Applied Chemical Engineering

Transport Phenomena and Numerical Modeling of Fluid Loss in Porous Media: A Case Study of Canal Systems for Environmental Process Optimization

Manal Abdulsattar Muhammed

Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, 52001, Wasit, Wasit University

Mahdi Nuhair Rahi

Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, 52001, Wasit, Wasit University

Noor Mohammed Abd

Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, 52001, Wasit, Wasit University

Nuralhuda Aladdin Jasim

Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, 52001, Wasit, Wasit University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i2.5959

Keywords: Reactive transport; Environmental chemical engineering; Porous media; Mass transfer; Adsorption; Finite element modeling; Process optimization

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Abstract

This study presents a chemical engineering-based analysis of transport phenomena in porous media, focusing on the coupled mechanisms of fluid flow and solute migration within an unlined canal system. The work is framed within environmental chemical engineering, where seepage is interpreted not only as a hydraulic loss but also as a transport-driven mechanism governing solute migration, adsorption, and process inefficiency. A combined experimental–numerical approach is employed to characterize porous media properties and simulate transport behavior using finite element modeling (FEM). The governing equations incorporate advection, diffusion, and reaction terms to describe coupled flow and reactive transport processes. Key parameters, including permeability, porosity, and adsorption characteristics of clay-rich soils, are evaluated to quantify both fluid flux and solute transport under varying hydraulic conditions. Results indicate that under low hydraulic gradients, both fluid and solute transport are negligible, whereas high-gradient conditions significantly enhance convective mass transfer and promote contaminant migration. Spatial analysis reveals localized transport “hotspots,” analogous to channeling effects in chemical reactors, leading to non-uniform system efficiency. The findings demonstrate that porous media systems can be effectively modeled as distributed chemical transport reactors, where fluid loss and solute migration are governed by coupled physicochemical interactions. This study provides a novel framework for integrating transport phenomena and process optimization principles in environmental systems, offering strategies for minimizing losses and improving system efficiency through material and operational modifications.

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