Migration trajectories and blocking effect of the fine particles in porous media based on particle flow simulation

Abstract

The particle flow code method based on the discrete element method was used to establish the seepage migration model of fine particles [fine particles (FPs), i.e., suspended particles] in a porous medium. A series of numerical simulations were carried out by changing the particle size, seepage velocity, particle injection number, and wide particle size gradation. The research showed that large FPs play a major role in blocking porous medium channels when the injected FPs have a wide size gradation. Due to the blocking effect, small FPs that would not otherwise have deposited also deposit. Moreover, by increasing the number of large FPs in the mixed particles, the total number of particles deposited and the number of smaller FPs deposited will also increase. The distribution of FPs in porous mediums can be divided into three types: surface deposition, internal deposition, and non-deposition. When the seepage velocity increases and reaches a seepage threshold, which is the critical seepage velocity, the deposited FPs will once again be in a suspended state and undergo migration. On the contrary, the FPs will continue to maintain their sedimentary state, and the critical seepage velocity will also increase correspondingly with increasing particle size.