On the definition and derivatives of macroscale energy for the description of multiphase systems

Modeling of flow and transport in environmental systems often involves formulation of conservation equations at spatial scales involving tens to hundreds of pore diameters in porous media or the depth of flow in a channel. Quantities such as density, temperature, internal energy, and velocity may not be uniform over these macroscopic length scales. The external gravitational potential causes gradients in density, pressure, and chemical potential even at equilibrium. Despite these complications, it is important to formulate the thermodynamic analysis of environmental systems at the macroscopic scale. Heretofore, this has been accomplished primarily using the approach of rational thermodynamics whereby the thermodynamic dependence of macroscale internal energy on macroscale variables is hypothesized directly without development of any systematic method for transforming microscale energy dependence from the microscale to the macroscale. However when thermodynamic variables are inhomogeneous at the microscale, the functional dependence of macroscale internal energy on macroscale variables is not a simple extension of the microscale case. In the present work, the relation between the definitions of microscale and macroscale intensive thermodynamic variables is established. Expressions for the material derivatives of macroscale internal energy of phases, interfaces, and common lines are derived from and consistent with their microscopic counterparts by integrating to the macroscale. The forms obtained and the consistency required will be important for use in analyses of systems at scales where microscopic heterogeneities cannot be neglected.     

Efficient flow and transport simulations in reconstructed 3D pore geometries

Upscaling pore-scale processes into macroscopic quantities such as hydrodynamic dispersion is still not a straightforward matter for porous media with complex pore space geometries. Recently it has become possible to obtain very realistic 3D geometries for the pore system of real rocks using either numerical reconstruction or micro-CT measurements. In this work, we present a finite element–finite volume simulation method for modeling single-phase fluid flow and solute transport in experimentally obtained 3D pore geometries. Algebraic multigrid techniques and parallelization allow us to solve the Stokes and advection–diffusion equations on large meshes with several millions of elements. We apply this method in a proof-of-concept study of a digitized Fontainebleau sandstone sample. We use the calculated velocity to simulate pore-scale solute transport and diffusion. From this, we are able to calculate the a priori emergent macroscopic hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient of the porous medium for a given molecular diffusion D_m of the solute species. By performing this calculation at a range of flow rates, we can correctly predict all of the observed flow regimes from diffusion dominated to convection dominated.     

基于两级尺度粗化的裂缝-多孔隙介质地震响应分析方法

实际地震勘探中,储层物性参数的差异是导致地震波响应特征发生变化的根本原因,而建立储层物性参数与地震响应特征之间的联系,需要跨越微观孔隙尺度、介观测井尺度以及宏观地震尺度等三个不同尺度空间.本文基于已知井的岩石物理实验数据和测井数据,利用复杂多孔隙介质理论将微观尺度孔隙岩石粗化到介观测井尺度,利用Backus平均理论将介观测井尺度的模型进一步粗化到宏观地震尺度,最终,得到地震尺度裂缝-多孔隙介质模型.其数值计算结果与测井数据和地震数据的对比表明：基于两级尺度粗化算法的裂缝多孔隙介质模型在给定参数下是有效的,且基于该模型的地震响应特征分析方法能够对储层的地震响应特征随物性参数的变化进行分析.     

Seminumerical simulation of singly dispersive convection in groundwater

Geothermal activity may lead to convection currents in groundwater. Such currents considerably affect transport phenomena in the aquifer. In this study, the applicability of a seminumerical approach for the simulation of flow conditions in such an aquifer is presented. Flow field variables are expanded through truncated sets of eigenfunctions, which leads to a system of general first-order differential equations that can be solved by applying available subroutines. Criteria of flow field stability, parameters affecting flow conditions, and quantitative analysis of transport processes in the aquifer are studied.     

