Numerical simulation of convective flows in a soil during the evaporation of water containing a dissolved admixture

The concentration profile is investigated for a solution that saturates a low-permeability soil. The simulation results showed the presence of three flow regimes. The salt accumulated near the phase transition boundary increases the solution density and may lead to the development of natural concentration-induced convection which interacts with the rising flow (forced convection). The stability threshold of the forced flow and the effect on it of natural convection that arises are determined. It is shown that at intense flow to the evaporation surface the admixture concentration increases at this boundary rapidly and reaches the saturation concentration. In this case, the admixture precipitates. In the slow evaporation regime the admixture diffuses from the high-concentration region, which prevents the development of convective flow.