Convective Instability and Mass Transport of Diffusion Layers in a Hele-Shaw Geometry

Scott Backhaus, Konstantin Turitsyn, and R. E. Ecke

Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 104501 – Published 7 March 2011

Abstract

We consider experimentally the instability and mass transport of flow in a Hele-Shaw geometry. In an initially stable configuration, a lighter fluid (water) is located over a heavier fluid (propylene glycol). The fluids mix via diffusion with some regions of the resulting mixture being heavier than either pure fluid. Density-driven convection occurs with downward penetrating dense fingers that transport mass much more effectively than diffusion alone. We investigate the initial instability and the quasisteady state. The convective time and velocity scales, finger width, wave number selection, and normalized mass transport are determined for $6000 < Ra < 90 000$ . The results have important implications for determining the time scales and rates of dissolution trapping of carbon dioxide in brine aquifers proposed as possible geologic repositories for sequestering carbon dioxide.

Received 20 November 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.104501

Authors & Affiliations

Scott Backhaus^1,*, Konstantin Turitsyn^2,3, and R. E. Ecke³

¹MPA-CMMS, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
²Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
³Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA