Density-driven Transport of Volatile Organic Compounds and its Impact on Contaminated Groundwater Plume Evolution

Density-driven advection of gas phase due to vaporization of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has a significant effect on fate and transport of contaminants. In this study, we investigated the effects of density-driven advection, infiltration, and permeability on contaminant plume evolution and natural attenuation of VOCs in the subsurface system. To analyze these effects, multiphase flow and contaminant transport processes were simulated using a three-dimensional Galerkin-finite-element-based model. Trichloroethylene (TCE) is selected as a target contaminant. Density-driven advection of gas phase elevated the potential of groundwater pollution in the saturated zone by accelerating downward migration of vaporized contaminant in the unsaturated zone. The advection contributed to increased removal rates of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) TCE source and reduced dissolved TCE plume development in the downstream area. Infiltration reduced the velocity of the density-driven advection and its influence zone, but raised TCE transfer from the unsaturated to the saturated zone. The variation in soil permeability showed greater impact on contaminant migration within water phase in the saturated zone than within gas phase in the unsaturated zone. Temporal variations of TCE mass within two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) domains under several modeling conditions were compared. These results are important in evaluation of natural attenuation processes, and should be considered to effectively design monitored natural attenuation as a remedial option.     

Effect of biotransformation on multispecies plume evolution and natural attenuation

Biological transformation of volatile organic compounds is one of the key factors that influence contaminant-plume evolution and thus natural attenuation. In this study we investigate the effect of biological transformation on the transport of contaminants in the aqueous and gaseous phases. The analysis includes the study of the effect of density-driven advection of contaminants in the gaseous phase on multiphase and multispecies flow, fate and transport modeling in the subsurface. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and its two byproducts, dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, are analyzed as the target contaminants. Our results indicate that density-driven advection of the gaseous phase, which is initiated by evaporation of TCE as a nonaqueous phase liquid, increases the downward and also the lateral migration of TCE within the unsaturated zone. This process also influences the location of high-concentration zones of the byproducts of TCE in the unsaturated and the saturated zones. Biotransformation of TCE contributes to the reduction of dissolved TCE plume development as expected. The daughter byproducts, which are introduced into the subsurface system, show distinct transport patterns as they are affected by their independent degradation kinetics and density-driven advection. These observations, which are based on our simulation results for biotransformation and transport of TCE and its byproducts, are useful in evaluating the natural attenuation processes, its potential health hazards and also the evaluation of potential plume development at contaminated sites.     

New Considerations on Analytical Solutions Employed in Tracer Flow Modeling

A methodology commonly used to obtain analytical and semi-analytical solutions to describe spike and finite-step tracer injection tests is discussed. In these cases, solutions to the diffusion–convection equation are derived from the solution of a different problem, namely the continuous injection of a tracer. Within this procedure, spike injection results from the time derivative of this solution, and finite-step injection from the superposition of two solutions shifted in time. In this paper we show that although this methodology is mathematically correct, attention should be paid to the properties of the solutions. Their boundary conditions may not represent physically acceptable situations, since these conditions are inherited from a different problem. The application of the methodology to a simple one-dimensional case of a tracer pulse diffusing in a homogeneous, semi-infinite reservoir shows serious problems regarding boundary conditions and mass conservation. These problems has not probably been found before since tracer breakthrough curves are not very sensitive to them. However, the problems clearly show up when the tracer distribution in space is analyzed. We conclude that the traditional methodology should not be employed. Equations should be solved imposing the specific boundary and initial conditions corresponding to the original system under consideration.     

Mathematical Model of Coalbed Gas Flow with Klinkenberg Effects in Multi-Physical Fields and its Analytic Solution

The deep-mining coal seam impacted by high in situ stress, where Klinkenberg effects for gas flow were very obvious due to low gas permeability, could be regarded as a porous and tight gas-bearing media. Moreover, the Klinkenberg effects had a significant effect on gas flow behavior of deep-mining coal seam. Based on the gas flow properties of deep-mining coal seams affected by in situ stress field, geothermal temperature field and geo-electric field, a new mathematical model of coalbed gas flow, which reflected the impact of Klinkenberg effects on coalbed gas flow properties in multi-physical fields, was developed by establishing the flow equation, state equation, and continuity equation and content equation of coalbed gas. The analytic solution was derived for the model of one-dimensional steady coalbed gas flow with Klinkenberg effects affected by in situ stress field and geothermal temperature field, and a sensitivity analysis of its physical parameters was carried out by comparing available analytic solutions and the measured values. The results show that the analytic solutions of this model of coalbed gas flow with Klinkenberg effects are closer to the measured values compared to those without Klinkenberg effects, and this model can reflect more accurately gas flow of deep-mining coal seams. Moreover, the analytic solution of this model is more sensitive to the change of Klinkenberg factor b and temperature grad G than depth h.     

