the matching conditions at the interface between a porous medium and free-space. Prior to the pioneering work of Beavers and Joseph [6] , the use of a no-slip velocity condition along a porous interface between free-space and a porous medium was wide-spread in lubrication problems [10] . With their experimental observation that the mass flux through free-space channel is larger than that predicted by the Poiseuille flow when a no-slip condition is imposed, Beavers and Joseph [6] , provided an explanation in terms of a slip flow hypothesis at the interface and proposed the following empirical slip-flow condition that agreed well with their experiments:

(1)

where is the tangential velocity in the free-space channel, is the uniform Darcy velocity in the porous layer, k is the constant permeability, and is a slip coefficient that depends on the porous medium properties.

Saffman [11] , provided analysis based on Brinkman’s equation and suggested the following modification of Beavers and Joseph’s condition:

(2)

It is worth noting that Saffman’s modification (Equation (2)) decouples the tangential velocity in the channel from both the slip velocity and Darcy’s filtration velocity, but retains its dependence on the permeability and slip parameter. Ehrhardt [9] , provided an excellent review of the available interfacial conditions, and reported that due to the decoupling in equation (2), if the slip velocity is smaller than the maximal filtration velocity then setting the tangential velocity to zero is a reasonable approximation.

Based on their volume averaging analysis, Ochoa-Tapia and Whitaker [7] , showed that while matching Navier-Stokes equation with Brinkman’s equation maintains velocity continuity, a jump in the shear stress is induced. This was remedied by introducing the following jump condition that takes into account momentum transfer at the interface with the porous layer:

(3)

where is an adjustable jump coefficient.

Neale and Nader [8] discussed the significance of Brinkman’s equation and suggested the use of Brinkman’s equation in coupled parallel flow instead of Darcy’s law, due to the low differential order of Darcy’s law and its incompatibility with the Navier-Stokes differential order. They [8] , suggested conditions of velocity and shear

stress continuity at the interface, and obtained Beavers and Joseph’s results by using, where is the

viscosity of the fluid and is the effective viscosity, that is, the viscosity of the fluid saturating the porous medium.

Hamdan and Kamel [18] , considered idealization of Brinkman porous layer with permeability stratification, while Cheng [16] , considered flow through inhomogeneous porous media as governed by Darcy’s law with variable permeability that follows polynomial distribution. This concept of flow through and over porous layers with variable permeability motivates this work in which we consider, for the first time, flow through a channel bounded by a Darcy porous layer of variable permeability. This work is undertaken to demonstrate correctness of the imposed continuity conditions at the interface and to illustrate the behavior of the flow in a variable permeability environment. Furthermore, the type of modelling involved does away with the concept of a slip-velocity, as proposed by Beavers and Joseph [6] , for a judicious choice of permeability function that reaches its maximum at the interface between the channel and the medium. Furthermore, when permeability is taken as a variable function, Darcy’s law implies the velocity in the porous layer will be a non-constant, which in turn affords Darcy’s law compatibility of the Navier-Stokes equations in the chosen configuration. The two cases of finite and infinite porous layers are considered to illustrate characteristics of the flow, and to emphasize the conclusion that when an infinite Darcy layer is used then the permeability is essentially constant.

2. Problem Formulation and Solution

2.1. Problem Formulation: Finite Layer

Consider the flow of a viscous fluid through a straight channel of depth D bounded by a porous layer of thickness D, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Channel bounded by a porous layer.

The channel is bounded above by a solid wall at y = D, and the porous layer is terminated from below by a macroscopic boundary (solid wall) at y = −D. Flow through the configuration is driven by the same constant pressure gradient. Flow in the channel is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations, which take the form for the unidirectional flow at hand:

(4)

where is the velocity in the channel, is the constant pressure gradient, and is the viscosity coefficient. Flow through the porous layer is governed by the following form of Darcy’s equation, written here for a variable permeability porous layer:

(5)

where is the Darcy tangential velocity in the porous layer, and is the porous layer variable permeability.

For inhomogeneous soil layers the following form of variable permeability has been used [16] [17] :

(6)

where, c and n are treated as curve fitting parameters. Cheng [16] , used a value of n = 2 in Equation (6), and discussed other forms of the permeability distribution. While other forms of variable permeability are possible, we will determine the form of permeability in this work and choose a function that smoothly varies over the thickness of porous layer in such a way that it falls to zero on the solid boundary and reaches a maximum value, , at the interface y = 0, where is to be determined. Velocity at the interface between the fluid layer and the porous layer is denoted by and is to be determined.

It is thus required to solve Equations (4) and (5) subject to the following conditions.

No-slip on solid boundaries:

(7)

(8)

No penetration (zero permeability) on solid boundaries:

(9)

Maximum penetrability at the interface:

(10)

Velocity continuity at the interface:

(11)

Shear stress continuity at the interface:

. (12)

2.2. Problem Solution

Equation (4) admits the solution

(13)

where and are constants to be determined.

