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Oil Drainage in a Capillary Tube: Experimental and Numerical Study

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Abstract

In this paper, we investigate experimentally and numerically the dynamics of the drainage of a transparent capillary tube (radius 0.4 mm). A non-wetting fluid (gas) displaces a wetting fluid (oil). The gas phase is continuously injected at an extremity of the capillary tube (inlet section) at a constant injection-rate \(Q_{inj}\), ranging from 0.1 to 10 ml/h, corresponding to capillary numbers Ca varying between \(5 \cdot 10^{ - 4}\) and \(5 \cdot 10^{ - 2}\). Oil phase, initially filling the tube, leaves the system at the second opened extremity (outlet section).We consider in this work the compressibility of non-wetting fluid (gas), viscous forces in the liquid column, capillary forces and gravity. The effect of several parameters, such as \(Q_{inj}\) j and gravity, on the progress of the gas–liquid interface has been investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hafar Al Batin, College of Science, 39524, Hafar Al Batin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Faycel Khemili

  2. University of Monastir, National Engineering School of Monastir, LESTE, 5019, Monasir, Tunisia

    Faycel Khemili & Imen Bahrini

  3. University of Gabes, National Engineering School of Gabes, LR18ES34, 6072, Zirig, Gabes, Tunisia

    Mustapha Najjari

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  1. Faycel Khemili
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  2. Imen Bahrini
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  3. Mustapha Najjari
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Correspondence to Mustapha Najjari.

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Khemili, F., Bahrini, I. & Najjari, M. Oil Drainage in a Capillary Tube: Experimental and Numerical Study. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 33, 33 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-021-09882-8

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