Experimental Visualization and Analysis of the Clogging of an Idealized Porous Medium

This paper investigates pore-scale clogging behavior through experimental study of the settling process of particle populations within three idealized permeable structures. Specifically, the effects of particle diameter relative to pore size and the number of injected particles on clog formation are examined. The experiments were conducted in a controlled indoor environment, using high-speed cameras to capture detailed real-time footage of the clogging process. Through image detection and analysis techniques, particle accumulation, and clog formation at pore entrances and within internal pore throats were closely observed. To ensure the reliability of the results, each experiment was repeated twenty times, allowing statistical assessment of clogging probability under varying conditions. Finally, based on the observed clogging behavior and statistical analysis, a predictive model for clogging probability as a function of the particle-to-pore size ratio and the number of injected particles was developed. These findings also contribute to a better understanding of clogging phenomena at the macroscopic scale.