Buoyancy-driven exchange flows are common to a variety of natural and engineering systems ranging from persistently active volcanoes to counterflows in oceanic straits. Experiments of exchange flows in closed vertical tubes have been used as surrogates to elucidate the basic features of such flows. The resulting data have historically been analyzed and interpreted through core-annular flow solutions, the most common flow configuration at finite viscosity contrasts. These models have been successful in fitting experimental data, but less effective at explaining the variability observed in natural systems. In this paper, we formulate a core-annular solution to the classical problem of buoyancy-driven exchange flows in vertical tubes. The model posits the existence of two mathematically valid solutions, i.e. thin-and thick-core solutions. The theoretical existence of two solutions, however, does not necessarily imply that the system is bistable in the sense that flow switching may occur. Using direct numerical simulations, we test the hypothesis that core-annular flow in vertical tubes is bistable, which implies that the realized flow field is not uniquely defined by the material parameters of the flow. Our numerical experiments, which fully predict experimental data without fitting parameters, demonstrate that buoyancy-driven exchange flows are indeed inherently bistable systems. This finding is consistent with previous experimental data, but in contrast to the underlying hypothesis of previous analytical models that the solution is unique and can be identified by maximizing the flux or extremizing the dissipation in the system. These results have important implications for data interpretation by analytical models, and may also have relevant ramifications for understanding volcanic degassing.

Empirical or theoretical extensions of Darcy's law for immiscible two‐phase flow have shown significant limitations in properly modeling the flow at the continuum scale. We tackle this problem by proposing a set of upscaled equations based on pore‐scale flow regimes, that is, the topology of flowing phases. The incompressible Navier‐Stokes equation is upscaled by means of multiple‐scale expansions and its closures derived from the mechanical energy balance for different flow regimes at the pore scale. We also derive the applicability conditions of the upscaled equations based on the order of magnitude of relevant dimensionless numbers, that is, Eotvos, Reynolds, capillary, Froude numbers, and the viscosity and density ratio of the system, as well as a set of closures valid for the basic flow regimes of low Eotvos number systems, that is, core‐annular and plug and drop traffic flows. We provide analytical expressions for the relative permeability of the wetting and nonwetting phases in different flow regimes and demonstrate that the effect of the flowing‐phases topology on the relative permeabilities is significant. Finally, we show that the classical two‐phase Darcy law is recovered for a limited range of operative conditions, while specific terms accounting for interfacial and wall interactions should be incorporated to accurately model ganglia or drop traffic flow.

Exact solutions for laminar stratified flows of Newtonian/non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluids in horizontal and inclined channels are presented. An iterative algorithm is proposed to compute the laminar solution for the general case of a Carreau nonNewtonian fluid. The exact solution is used to study the effect of the rheology of the shear-thinning liquid on two-phase flow characteristics considering both gas/liquid and liquid/liquid systems. Concurrent and counter-current inclined systems are investigated, including the mapping of multiple solution boundaries. Aspects relevant to practical applications are discussed, such as the insitu hold-up, or lubrication effects achieved by adding a less viscous phase. A characteristic of this family of systems is that, even if the liquid has a complex rheology (Carreau fluid), the two-phase stratified flow can behave like the liquid is Newtonian for a wide range of operational conditions. The capability of the two-fluid model to yield satisfactory predictions in the presence of shear-thinning liquids is tested, and an algorithm is proposed to a priori predict if the Newtonian (zero shear rate viscosity) behaviour arises for a given operational conditions in order to avoid large errors in the predictions of flow characteristics when the power-law is considered for modelling the shear-thinning behaviour. Two-fluid model closures implied by the exact solution and the effect of a turbulent gas layer are also addressed.

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