Using (11) in (13) yields

(14)

while using (7) and (14) in (13) yields

(15)

Solution (13) thus takes the form:

(16)

An expression for the shear stress is obtained from (16) as:

(17)

At y = 0, Equation (17) reduces to:

(18)

Equation (5) gives the following expression at y = 0:

(19)

which, together with (11), gives the following expression for velocity at the interface:

(20)

From (5) we also obtain

(21)

and

(22)

Condition (12), together with (18) and (22) yield

(23)

and upon using (20) in (23), we obtain

(24)

or

(25)

Equation (25) provides an expression for the slope of the permeability function at the interface.

Velocity profile in the channel takes the following form, obtained by using (20) in (16):

(26)

Using (10) and (25) in (26) yields the following expression, equivalent to (16), for the velocity profile in the channel:

(27)

In order to determine a permeability profile, we rely on Equation (25) which satisfies, and assume that satisfies the same form of equation, namely

(28)

Solution to (28) is obtained via separation of variables as:

. (29)

In order to find the arbitrary constant in (29), we use condition (9), namely, to get

(30)

Permeability profile (29) thus takes the form

(31)

The value of is obtained from (31) as

(32)

while the velocity at the interface, , is obtained from (20) and (32) as

(33)

Velocity profile in the channel, Equation (26), thus takes the following form, in light of (32)

(34)

while the velocity profile in the porous layer is obtained from (5) and (31) as

(35)

Shear stress in the channel and in the porous layer are given, respectively, by

. (36)

(37)

Shear stress at the interface, y = 0, is obtained from (36) or (37) as

(38)

2.3. Dimensionless Form of Solution

Solution presented by Equations (31) through (38) is expressed in dimensional form in order to illustrate the effects of viscosity, pressure gradient and channel depth on the flow variables. It is also important to express the solution in dimensionless form to better understand the role of dimensionless numbers (such as Reynolds number and dimensionless pressure gradient). To this end we present two forms of dimensionless results: one with respect to channel depth and one with respect to channel depth and a characteristic velocity.

The dimensionless form of the solution with respect to channel depth is obtained by defining the following dimensionless variables, where quantities with asterisks (*) are dimensionless,

(39)

Equation (31) through (38) take the following dimensionless forms, respectively, which do not involve a Reynolds number of the flow or a dimensionless pressure gradient:

(40)

(41)

(42)

. (43)

(44)

. (45)

(46)

(47)

The dimensionless form of the solution with respect to channel depth and characteristic velocity is obtained by defining the following dimensionless variables with respect to channel depth, D, and characteristic velocity, , where quantities with asterisks (*) are dimensionless,

(48)

Equation (31) through (38) take the following dimensionless forms, respectively, which involve a Reynolds number of the flow and a dimensionless pressure gradient:

(49)

(50)

(51)

(52)

(53)

. (54)

(55)

(56)

Both dimensionless forms are equivalent as they produce the same permeability, however, the velocities and shear stresses are scaled differently. Results based on both dimensionless forms are discussed in the Results and Discussion section, below.

2.4. Problem Formulation: Infinite Depth Layer

If in Figure 1 the bounding porous layer is of infinite depth, then we are required to solve Equation (4) On, and Equation (2) on, subject to conditions (7) to (12), with conditions (8) and (9) being replaced, respectively, by:

(57)

(58)

Now, from Equations (5) and (58), we obtain

. (59)

From (29) and condition (58) we obtain

(60)

Equation (60) implies that and. This justifies Observation 1 below.

Observation 1:

In the study of coupled parallel flow through a channel over a porous layer of infinite depth, the flow through which is governed by Darcy’s law with an assumed exponential permeability, the only allowable permeability is essentially constant.

2.5. Volumetric Flow Rates

The Darcian volumetric flow rate through the porous layer is denoted here by, and defined by:

. (61)

Using the velocity from Equation (35), we get a Darcian volumetric flow rate of

(62)

and an average Darcian velocity in the porous layer of

. (63)

The Navier-Stokes volumetric flow rate through the channel is denoted here by, and is defined by:

. (64)

Using the velocity from Equation (34), we obtain:

. (65)

Under Poiseuille conditions, Navier-Stokes flow through a channel bounded by solid walls at y = 0 and y = D, on which no-slip conditions are imposed, has the velocity profile

(66)

and a volumetric flow rate of

(67)

The ratio of the volumetric flow rates, Equations (65) to (67), is given by

(68)

This ratio is greater than unity, thus indicating a reduction in the flow rate due to the introduction of a porous matrix in the flow domain.