Effect of temperature gradient within a solid particle on the rotation and oscillation modes in solid-dispersed two-phase flows

Liquid–solid two-phase flow with heat transfer is simulated, and the effect of temperature gradient within a solid particle on the particle behaviour and heat transfer is studied. The interaction between fluid and particles is considered with our original immersed solid approach on a rectangular grid system. The local heat flux at the fluid–solid interface is described with an anisotropic heat conductivity matrix, and the governing equation of temperature is time-updated with an implicit treatment for the diffusion term. The method is applied to a 2-D natural convection flow of a relatively low Rayleigh number including multiple particles. Heat transfer and particle behaviours are studied for different solid heat conductivities (ratio to the fluid conductivity ranging between 10⁻³ and 10³) and solid volume fractions. Under a condition of relatively low heat conductivity ratio, the particles show a simple circulating flow. By increasing the heat conductivity ratio, a transition of the particulate flow is observed to oscillation mode around the domain centre due to the buoyancy force as a restitution force. The oscillation period is found to vary with the heat conductivity ratio, and it is related to the time scales for the heat transfer via fluid and solid.     

Effect of a Dispersed Admixture on the Flow Pattern and Heat Transfer in a Supersonic Dusty-Gas Flow Around a Cylinder

A mathematical model of two-phase (gas-solid particle) flow which takes into account particle-particle collisions and the feedback effect of the admixture on the gas parameters is proposed. The dispersed phase is described by a kinetic equation of the Boltzmann type and the carrier gas by modified Navier-Stokes equations. Using this model, a supersonic uniform dusty-gas flow past a cylinder is calculated. The fields of the macroparameters of the admixture and the carrier medium are obtained. The dependence of the heat transfer at the stagnation point on the relative particle size and the free-stream admixture concentration is studied in detail. The ranges of these parameters on which particle collisions and the feedback effect of the admixture on the carrier-gas flow are important are found.     

Effect of gap and flow orientation on two-phase flow in an oil-wet gap: Relative permeability curves and flow structures

Naturally fractured reservoirs contain about 25–30% of the world supply of oil. In these reservoirs, fractures are the dominant flow path. Therefore, a good understanding of transfer parameters such as relative permeability as well as flow regimes occurring in a fracture plays an important role in developing and improving oil production from such complex systems. However, in contrast with gas–liquid flow in a single fracture, the flow of heavy oil and water has received less attention. In this research, a Hele-Shaw apparatus was built to study the flow of water in presence of heavy oil and display different flow patterns under different flow rates and analyze the effect of fracture orientations on relative permeability curves as well as flow regimes. The phase flow rates versus phase saturation results were converted to experimental relative permeability curves. The results of the experiments demonstrate that, depending on fracture and flow orientation, there could be a significant interference between the phases flowing through the fracture. The results also reveal that both phases can flow in both continuous and discontinuous forms. The relative permeability curves show that the oil–water relative permeability not only depends on fluid saturations and flow patterns but also fracture orientation.     

DNS and Modelling of Passive Scalar Transport in Turbulent Channel Flow with a Focus on Scalar Dissipation Rate Modelling

A direct numerical simulation of turbulent channel flow with an imposed mean scalar gradient is analyzed with a focus on passive scalar flux modelling and in particular the treatment of the passive scalar dissipation equation. The Prandtl number is 0.71 and the Reynolds number based on the wall friction velocity and the channel half width is 265. Budgets are presented for the passive scalar variance and its dissipation rate, as well as for the individual scalar flux components. These form a basis for a discussion of modelling issues related to explicit algebraic scalar flux modelling. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Condensation and Flow of Gas Condensate Fluids in Porous Media

Condensation and flow experiments were conducted at subsurface conditions in a glass micromodel using reservoir fluids with and without the hydrogen sulfide component. It has been noted that the formation of the condensing phase as well as modes of condensate flow are similar for both fluids. Furthermore, an additional condensate transport mechanism, termed lamella flow, was observed with the sour fluid. It has been concluded that core flow experiments conducted with sweet reservoir fluid should reproduce the flow of sour fluid to a large extent.     

