Spontaneous Imbibition in a Square Tube With Corner Films: Theoretical Model and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Spontaneous imbibition in an angular tube with corner films is a fundamental problem in many scientific and engineering processes. In this study, a modified interacting capillary bundle model is developed to describe the liquid imbibition dynamics in a square tube with corner films. The square tube is decomposed into several interacting subcapillaries and the local capillary pressure in each subcapillary is derived based on the specific shape of its meniscus. The conductance of each subcapillary is calculated using single-phase lattice Boltzmann simulation. The modified interacting capillary bundle model and color-gradient lattice Boltzmann method are used to simulate the liquid imbibition dynamics in the square tube with different fluid properties. The predictions by the modified interacting capillary bundle model match well with the lattice Boltzmann simulation results for different conditions, demonstrating the accuracy and robustness of the interacting capillary bundle model to describe the imbibition dynamics with corner films. In addition, the interacting capillary bundle model is helpful to investigate the mechanisms during spontaneous imbibition and the influences of fluid viscosity, surface tension, wetting phase contact angle and gravity on imbibition dynamics. Finally, a universal scaling law of imbibition dynamics for the main meniscus is developed and the scaling law for arc meniscus is also analyzed.