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Active control of viscous fingering using electric fields

Author

Listed:
  • Tao Gao

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Mohammad Mirzadeh

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Peng Bai

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Kameron M. Conforti

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Martin Z. Bazant

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Viscous fingering is a widely observed phenomenon, in which finger-like instabilities occur at the interface of two fluids, whenever a less viscous phase displaces a more viscous phase. This instability is notoriously difficult to control, especially for given viscosity ratio and geometry. Here we demonstrate experimentally the active control of viscous fingering of two given liquids, for given geometry and flow rate in a Hele-Shaw cell. The control is realized by taking advantage of electro-osmotic flows along the surfaces confining the fluid, via applying an external electric field. Depending on the direction of electric field, the induced secondary electro-osmotic flows either assist or oppose the hydraulic flow, effectively reducing or increasing the flow resistance, leading to the control of interface stability. The mechanism of apparent “electrokinetic thinning/thickening” is proposed to explain the experimental observations. Theoretical predictions of linear stability are confirmed experimentally for a broad range of immiscible electrolyte displacements.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Gao & Mohammad Mirzadeh & Peng Bai & Kameron M. Conforti & Martin Z. Bazant, 2019. "Active control of viscous fingering using electric fields," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11939-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11939-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhu, Qingyuan & Wu, Keliu & Guo, Shiqiang & Peng, Fei & Zhang, Shengting & Jiang, Liangliang & Li, Jing & Feng, Dong & Zhang, Yafei & Chen, Zhangxin, 2024. "Pore-scale investigation of CO2-oil miscible flooding in tight reservoir," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 368(C).

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