Visualization of imbibition front stability in hybrid wire-mesh media with grooved structures
干道吸液芯中自发渗吸前缘稳定性可视化研究
Published in International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2026
Abstract
Hybrid porous media spontaneous imbibition is governed by coupled capillary force and flow resistance. Grooved metal mesh wicks reduce flow resistance and boost permeability, but existing studies only discuss overall imbibition acceleration, lacking systematic clarification on cross-scale liquid exchange between macrogrooves and micro-mesh, and quantitative laws of imbibition front instability. This study reports a systematic investigation combining high-resolution visualization and theoretical analysis to clarify the regulatory effects of grooved structures on horizontal imbibition dynamics. In contrast to the uniform piston-like displacement in plain meshes, the incorporation of grooves generates a lateral capillary pressure gradient, triggering non-uniform fingering instability across the global front. This phenomenon originates from a transverse liquid supply mechanism, in which grooves replenish adjacent mesh regions. Quantitative analysis based on Chuoke’s theory reveals a critical trade-off: grooves significantly enhance working fluid imbibition rate in adjacent mesh regions but destabilize the overall imbibition front. Among all geometric variables, groove quantity dominates imbibition performance regulation, exerting a much more pronounced influence on liquid uptake speed than groove cross-sectional dimension. The results provide physical design criteria for composite grooved mesh wicks, guiding thermal and energy equipment requiring rapid liquid transport and stable flat imbibition fronts, such as heat pipes and fuel cell gas diffusion layers (GDL).
Recommended citation: Jian Tian, Yugao Ma, Haonan Hou, Suyi Zhang, Chaozhong Qin, Visualization of imbibition front stability in hybrid wire-mesh media with grooved structures, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Volume 179, Part 2, 112238, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2026.112238
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