Immiscible capillary flows in non-uniform channels

Abstract

We consider the release of preferentially wetting fluid in a laterally extensive V-shaped channel initially filled with a second fluid, presenting solutions for the initial exchange flow and the late time spreading of the wetting fluid along the narrow part of the channel. We also show that, if there is a buoyancy force acting in the cross-channel direction, the early time exchange flow depends on the Bond number, and the intermediate time slumping flow may initially be dominated by buoyancy, but at long times becomes controlled by capillarity. Where there is an along-channel component of gravity we show that the flow spreads out downslope, with capillarity controlling the structure of the nose. We then consider the case where the channel is connected to a reservoir of wetting fluid at constant pressure. We show that, depending on this pressure, either a zero flux exchange flow develops, or a net inflow through the whole width of the channel develops, as in the classical Washburn, Lucas, Bell and Cameron capillary imbibition flow. We show these flows are analogous to the classical model for one-dimensional capillary driven flows in porous media, with the current width in the channel corresponding to the saturation in the pore space.