Mathematical modelling of fluid flow and heat and pollutant transport in a porous medium with embedded objects : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mathematics, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2018
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Massey University
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Abstract
How does heat and/or pollutant transfer from objects embedded in the ground depend on their size, shape and burial depth, and how does the dispersion of heat and/or pollution in groundwater aquifers depend on the soil properties, the speed of the groundwater flow, etc.?
In detail, the aims of present study are:
- To investigate how the size, shape and position of an object or set of solid or partially pervious objects, e.g., fluid tanks, pipes, etc., embedded in a porous medium affect the local speed and shape of the flow.
- If heat is ejected from the solid objects e.g., fuel storage cylindrical tanks, radioactive waste reservoirs in deep geological formations, etc., and/or a pollutant is released from, or removed by, the pervious object, e.g., septic tanks, disposal of drums of contaminants, etc., how does the subsequent dispersal through a groundwater aquifer depend on the various parameters involved (e.g., the object size, object's burial depth, perviousness of the object, the aquifer's depth, the fluid flow rates, etc.)?
- What is the effect of the non-homogeneity in matrix properties (e.g. permeability or hydraulic conductivity) on fluid flow, pollutant and heat transport rates?
This study pursues answers to these questions. The porous medium fluid flow equations, and the advection-dispersion equations that model the heat and/or species transport, have coeffients that depend mainly on depth. Generally, analytic solutions are not possible. In order to investigate the effects of various objects of different shapes embedded in a porous
medium, I have developed numerical algorithms and used some special mathematical techniques for two-dimensional models, namely conformal mappings within the framework of complex analysis.
The velocity potential and (2-D) stream function satisfy Laplace's equation. Central and one-sided finite difference methods are applied to solve this equation subject to a chosen combination of constant-head or constant-flux boundary conditions. Results are discussed for various embedded shapes in homogeneous and layered groundwater aquifers. A Matlab command "contour" is used to depict the streamlines and equipotential lines, and the resulting temperature or pollutant concentrations.
Steady-state and time-dependent forced convection heat/pollutant transfer from some cylinders embedded in groundwater are explored numerically using finite difference methods. The results show that the size, shape, position, perviousness and burial depth of the cylinder affect the pressure drop, as well as the pollutant and/or heat transfer. Moreover advection and
dispersion depend on the permeability structure and the fluid speed.
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Keywords
Groundwater flow -- Mathematical models, Groundwater -- Pollution, Transport theory, Heat -- Transmission -- Mathematical models, Boundary value problems, Darcy's law