A three-dimensional level set simulation of coupled reactive transport and precipitation/dissolution

A level set method for capturing interface evolution has been integrated into the standard grid-based approach to simulate flow and reactive transport in complex porous media geometries. The numerical methods are described in detail and the simulations were performed in three-dimensions. Validations by comparing with one-dimensional analytical solution and by performing a grid-refinement study were conducted. Precipitation and/or dissolution in a three-dimensional pore throat with varying throat aperture were simulated. The three-dimensional effects of flow conditions and reaction rates were explored quantitatively. The permeability–porosity relationship calculated from simulations was compared with empirical Carman–Kozeny constitutive models to illustrate their limitations.