Advanced 3D multiphase flow simulation in porous media reconstructed from x-ray micro tomography using the He-Chen-Zhang Lattice Boltzmann model

Multiphase flow is a subject of significant interest in the processing of mineral resources and to the processing industries in general. Multiphase flow is of significance in the transport of reactants during the percolation of leaching solution in heaps, in the melting of metals, in phase transformation, metal-foam processes, underground water transport, in gas and oil recovery and in gas sequestration just to mention a few examples. By now, we can say that the Lattice Boltzmann Model (LBM) of multiphase fluid flow is a collection of models with varying degrees of faithfulness to the properties of real fluids. These models are in a state of evolution as they are becoming better understood and are extended to new applications. In this paper we address the application of a single component multiphase flow LBM known as the He-Chen-Zhang model coupled with X-ray Micro Tomography (XMT) for digitalization and simulation of flow in porous media. The model is used for simulation of fluid penetration into porous samples and the analysis of capillary phenomena. Specifically, this model has been applied for simulation of percolation in a packed bed of sand particles which is digitalized by XMT.