On the Stability of Particle–Particle Interaction during Gravitational Settling

Mazen Hafez, Mahyar Ghazvini and Myeongsub Kim ()
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Mazen Hafez: Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
Mahyar Ghazvini: Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
Myeongsub Kim: Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: The elevated energy demand and high dependency on fossil fuels have directed researchers’ attention to promoting and advancing hydraulic fracturing (HF) operations for a sustainable energy future. Even though previous studies have demonstrated that the proppant suspension and positioning in slickwater play a vital role during the shut-in stage of the HF operations, minimal experimental work has been conducted on the fundamental proppant–proppant interaction mechanisms, especially a complete mapping of the interactions. This study utilizes high-speed imaging to provide a 2D space- and time-resolved investigation of two-particle (proppant models: 2 mm Ø, 2.6 g · cm − 3 ) interactions during gravitational settling in different initial spatial configurations and rheological properties. The mapping facilitates the identification of various interaction regimes and newly observed particle trajectories. Pure water results at a settling particle Reynolds number ( R e p ) ~ 470 show an unstable particle–particle interaction regime characterized by randomness while altering pure water to a 25% ( v/v ) water–glycerin mixture ( R e p ~ 200 ) transitions an unstable interaction to a stable prominent repulsion regime where particles’ final separation distance can extend up to four times the initial distance. This indicates the existence of R e p at which the stability of the interactions is achieved. The quantified trajectories indicate that when particles are within minimal proximity, a direct relation between repulsion and R e p exists with varying repulsion characteristics. This was determined by observing unique bottle-shaped trajectories in the prominent repulsion regimes and further highlighted by investigating the rate of lateral separation distance and velocity characteristics. Additionally, a threshold distance in which the particles do not interact (or negligibly interact) and settle independently seems to exist at the normalized 2D lateral separation distance.

Keywords: hydraulic fracturing; proppant settling; particle–particle interaction; stable repulsion; particle lateral velocity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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