International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management
Volume X, Issue X, Month XXXX
https://www.ijresm.com | ISSN (Online): 2581-5792
Electrokinetic Effects in Microcrack Flow
Aida Aslanova1
1
Petroleum Engineering Department, Baku Higher Oil School, Baku, Azerbaijan
Abstract: The rheophysical properties of water flow in a
microcrack model was considered experimentally. Antistatic
reagent was used to regulate the electrode potential of water
system. Mass flow curves and Pressure recovery Curves (PRC)
were plotted and examined under the effect of the antistatic
additive. It was experimentally revealed that the regulation of
electrostatic potential of the water system has a significant role on
the fluid flow behavior in microchannels.
Keywords: antistatic additive, electrostatic potential, openness
of the microcrack, microchannel, hydraulic resistance,
1. Introduction
The regulation of thermohydrodynamic properties of liquid
systems using physical and physico-chemical methods is one of
the important aspects of rheophysical problems in oil and gas
industry.
The constituent parts of real fluid systems are practically non-
conducting, non-magnetically active components. Real
heterogeneous hydrocarbon systems, from the structural point
of view, consist of an infinite number of microscopic local ion-
electrostatic cores distributed in the volume of the dispersion
medium.
According to the Cohen rule, an electric double layer is formed
at the contact boundaries of different components in
heterogeneous systems and result in additional resistance and
flow attenuation [1]-[9]. Electrokinetic properties of this type
of structures are characterized by a certain electrode potential.
Prof. F. H. Veliyev called this potential the α-factor and put
forward such an idea that by reducing the α-factor by various
physical and chemical methods, it is possible to eliminate the
additional resistance created in the system and improve the fluid
flow [10].
It has also been established [11] that starting from a certain
critical size of the opening of the microchannels, the linearity
of the fluid flow behavior violates and the flow of a Newtonian
fluid (water, viscous oil) becomes non-Newtonian. This leads
to the manifestation of an initial pressure gradient and flow
locking. However, there is no consensus on the mechanism of
these phenomena, although there are different approaches to
explain the abnormal hydrodynamic behavior of liquids during
flow in microchannels.
2. Experimental setup
The experimental setup consisted of a model with two 0.04 m
thick 40X grade stainless steel plates, a high pressure cylinder
*Corresponding author:
1
and a thermostat. A gap of 0.3m length and 0.04m width was
placed between the plates of the model to ensure the fluid flow.
Two high-precision pressure gauges have been installed in the
inlet and outlet of the model to measure the pressure drop
through the model. The mass flow rate of the liquid was
measured on electronic scales with an accuracy of 0.005 mg.
The non-wettable gasket was used to form the flat microcrack
model of rectangular cross-section. The experiment was held in
the openness clearance of 20 micron at temperature of 30o. The
process was carried out under the isothermal condition.
3. Results and Discussion
To begin with, the antistatic additive ND-12 reagent was used
to reduce the electrode potential (ϕ) of water, using a platinum
electrode.
Antistatic additive was added to the water starting with very
little amounts of 0.001% and increased till 0.1%. The electrode
potential change of water as a function of additive amount was
shown in Fig. 1. As the percentage of contribution increased, a
significant decrease in potential was observed up to 0.006%,
and the potential began to increase with the subsequent increase
of the percentage of additive. After 0.031%, the electrostatic
potential of the liquid stabilized regardless of increase in
additive percentage.
Thus, it was determined that there is a non-monotonic
dependence between the amount of additive and the reduction
of water potential, and the minimum value of the potential is
obtained at very small percentages of addition.
In order to observe the influence of the potential change on the
dynamics, the experiments were conducted for 3 cases: with
pure water (“1” in graphs (initial static potensial is ϕ= 250
mV)), with water with 0.006% additive (“2” in graphs (initial
static potensial is ϕ= 22mV)), with water with 0.045% additive
(“3” in graphs (initial static potensial is ϕ=136mV)).
A. Author et al. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, VOL. 4, NO. 6, JUNE 2021 2

300 4
250 3.5
Potensial (mV)

∆𝑃 (105 𝑃𝑎)
3
200 2.5 1
150 2 2
100 1.5 3
1
50 0.5
0 0
0.000 0.010 0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050 0 20 40 60 80
c (ND-12) (%) t (s)

Fig. 1. Electrode potential change for water Fig. 3. Pressure Recovery Curves. 1-pure water, 2- water with 0.006%
additive, 3- water with 0.045% additive, 4-inlet pressure of the model
The experiment has been realized with the opennes of 20
micrometer of microchannel model. Consecutively, pure water Pressure recovery curves (PRC) are one of the vital parameters
and water with 0.006% and 0.045% of antistatic additive were in flow analysis. PRC have been plotted in two different
passed through the model under temperature of 30 o, with versions: 1. inlet of the model was set to the constant pressure
atmospheric pressure at the outlet. Mass flow curves were and outlet of the model was closed (Fig. 3) and 2. Both inlet and
plotted and shown on Fig. 2. outlet of the model were closed (Fig. 4). In the former case, the
pressure recovery in pure water system was recovered in 70sec
with the pressure differences of 0.3 atm between the inlet and
0.06 outlet of the model. However, pressure recovery period in water
system with 0.006% additive contribution is 45sec with no
0.05 3
2 pressure differences. So, pressure recovery period shows
0.04 significant contraction under the effect of antistatic reagent.
1
Fig.4 also shows the similar decline in the pressure recovery
m (g/s)

0.03 time for three different fluid systems.

0.02
4.5
0.01
4
0 3.5
0 1 2 3 4 5
3
ΔP (atm)
∆𝑃 (105 𝑃𝑎)

2.5
Fig. 2. Mass flow curves. 1-pure water, 2- water with 0.006% additive, 3- 2
water with 0.045% additive 1
1.5 2
Flow curves describe the volume change as a function of 1 3
presure increase in the inlet of the microcracked model for three 0.5
different fluid contents. The slope of each line corresponds to
0
the dynamic fluid viscosity. All trends are almost parallel with
0 20 40 60 80
similar slopes. So, viscosity does not have a significant change t (s)
under the effect of microcrack critical level. Fig. 4. Pressure Recovery Curves. 1-pure water, 2- water with 0.006%
From the analysis of flow curves in each fluid system, a additive, 3- water with 0.045% additive
significant increase in fluid flow is observed under the effect of
antistatic additive. As an example, at ΔP=105 Pa, pure water 4. Conclusion
flows with the value of 0.15 g/s, while this figure is 0.21 g/s in
ND-12 reagent was used as an antistatic additive to regulate the
the system of water with 0.006% antistatic additive
static potential of water system. Pure water and water with two
contribution. This shows 28% increase in mass flow. Under the
different additive percentages were passed through the
same pressure decline, the water system with 0.045% additive
microcrack model. Mass flow curves and pressure recovery
contribution flows with 0.17 g/s which lies between the value
curves were plotted for water with different electric potentials.
of pure water and water system with 0.006% reagent
It was determined that by adjusting the electrostatic potential of
contribution.
the fluid system, the hydraulic resistance through the
It is worth to mention that, this trend perfectly corresponds with microcrack model can be significantly reduced by means of
the static potensial change of the water systems. which mass flow rate of the fluid flow is worthly increased.
The analysis of the changes of PRC under the effect of the
additives was also revealed that recovery process through the
A. Author et al. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, VOL. 4, NO. 6, JUNE 2021 3

microchannels was accelerated with the addition of the

antistatic reagent.

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