Dynamics of proppant particle settling within low Reynolds numbers: Roles of particle shape, surface wettability, wall factor, and fluid elasticity

IF 4.5 2区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Powder Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI:10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120741

Facheng Gong , Yimei Chen , Ke Hai , Ludan Zhang , Yuchuan Chang , Shanshan Yao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Characterizing proppant settling in fracturing fluids is essential for optimizing hydraulic fracturing operations. However, the dynamics of proppant settling in viscoelastic fluids within low Reynold numbers remain unclear. In this work, we investigate the settling behavior of real proppants in a narrow space filled with viscoelastic partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solutions to quantify the effects of proppant shape, surface wettability, fracture walls, and fluid elasticity on settling dynamics. Experimental results indicate wall factors lower than studies in literature and negligible influence of particle surface wettability on settling despite different contact angles between resin-coated and non-coated proppants. Fluid elasticity reduces the drag on proppants exponentially, which supports an observation that making thicker HPAM solutions does not always lead to slower proppant settling. New correlations of drag coefficient and terminal settling velocities are developed to quantify the effects of wall retardation and fluid elasticity on particle settling in viscoelastic fluids.

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来源期刊

Powder Technology 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

9.90

自引率

15.40%

发文量

1047

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Powder Technology is an International Journal on the Science and Technology of Wet and Dry Particulate Systems. Powder Technology publishes papers on all aspects of the formation of particles and their characterisation and on the study of systems containing particulate solids. No limitation is imposed on the size of the particles, which may range from nanometre scale, as in pigments or aerosols, to that of mined or quarried materials. The following list of topics is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to indicate typical subjects which fall within the scope of the journal's interests: Formation and synthesis of particles by precipitation and other methods. Modification of particles by agglomeration, coating, comminution and attrition. Characterisation of the size, shape, surface area, pore structure and strength of particles and agglomerates (including the origins and effects of inter particle forces). Packing, failure, flow and permeability of assemblies of particles. Particle-particle interactions and suspension rheology. Handling and processing operations such as slurry flow, fluidization, pneumatic conveying. Interactions between particles and their environment, including delivery of particulate products to the body. Applications of particle technology in production of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, foods, pigments, structural, and functional materials and in environmental and energy related matters. For materials-oriented contributions we are looking for articles revealing the effect of particle/powder characteristics (size, morphology and composition, in that order) on material performance or functionality and, ideally, comparison to any industrial standard.