An experimental model for visual studies of turbulent flow in porous materials

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Abstract
A two‐dimensional experimental model has been developed to simulate turbulent flow in porous materials. It uses cross flow through a matrix of cylinders between parallel plexiglass plates. Matrix geometry was chosen to approximate a bed of packed spheres.Pressure loss and axial dispersion in several models have been measured over a wide range of flow rates in the non‐Darcy region. Photographs have been taken of flow patterns developed in the transition from laminar to fully turbulent flow. All typical characteristics of flow through beds of packed spheres were exhibited; however, both pressure loss and dispersion differed somewhat when compared to similar three‐dimensional flow.