Sn和Si含量对Al—Sn—Si合金室温压缩变形流变应力的影响

采用Gleeble-1500试验机，在室温和恒应变速率下，测定了Al-Sn-Si系合金压缩变形的流变应力曲线。结果表明，在Sn、Si含量分别为0－20和0－8wt．％的范围内，当Sn含量恒定时，流变应力随Si含量的增加而增加，而当Si含量恒定时，流变应力则随Sn含量的增加而略有降低；从Al-Sn-Si，Al-Si及Al-Sn 合金流变应力曲线的差异，分析了Sn和Si对合金塑性变形过程的影响机制。     

Pore-Level Modeling of Gas and Condensate Flow in Two- and Three-Dimensional Pore Networks: Pore Size Distribution Effects on the Relative Permeability of Gas and Condensate

We present a mechanistic model of retrograde condensation processes in two- and three-dimensional capillary tube networks under gravitational forces. Condensate filling-emptying cycles in pore segments and gas connection–isolation cycles are included. With the pore-level distribution of gas and condensate in hand, we determine their corresponding relative permeabilities. Details of pore space and displacement are subsumed in pore conductances. Solving for the pressure field in each phase, we find a single effective conductance for each phase as a function of condensate saturation. Along with the effective conductance for the saturated network, the relative permeability for each phase is calculated. Our model porous media are two- and three-dimensional regular networks of pore segments with distributed size and square cross-section. With a Monte Carlo sampling we find the optimum network size to avoid size effects and then we investigate the effect of network dimensionality and pore size distribution on the relative permeabilities of gas and condensate.     

Multiphase Thermohaline Convection in the Earth’s Crust: II. Benchmarking and Application of a Finite Element – Finite Volume Solution Technique with a NaCl–H2O Equation of State

We present the benchmarking of a new finite element – finite volume (FEFV) solution technique capable of modeling transient multiphase thermohaline convection for geological realistic p-T-X conditions. The algorithm embeds a new and accurate equation of state for the NaCl–H₂O system. Benchmarks are carried out to compare the numerical results for the various component-processes of multiphase thermohaline convection. They include simulations of (i) convection driven by temperature and/or concentration gradients in a single-phase fluid (i.e., the Elder problem, thermal convection at different Rayleigh numbers, and a free thermohaline convection example), (ii) multiphase flow (i.e., the Buckley–Leverett problem), and (iii) energy transport in a pure H₂O fluid at liquid, vapor, supercritical, and two-phase conditions (i.e., comparison to the U.S. Geological Survey Code HYDROTHERM). The results produced with the new FEFV technique are in good agreement with the reference solutions. We further present the application of the FEFV technique to the simulation of thermohaline convection of a 400°C hot and 10 wt.% saline fluid rising from 4 km depth. During the buoyant rise, the fluid boils and separates into a high-density, high-salinity liquid phase and a low-density, low-salinity vapor phase.     

Study of the Effect of the Depth of the Cavity of a Braking Device on the Aerodynamic Drag of a Model in Transonic and Supersonic Flow

The flowfield and the aerodynamic drag of a model consisting of a pair of bodies (leading body a cylinder and trailing body a hollow cylinder) connected by a cylindrical bar along the axis of symmetry is experimentally investigated at Mach numbers ranging from 0.6 to 1.7. In the course of the experiments, the trailing body cavity depth and the connecting bar length were varied.__________Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, 2005, pp. 186–192.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pilyugin and Khlebnikov.     

粗糙度对大间隙环流偏心转子动特性系数的影响

基于作者建立的大间隙环流中转子运动的理论模型,用摄动法推导了大间隙环流流场非线性控制方程的一阶摄动方程,采用数值方法研究了静子和转子壁面粗糙度对大间隙环流中偏心转子动特性系数的影响。研究结果表明：静子和转子壁面粗糙度对大间隙环流中偏心转子动特性系数有较大影响。所得到的数值结果与已有的解析解和实验结果具有较好的一致性。