Transient Mass Transport within Stokes Eddies Induced in a Junction of Orthogonal Flow Branches

Abstract

The model of junction of four orthogonal channels is used to investigate mass transport within viscous eddies developing through channel networks. These viscous eddies may develop in low flow rate branches of channel networks and may control solute transport. Thus, to contribute to the knowledge of the influence of viscous eddies on solute transport in channel networks, the analysis of the streamline patterns is conducted for various flow rates and the threshold of the flow rate for the appearance of eddies is determined. Following this, the calculation of the mass transport is carried out in function of time when a permanent source of solute is applied at the inlet of the system. This calculation is carried out for different values of the Péclet number in order to highlight diffusive and convective transport mechanisms. The results show that the effect of eddies for transporting the solute may be significant.