Transport Mechanisms in Porous Media

This course covers the intricate concepts of flow through porous media and the various transport mechanisms involved. It begins with an exploration of Darcy's law, Poiseuille's flow, and the role of viscosity in pressure-driven flow. The course then delves into the different types of flow mechanisms, such as bulk diffusion, Knudsen diffusion, and surface diffusion, using the example of a drop of ink spreading in a beaker of water to illustrate the concept of diffusion. The course further explains the concept of viscous flow resistance and introduces Fick's law of diffusion. It also discusses the impact of pore size on diffusion and introduces the concept of Knudsen diffusion. The course concludes with an explanation of the Klinkenberg equation, which describes the non-linear permeability of a medium, and the phenomenon of vapor diffusion through a pore, known as vapor pressure lowering.