Characteristics of Mixing Length in Dispersion Through Unsaturated Glass Beads Media

Abstract

In this research, the effect of grain sizes on dispersion phenomena in unsaturated flow conditions were investigated. Miscible displacement experiments were carried out using three different but uniform sizes of glass beads as porous media. Mixing length theory concept was employed to analyze the experimental data. Mixing lengths were found almost constant to each media having uniform grain size distribution, in the lower range of moisture contents. They were however found increasing with increasing grain size of the media. The ratio of the mixing length to the grain size of the media was obtained almost constant. This constant number, named “Mixing Length Number” was found almost equal to 8. Applicability of the proposed model for dispersion coefficient based on mixing length theory was checked by experimental data.