New Breakthrough in Transparent Porous Media For Optical Fluid Flow Measurements

Anglet, France – October 30, 2024 — Researchers at the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour have unveiled a new method to create transparent porous media for optical fluid flow measurement using refractive index matching (RIM), revolutionising how to visualise and analyse fluid movement through porous media using visible light.

In a paper published in Applied Optics, lead author Happiness Imuetinyan, along with collaborators Paul Fruton, Cédric Giraudet, and Fabrizio Croccolo, presents a simple and reliable technique that uses shadowgraphy to achieve perfect index matching between porous solids and saturating fluids. This breakthrough significantly improves the transparency of porous media, enabling highly detailed, non-intrusive optical measurements that were previously hindered by distortions and light scattering.

The team designed three transparent porous media using borosilicate glass beads and fluid mixtures tailored to match the refractive index at specific wavelengths. Their innovative method, based on optimising light intensity ratios and standard deviations, provides a quantitative, cost-effective solution applicable to a wide range of fields, including geological CO₂ storage, energy systems, and biological flow studies.

“Our approach simplifies the process of making porous media optically transparent, opening new possibilities for high-precision flow experiments,” said Happiness Imuetinyan. “This technique offers researchers a powerful, accessible tool to deepen our understanding of complex fluid dynamics.”

The research was conducted under the E2S UPPA Hub Newpores and Industrial Chair CO₂ES, with support from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund in Nigeria.

The full study is available at https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.536805.

Contact:
Happiness Imuetinyan
Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour
Email: happiness.imuetinyan@univ-pau.fr