Flow channeling in strongly heterogeneous porous media: A numerical study

The variation of hydraulic conductivity in a porous medium causes the fluids flowing through it to have nonuniform velocities. Variation in fluid velocity is one of the main contributors to solute dispersion, causing a part of the contaminants dissolved in the fluid to be transported with greater than average velocities. In practical problems concerning transport of radioactive or toxic wastes, the velocity of contaminant flow may be of vital importance. This paper examines a three dimensional case, considering also the similarities and differences between parallel flow and convergent/divergent flow. Fluid flow in a porous medium is shown to perfer the most conductive paths. For a medium with strongly variable permeability this effect can be very pronounced. This paper discusses the impact of this flow distribution upon solute transport. 28 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.

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