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Title: Optimal joule heating of the subsurface

Abstract

A method for simultaneously heating the subsurface and imaging the effects of the heating. This method combines the use of tomographic imaging (electrical resistance tomography or ERT) to image electrical resistivity distribution underground, with joule heating by electrical currents injected in the ground. A potential distribution is established on a series of buried electrodes resulting in energy deposition underground which is a function of the resistivity and injection current density. Measurement of the voltages and currents also permits a tomographic reconstruction of the resistivity distribution. Using this tomographic information, the current injection pattern on the driving electrodes can be adjusted to change the current density distribution and thus optimize the heating. As the heating changes conditions, the applied current pattern can be repeatedly adjusted (based on updated resistivity tomographs) to affect real time control of the heating.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Danville, CA
  2. Livermore, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869380
Patent Number(s):
5325918
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B09 - DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE B09C - RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
optimal; joule; heating; subsurface; method; simultaneously; imaging; effects; combines; tomographic; electrical; resistance; tomography; image; resistivity; distribution; underground; currents; injected; ground; potential; established; series; buried; electrodes; resulting; energy; deposition; function; injection; current; density; measurement; voltages; permits; reconstruction; information; pattern; driving; adjusted; change; optimize; changes; conditions; applied; repeatedly; based; updated; tomographs; affect; time; control; current injection; potential distribution; current density; electrical resistance; electrical current; electrical resistivity; density distribution; energy deposition; joule heating; resistivity distribution; resistance tomography; simultaneously heating; tomographic imaging; electrical currents; optimal joule; driving electrodes; /166/219/

Citation Formats

Berryman, James G, and Daily, William D. Optimal joule heating of the subsurface. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Berryman, James G, & Daily, William D. Optimal joule heating of the subsurface. United States.
Berryman, James G, and Daily, William D. Sat . "Optimal joule heating of the subsurface". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869380.
@article{osti_869380,
title = {Optimal joule heating of the subsurface},
author = {Berryman, James G and Daily, William D},
abstractNote = {A method for simultaneously heating the subsurface and imaging the effects of the heating. This method combines the use of tomographic imaging (electrical resistance tomography or ERT) to image electrical resistivity distribution underground, with joule heating by electrical currents injected in the ground. A potential distribution is established on a series of buried electrodes resulting in energy deposition underground which is a function of the resistivity and injection current density. Measurement of the voltages and currents also permits a tomographic reconstruction of the resistivity distribution. Using this tomographic information, the current injection pattern on the driving electrodes can be adjusted to change the current density distribution and thus optimize the heating. As the heating changes conditions, the applied current pattern can be repeatedly adjusted (based on updated resistivity tomographs) to affect real time control of the heating.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Hydrological properties of Topopah Spring Tuff: Laboratory measurements
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Analysis of electrical conductivity imaging
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Convexity properties of inverse problems with variational constraints
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Variational constraints for electrical-impedance tomography
journal, July 1990


Cross‐borehole resistivity tomography
journal, August 1991


Comparing Reconstruction Algorithms for Electrical Impedance Tomography
journal, November 1987