Experimental analysis of pore-scale flow and transport in porous media

A novel, non-intrusive fluorescence imaging technique has been used to quantitatively measure the pore geometry, fluid velocity, and solute concentration within a saturated, three-dimensional porous medium. Discrete numerical averages of these quantities have been made over a representative volume of the medium and used to estimate macroscopic quantities that appear in conventional continuum models of flow and transport. The approach is meant to illustrate how microscopic information can be measured, averaged, and used to characterize medium-scale processes that are typically approximated constitutively. The experimental system consisted of a clear, cylindrical column packed with clear spherical beads and a refractive index-matched fluid seeded with fluorescent tracer particles and solute dye. By illuminating the fluid within the column with a scanning planar laser beam, details of flow and concentration within the pore spaces can be quantitatively observed, allowing for three-dimensional, dimensional, time dependent information to be obtained at good resolution. In time dependent information to be obtained at good resolution. In the current experiment, volumetrically averaged velocities and void-to-volume ratios are first compared with bulk measurements of fluid flux and medium porosity. Microscopic measurements of concentration are then used to construct cross-sectionally averaged profiles, mean breakthrough curves, and direct measurements of the dispersive flux, velocity variance, and concentration variance. In turn, the dispersive flux measurements are compared with mean concentration gradients to provide a basis for confirming the Fickian dispersion model and estimating dispersion coefficients for the medium. Coefficients determined in this manner are compared with others based upon traditional length-scale arguments, mean breakthrough analyses, and curve fits with numerical simulations.     

Estimating sediment transport in a braided gravel channel — The Kawerong River, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

It is difficult to estimate sediment transport in braided rivers because of the complex hydraulics of rapidly changing multi-channel systems. This paper describes an algorithm for generating sets of braided-river hydraulic parameters for use with sediment transport equations. The algorithm uses random number-based simulation techniques and empirically determined probability distributions of individual hydraulic variables from the White River (U.S.A.) and the Kawerong River. A test of the suitability of the algorithm for the estimation of sediment transport was carried out over a period of two years using the Meyer-Peter and Muller equation on eight reaches of the Kawerong River in which sediment transport is known. The test produced a mean absolute error of 16.3% suggesting that the algorithm may have some potential in braided-river modelling.     

Non-Fickian mass transport in fractured porous media

The paper provides an introduction to fundamental concepts of mathematical modeling of mass transport in fractured porous heterogeneous rocks. Keeping aside many important factors that can affect mass transport in subsurface, our main concern is the multi-scale character of the rock formation, which is constituted by porous domains dissected by the network of fractures. Taking into account the well-documented fact that porous rocks can be considered as a fractal medium and assuming that sizes of pores vary significantly (i.e. have different characteristic scales), the fractional-order differential equations that model the anomalous diffusive mass transport in such type of domains are derived and justified analytically. Analytical solutions of some particular problems of anomalous diffusion in the fractal media of various geometries are obtained. Extending this approach to more complex situation when diffusion is accompanied by advection, solute transport in a fractured porous medium is modeled by the advection-dispersion equation with fractional time derivative. In the case of confined fractured porous aquifer, accounting for anomalous non-Fickian diffusion in the surrounding rock mass, the adopted approach leads to introduction of an additional fractional time derivative in the equation for solute transport. The closed-form solutions for concentrations in the aquifer and surrounding rocks are obtained for the arbitrary time-dependent source of contamination located in the inlet of the aquifer. Based on these solutions, different regimes of contamination of the aquifers with different physical properties can be readily modeled and analyzed.     

The movement of sediment in rivers

Sediment movement in rivers is a complex phenomenon. The rate of sediment transport is related to many variables such as water discharge, average flow velocity, stream power, energy slope, shear stress, water depth, particle size, water temperature, and strength of turbulence. Different theories of sediment transport were developed by assuming different independent variables as the dominant variables. This survey provides a comprehensive review of the important theories of incipient motion and sediment transport. It discusses basic concepts and findings upon which knowledge of sediment transport is based and presents mathematical derivations and equations only in sufficient detail to illustrate some basic concepts. Data collected from natural rivers and laboratory flumes are used to compare the accuracy and applicability of different sediment transport equations. Finally, procedures are suggested for selecting sediment transport equations under different flow and sediment conditions.     

PROGRAMME DE L'ASSEMBLÉE DE TORONTO A. I. H. S.

Synopsis

A method of synthesis has been used to combine the variables characterising sediment transport in laboratory flumes into nondimensional functional equations. These equations are used to provide a basis for logical data correlations. By selecting appropriate nondimensional groups the effect of variation of individual variables such as flume width, sediment grain size, etc., can be determined. It has been found that work of this nature is hampered by the small amount of data available from rational experimentation. Much of the published data is unsuitable for direct use in correlations but may be of use in the future once the trend of results has been predicted by more limited but more basic data. When sufficient data for the transport of light weight materials is available correlations of the type presented may provide a secure basis for the choice of bed material for hydraulic models.     

