Benchmarking the Viability of 3D Printed Micromodels for Single Phase Flow Using Particle Image Velocimetry and Direct Numerical Simulations

Abstract Holistic understanding of multiphase reactive flow mechanisms such as CO 2 dissolution, displacement, and snap-off events is vital for optimisation large-scale industrial operations like sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, geothermal energy. Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing allow cheap fast manufacturing complex porosity models, which enable investigation specific processes a repeatable manner well sensitivity analysis small geometry alterations. However, there are concerns regarding dimensional fidelity, shape conformity surface quality, therefore, the quality printer limitations must be benchmarked. We present an experimental into ability 3D to generate custom-designed micromodels accurately repeatably down minimum pore-throat size 140 μm, representative average coarse sandstones. Homogeneous heterogeneous micromodel geometries designed, then process optimised achieve experiments with single-phase fluid flow. Finally, Particle Image Velocimetry used compare velocity map obtained from printed generated direct numerical simulation (OpenFOAM software) accurate match obtained. This work indicates that can investigate pore-scale recovery energy applications more cheaply than traditional methods.