title: Density-driven convection enhanced by an inclined boundary: implications for geological CO2 storage.
abstract: We experimentally examine dissolution-generated, density-driven convection with an inclined boundary in both a Hele-Shaw cell and in a porous medium. The convection, manifested by descending, dense fingers, is generated by a diffusive mixing of two liquids at the interface. We investigate the dynamics, widths, and wavelengths of the fingers and characterize the global convective transport for a wide range of permeabilities and tilt angles of the boundaries. Our results have implications for CO(2) storage in a saline aquifer when brine saturated with CO(2) produces a heavier mixture, which may result in an enhanced mass transfer by convection. Our measurements reveal a further enhancement of convection with inclined boundaries, which suggests that sloping formations provide improved sites for CO(2) storage.
authors: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. p.a.tsai@utwente.nl
authors: Peichun A
authors: PA
authors: Tsai
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Riesing
authors: Howard A
authors: HA
authors: Stone
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide