Transparent Aquabeads To Visualize Flow In Porous Material

Abstract

Use of transparent synthetic soils to visualize flow problems has recently been developed with an optical system and digital image processing. This paper proposes a new water-based transparent material called Aquabeads suitable for modeling natural soils. As feasibility of using Aquabeads to visualize geoenvironmental problems, surfactant flushing tests were conducted to simulate Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) ganglia transport through Aquabeads model with clay lens was performed. The upward migration of motor oil ganglia during surfactant flushing was visualized. Aquabeads possess advantages over available transparent synthetic soils ; water-based material, similar macroscopic hydraulic characteristics to natural soils, compatible with water- oil- selected surfactants-alcohols used for simulating multiphase flow. Therefore, it is ideal for visualizing 2D flow, and soil contamination problems.