Effective Diffusivity in Porous Media
The effective diffusion coefficient describes diffusion through the pore space of porous media. It is macroscopic in nature, because it is not individual pores but the entire pore space that needs to be considered. The effective diffusion coefficient for transport through the pores, De, is estimated as follows:
where:
- D is the diffusion coefficient in gas or liquid filling the pores (m2s−1)
- εt is the porosity available for the transport (dimensionless)
- δ is the constrictivity (dimensionless)
- τ is the tortuosity (dimensionless)
The transport-available porosity equals the total porosity less the pores which, due to their size, are not accessible to the diffusing particles, and less dead-end and blind pores (i.e., pores without being connected to the rest of the pore system). The constrictivity describes the slowing down of diffusion by increasing the viscosity in narrow pores as a result of greater proximity to the average pore wall. It is a function of pore diameter and the size of the diffusing particles.
Read more about this topic: Mass Diffusivity
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