New insights into the Haines jump in immiscible two-phase flow displacement

Abstract

In this study, we develop a numerical model of two-phase flow with a series of different contact angles θ based on real feature structures from scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, the interface dynamics during the Haines jump are analyzed based on a typical model of the pore throat system. We found that under different wetting conditions, a series of fluid displacement patterns can be regarded as the minimum pressure drop displacement state for the completion of the constant flow displacement task. Moreover, the Haines jump event is no longer an unfavorable energy event that leads to rapid dissipation of energy but a favorable energy event derived by the system under specific constraints to avoid extra work. These new findings provide new insights into the wettability effect as well as the physical origin of the Haines jump event.