Abstract
The density-driven convection appears promise for CO₂ storage, precise prediction on a reservoir size is problematic due to limited data availability. Changes in permeability impact flow patterns and the effectiveness of mixing processes. Permeability differences influence the sorts of density-driven mixing phenomena such as fingering and stable mixing. Improving CO₂ storage models is challenging due to the unpredictable nature of these processes. The study looks at the flow phenomena in which carbon dioxide with a lower viscosity displaces on heavier fluid water. Causes instability by producing finger-like structures at the gas-liquid interface. This study uses the species transport technique to investigate how CO₂ dissolves in water via convection and diffusion in a Hele Shaw cell environment. A unique technique which includes a pressure condition is introduced to examine patterns over time and obtain states quickly. The study investigates a set of equations governing mass conservation, momentum, and species transfer. The study examines how convection patterns change over time and how model properties influence mixing behaviors in convection processes. It employs Finite Volume Method analysis in ANSYS software to show Rayleigh Taylor instability effects on flow driven by permeability variations. Shape changes affect the presence of "fingers" within formations. Narrower apertures size of the cell permit CO₂ to stay around longer, increasing the dissolution rate and also increase in number of fingers. This data improvements models for storing CO₂ by looking at the concentration of dissolved CO₂ in the liquid phase over time until it reaches the bottom of the cell and considering factors like Rayleigh number range for natural convection flow patterns based on density differences in fluid mixtures and characteristics like permeability and porosity to understand when convective movement starts occurring naturally during storage for extended periods.
Date of publication
Fall 12-13-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/4798
Committee members
Zishu Cao PhD., Aaditya Khanal PhD., Mohammad Biswas PhD., Prabha Sundaravadivel Ph.D.
Degree
Masters in Mechanical Engineering
Recommended Citation
Vandadu, Bhargavi, "NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS ON RAYLEIGH TAYLOR INSTABILITY FOR CO2 SEQUESTRATION IN SALINE AQUIFERS" (2024). Mechanical Engineering Theses. Paper 41.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/4798