Towards improved understanding of spontaneous imbibition into dry porous media using pore-scale direct numerical simulations

Traditional approaches to mathematically describe spontaneous imbibition are usually based on either macro-scale models, such as Richards equation, or simplified pore-scale models, such as the bundle of capillary tubes (BCTM) or pore-network modeling (PNM). It is well known that such models cannot provide full microscopic details of the multiphase flow processes and that many pore-scale mechanisms still lack proper mathematical descriptions. To improve the predictive capabilities of traditional models, a fundamental understanding of pore-scale dynamics is needed. The focus of this paper is obtaining detailed insight and consistent explanation of particular processes during capillary-controlled water imbibition into dry porous media. We use two-dimensional model geometries and perform fully dynamic volume-of-fluid based direct numerical simulations of air–water multiphase flow at the pore-scale, to study processes that generally are not considered in traditional models. More specifically, we investigate differences between converging and diverging geometries, dynamic pressure and meniscus reconfiguration during pore-filling events, and the influence of inertia and pore size on imbibition dynamics and the occurrence of capillary barriers. Furthermore, we perform a detailed comparison between non-interacting and interacting BCTM and study the impact of the narrow contractions on imbibition dynamics and the trapping of the non-wetting phase. Obtained knowledge can be used to improve predictive models, which are broadly relevant considering the importance of spontaneous imbibition in many different natural and industrial processes.