What is Tomas number?

The Tomas number is a dimensionless number used in fluid mechanics to characterize the flow of fluid in porous media, particularly in relation to the movement of gas through a porous medium. It is defined as the ratio of the inertia forces to the viscous forces acting on the fluid. A higher Tomas number indicates a more significant influence of inertial effects compared to viscous effects, which can affect the flow behavior in various applications, such as oil recovery and groundwater flow.