A new fractal permeability model for porous media based on Kozeny-Carman equation

Kozeny-Carman(KC)equation is a semi-empirical equation, which is widely used to predict permeability of porous media in the field of flow. Since the establishment of this equation, many new methods were adopted to increase its accuracy. In this paper, an analytical expression for the permeability in porous media using the fractal theory and capillary model was derived based on Posenille law and Darcy equation, which reflects the permeability, porosity, specific surface area relation. The new proposed model is expressed as a function of three properties of porous media considering the specific surface area from the classical KC equation. Meanwhile the fractalKC constant with no empirical constant is obtained. The result shows that permeability of porous media is the function of fractal dimension of pore structure, tortuosity, macroscopic petrophysical parameters(porosity and specific surface area). The KC constant is not constant and has close relationship with tortuosity, fractal dimension and microscopic pore structure parameters. It is concluded that the permeability calculated by using new fractal model is more accurate than that by other KC equations. ©, 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.