Tracer dispersion of non-Newtonian fluids in a Hele–Shaw cell

We report here a study of the transport and tracer dispersion properties of fluids in a model of fractured media. The tracer dispersion process was analyzed using Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (polymeric solutions). Experiments were carried out in a Hele–Shaw cell using axial flow and dyes as tracers. We analyze the influence of polymers presenting shear-thinning characteristics on the dispersion properties. It was found that the dispersion coefficient decreases when polymer concentration increases.