Computation of ray amplitudes in inhomogeneous media with curved interfaces

Summary This paper is a continuation of[1]. It is mainly devoted to problems connected with the application of the method of determination of geometrical spreading in laterally inhomogeneous media with curved interfaces based on the solution of eight (in a three-dimensional medium) or two (in a two-dimensional medium) linear ordinary differential equations of the first order. The method of determination of the partial derivatives of velocity with respect to the special coordinates, connected with the ray under investigation, and the methods of determination of the initial values for the system of differential equations at the source and at the interfaces are proposed.     

Using data assimilation method to calibrate a heterogeneous conductivity field and improve solute transport prediction with an unknown contamination source

Hydraulic conductivity distribution and plume initial source condition are two important factors affecting solute transport in heterogeneous media. Since hydraulic conductivity can only be measured at limited locations in a field, its spatial distribution in a complex heterogeneous medium is generally uncertain. In many groundwater contamination sites, transport initial conditions are generally unknown, as plume distributions are available only after the contaminations occurred. In this study, a data assimilation method is developed for calibrating a hydraulic conductivity field and improving solute transport prediction with unknown initial solute source condition. Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is used to update the model parameter (i.e., hydraulic conductivity) and state variables (hydraulic head and solute concentration), when data are available. Two-dimensional numerical experiments are designed to assess the performance of the EnKF method on data assimilation for solute transport prediction. The study results indicate that the EnKF method can significantly improve the estimation of the hydraulic conductivity distribution and solute transport prediction by assimilating hydraulic head measurements with a known solute initial condition. When solute source is unknown, solute prediction by assimilating continuous measurements of solute concentration at a few points in the plume well captures the plume evolution downstream of the measurement points.     

Transport in chemically and mechanically heterogeneous porous media IV: large-scale mass equilibrium for solute transport with adsorption

In this article we consider the transport of an adsorbing solute in a two-region model of a chemically and mechanically heterogeneous porous medium when the condition of large-scale mechanical equilibrium is valid. Under these circumstances, a one-equation model can be used to predict the large-scale averaged velocity, but a two-equation model may be required to predict the regional velocities that are needed to accurately describe the solute transport process. If the condition of large-scale mass equilibrium is valid, the solute transport process can be represented in terms of a one-equation model and the analysis is simplified greatly. The constraints associated with the condition of large-scale mass equilibrium are developed, and when these constraints are satisfied the mass transport process can be described in terms of the large-scale average velocity, an average adsorption isotherm, and a single large-scale dispersion tensor. When the condition of large-scale mass equilibrium is not valid, two equations are required to describe the mass transfer process, and these two equations contain two adsorption isotherms, two dispersion tensors, and an exchange coefficient. The extension of the analysis to multi-region models is straight forward but tedious.     

VTI介质起伏地表地震波场模拟

起伏地表下地震波场模拟有助于解释主动源和被动源地震探测中穿过山脉和盆地的测线所获得的资料.然而传统的有限差分法处理起伏的自由边界比较困难,为了克服这一困难,我们将笛卡尔坐标系的各向异性介质弹性波方程和自由边界条件变换到曲线坐标系中,采用一种稳定的、显式的二阶精度有限差分方法离散(曲线坐标系)VTI介质中的弹性波方程;对...     

Analytical solutions for solute transport in saturated porous media with semi-infinite or finite thickness

Three-dimensional analytical solutions for solute transport in saturated, homogeneous porous media are developed. The models account for three-dimensional dispersion in a uniform flow field, first-order decay of aqueous phase and sorbed solutes with different decay rates, and nonequilibrium solute sorption onto the solid matrix of the porous formation. The governing solute transport equations are solved analytically by employing Laplace, Fourier and finite Fourier cosine transform techniques. Porous media with either semi-infinite or finite thickness are considered. Furthermore, continuous as well as periodic source loadings from either a point or an elliptic source geometry are examined. The effect of aquifer boundary conditions as well as the source geometry on solute transport in subsurface porous formations is investigated.     

A method to solve the advection-dispersion equation with a kinetic adsorption isotherm

This study deals with a method to solve the transport equations for a kinetically adsorbing solute in a porous medium with spatially varying velocity field and dispersion coefficients. Making use of the stochastic nature of a first-order kinetic process, we show that the advection-dispersion equation and the adsorption isotherm can be decoupled. Once the solution for a non-adsorbing solute is known, the method provides an exact solution for the kinetically adsorbing solute. The method is worked out in four examples. In particular we demonstrate how the method can be applied simultaneously with a numerical transport code: the advective-dispersive transport is computed numerically, whereas kinetic effects are incorporated analytically. The proposed approach may be useful in field scale applications with complex flow patterns.