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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 43: Wetting, Fluidics and Liquids at Interfaces and Surfaces (joint session CPP/DY)

CPP 43.6: Talk

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 16:45–17:00, H 0107

Improved displacement efficiency in Ganglia size distribution by invasion of complex fluids — Karthik Nuthalapati¹ and •Ralf Seemann² — ¹Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany — ²Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany

It is well-known that the viscoelastic nature of polymer solutions affects the displacement process when used as displacing fluids, for example, in enhanced oil recovery. Nevertheless, the microscopic displacement efficiency within porous media remains elusive. In this study, we experimentally investigated the impact of polymer viscosity and elasticity on the displacement efficiency of silicone oils with different viscosities. As displacing fluids, we explored four types of complex fluids, including a highly viscous Newtonian fluid, a shear-thinning solution with negligible elasticity, an elastic polymer with constant viscosity, and a viscoelastic polymer solution made from a polyelectrolyte within the Ganglia size distribution. As a result, viscoelastic polymers demonstrated improved displacement efficiency in Ganglia size distribution through the invasion of complex fluids.

Keywords: complex fluids; microfluidic devices; viscoelasticity; shear thinning; polymers