Dataset Information

Effect of surfactant redistribution on the flow and stability of foam films.

ABSTRACT: The viscous froth model for two-dimensional (2D) dissipative foam rheology is combined with Marangoni-driven surfactant redistribution on a foam film. The model is used to study the flow of a 2D foam system consisting of one bubble partially filling a constricted channel and a single spanning film connecting it to the opposite channel wall. Gradients of surface tension arising from film deformation induce tangential flow that redistributes surfactant along the film. This redistribution, and the consequent changes in film tension, inhibit the structure from undergoing a foam-destroying topological change in which the spanning film leaves the bubble behind; foam stability is thereby increased. The system's behaviour is categorized by a Gibbs-Marangoni parameter, representing the ratio between the rate of motion in tangential and normal directions. Larger values of the Gibbs-Marangoni parameter induce greater variation in surface tension, increase the rate of surfactant redistribution and reduce the likelihood of topological changes. An intermediate regime is, however, identified in which the Gibbs-Marangoni parameter is large enough to create a significant gradient of surface tension but is not great enough to smooth out the flow-induced redistribution of surfactant entirely, resulting in non-monotonic variation in the bubble height, and hence in foam stability.

SUBMITTER: Vitasari D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7069484 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of surfactant redistribution on the flow and stability of foam films.

Vitasari Denny D Cox Simon S Grassia Paul P Rosario Ruben R

Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences 20200212 2234

The viscous froth model for two-dimensional (2D) dissipative foam rheology is combined with Marangoni-driven surfactant redistribution on a foam film. The model is used to study the flow of a 2D foam system consisting of one bubble partially filling a constricted channel and a single spanning film connecting it to the opposite channel wall. Gradients of surface tension arising from film deformation induce tangential flow that redistributes surfactant along the film. This redistribution, and the ...[more]

PMID: 32201478

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Project description:The propagation of foam in an oil reservoir depends on the creation and stability of the foam in the reservoir, specifically the creation and stability of foam films, or lamellae. As the foam propagates far from the injection well, superficial velocity and pressure gradient decrease with distance from the well. Experimental (Friedmann et al. Steam-foam mechanistic field trial in the midway-sunset field. SPERE. 1994, 9 (4), 297-304) and theoretical (Ashoori, et al. Roles of Transient and Local Equilibrium Foam Behaviour in Porous Media: Traveling Wave. Colloids Surf. A 2011, 337 (1-3), 228-242). studies relate concerns about foam propagation at low superficial velocity to the minimum velocity or pressure gradient for foam generation near the well (Gauglitz et al. Foam Generation in Homogeneous Porous Media. Chem. Eng. Sci. 2002, 57, 4037-4052; Rossen et al. Percolation Theory of Creation and Mobilization of Foams in Porous Media. AI Chem Eng. J. 1990, 36, (8)). The objective of this work is to measure the impact of surfactant concentration and gas fractional flow on foam generation. Theory (Kam et al. Model for Foam Generation in Homogeneous Media. SPE J. 2003, 8 (4): 417-42, SPE-87334-PA; Rossen 1990) relates foam generation to gas fractional flow and, indirectly, to the stability of foam films, or lamellae, which in turn depends on surfactant concentration (Apaydin et al. Surfactant Concentration and End Effects on Foam Flow in Porous Media. (Apaydin et al.Transp Porous Media. 2001, 43, 511-536). However, the link between foam generation and surfactant concentration has not been established experimentally. In our experiments, nitrogen foam is generated in a core of Bentheimer sandstone. The foam-generation experiments consist of measuring the minimum velocity for foam generation as a function of gas fractional flow at three surfactant concentrations well above the critical micelle concentration. Experimental results show that the minimum velocity for foam generation decreases with increasing liquid fraction, as shown by previous foam generation studies (Friedmann et al., 1994; Rossen and Gauglitz, 1990). Additionally, our results show that this velocity decreases with increasing surfactant concentration, far above the CMC. We also propose a workflow for screening out the experimental artifacts that can distort the trigger velocity.

Dataset Information

Effect of surfactant redistribution on the flow and stability of foam films.

Publications

Effect of surfactant redistribution on the flow and stability of foam films.

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