2.6. Results and Discussion

2.6.1. Permeability Distribution

The dimensional permeability function has been determined as the smoothly varying function given by Equation (31). Dependence of the dimensional permeability function on the porous layer depth is illustrated in Figure 2, which demonstrates that the permeability is zero at the solid wall (y = −D) and increases until it reaches its maximum, , at the porous interface, y = 0. The dimensional value of, as given by Equation (32) depends on the porous layer thickness, D, and increases quadratically with increasing D.

Equations (40) and (49) render the same dimensionless permeability function, whose graph in Figure 2 coincides with the graph of the dimensional permeability when D = 1. The resulting dimensionless, namely, is given by Equations (41) and (50), and attains a dimensionless constant value of This value represents the maximum value of the Darcy number, , in the porous layer under the chosen distribution.

Figure 2. Permeability distribution for D = 0:5; D = 1, and D = 2.

2.6.2. Velocity Distribution

The dimensional velocity profiles in the channel (Equation (34)) and in the porous layer (Equation (35)) are illus trated graphically in Figures 3-5 for different values of D and different ratios. In Figure 3, the effects of varying for the fixed value of D = 0.5 are illustrated and show that higher values of ratio of, or equi-

Figure 3. Velocity profiles u(y) and v(y) for D = 0.5 and different values of.

Figure 4. Velocity profiles u(y) and v(y) for D = 1 and different values of.

Figure 5. Velocity profiles u(y) and v(y) for D = 2 and different values of.

valently higher values of the driving pressure gradient for a fixed viscosity, results in increasing the velocity in both the porous layer and the channel, as well as increasing the velocity at the interface. It is worth noting that the chosen permeability distribution results in a smoothly varying velocity profiles for all values of pressure gradients, without the occurrence of a velocity slip at the interface.

As is well-known, a Navier-Stokes Poiseuille flow in a channel in the absence of a porous layer results in a parabolic velocity profile that is symmetric about mid-channel. In other words, the maximum value of velocity in the profile occurs at mid-channel. The introduction of a porous layer with a non-zero velocity at the interface results in a loss of symmetry of the parabolic velocity profile in the channel, and the attainment of a maximum velocity in the channel at a point lower than mid-channel. In fact, the location of maximum velocity in the

channel is independent of the ratio and, as can be seen from Equation (36), a zero shear stress and a maximum velocity value occur at. This same pattern of behavior persists when we take D = 1 for various values of, as illustrated in Figure 4, and when D = 2 for various values of, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Each of Figures 3-5, shows the increase in the velocity at the interface, , with increasing, an increase in D results in a quadratic increase in, as can be seen from Equation (33).

Figure 4 also corresponds to the dimensionless velocity profiles given by Equations (52) and (53) for different values of the product that is set equal to the ratio. The velocity profile corresponding to is the same profile corresponding to, hence the same conclusions are drawn for the effect of Re on the velocity profile. This can also be seen in Figure 6 and Figure 7, which illustrate the effects of Reynolds number and the dimensionless pressure gradient on the velocity across the layers.

Figure 6. Dimensionless velocity profiles for and different values of Re.

Figure 7. Dimensionless velocity profiles for Re = 1and different values of.

2.6.3. Interfacial Velocity and Shear Stress

Values of dimensional velocity, , and dimensional shear stress, , at the interface y = 0, as computed using Equations (33) and (38), respectively, are illustrated in Table 1, for different values of and D. Table 1 shows the increase in both the velocity and shear stress at the interface with increasing D, for a given. For a given D, both the velocity and shear stress at the interface increase as we change from −1 to −5 to −10.

Values of dimensionless velocity, , and dimensionless shear stress, , at the interface y = 0, as computed using Equations (51) and (56), respectively, are illustrated in Table 2, for different values of and Re. Table 2 demonstrates the expected behavior of an increase in both the velocity and shear stress at the interface with increasing Re, for a given. For a given Re, both the velocity and shear stress at the interface increase as we change from −1 to −5 to −10. The values of Re in this work have been kept at or below 10 to reflect the need for a slow flow when Darcy’s law is used. It is clear that when Re = 10, a dimensionless velocity at the interface is approximately 10 times as large as its value at Re = 1. By comparison, the dimensionless interface velocity and shear stress as given by Equations (42) and (47), respectively, take the following values:

and.

Table 1. Values of dimensional velocity and shear stress at the interface for different values of D and computed using Equations (33) and (38).

Table 2. Values of dimensionless velocity and shear stress at the interface for different values of Re and, computed using Equations (51) and (56).

3. Conclusion

In this work, we implemented a variable permeability Darcy equation in the study of flow through a channel bounded by a porous layer. The form of variable permeability was derived to produce a continuously varying velocity distribution across the channel and layer without resorting to the concept of slip that arises when the Beavers and Joseph condition is used. The main conclusion arrived at in this work is that when the porous layer is of infinite depth then the permeability must essentially be constant. This implies that the current model formulation should mainly be used with finite depth porous layers.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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