Infiltration plume in porous media. Comparison between numerical results and a simplified theory

In order to analyse the infiltration of a salt solute punctually injected into a porous medium, a comparison between a simplified theory and numerical simulations is presented. The density contrast between the two miscible fluids, as also the injection flow rate, play an important role. Studies carried out on 2D physical models are shown the existence of a steady-state regime located in the middle of the mixing zone. With such observations, the equations describing the transport phenomenon can be modified in order to lead to a simplified analytic solution. This result experimentally established is bounded by numerical verifications.