Zeliang Liang1,2, Jia Tan1,*, Jiachao She2, Fengnian Wang2, Yi Wang2, Donghao Li3, Rugang Duan3, Haotian Chu4
Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.24, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2026.078050
- 31 August 2026
Abstract Significant wettability differences between proppants and coal matrices in deep coal reservoirs limit gas–water mass transfer, a key factor for coalbed methane recovery. This study develops a hybrid wettability fracture model using in-situ data, coupling Navier–Stokes equations with a phase-field method to simulate multi-scale gas–water flow. A random wettability mapping technique captures spatial heterogeneity. The critical capillary number (Ca)-balancing capillary and viscous forces-serves as the key threshold governing flow pathways. At low Ca, capillary forces dominate, causing liquid film aggregation and gas blockage; at high Ca, viscous forces break films and open pathways. Wettability gradients drive asynchronous More >