The Effect of Moisture Content on Retention of Fluorocarbon Tracers on Sand
Abstract
Several fluorocarbon compounds have been evaluated as geothermal tracers in sand column tests using damp, dry, and untreated ‘washed sea sand’. Fluorocarbons evaluated in these tests included two hydrofluorocarbon freons: trifluoromethane (R23) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a), and five perfluorocarbons: perfluorodimethylcyclobutane, perfluoromethylcyclopentane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluorodimethylcyclohexane and perfluorotrimethylcyclohexane. Transport of the fluorocarbon compounds was explored in flowing helium at 23 and 60 °C. This work found that fluorocarbon retention is strongly affected by sand moisture content. The fluorocarbon compounds flowed with the bulk fluid when the sand was damp, but were significantly retained by the solid phase when the sand was thoroughly dried. The data suggest that the fluorocarbons may be conservative tracers in geothermal conditions up to mild superheat but they may not be conservative at geothermal conditions with a high degree of superheat.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- DOE - EE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 912255
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/JOU-03-01467
Journal ID: ISSN 0375-6505; GTMCAT; TRN: US200801%%698
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Geothermics
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 34; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0375-6505
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 15 - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; FREONS; HELIUM; MOISTURE; RETENTION; SAND; SEAS; TRANSPORT; freons; hydrofluorocarbons; perfluorocarbons; tracers
Citation Formats
Maxfield, B T, Ginosar, D M, McMurtrey, R D, Rollins, H W, and Shook, G M. The Effect of Moisture Content on Retention of Fluorocarbon Tracers on Sand. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2004.06.003.
Maxfield, B T, Ginosar, D M, McMurtrey, R D, Rollins, H W, & Shook, G M. The Effect of Moisture Content on Retention of Fluorocarbon Tracers on Sand. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2004.06.003
Maxfield, B T, Ginosar, D M, McMurtrey, R D, Rollins, H W, and Shook, G M. 2005.
"The Effect of Moisture Content on Retention of Fluorocarbon Tracers on Sand". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2004.06.003.
@article{osti_912255,
title = {The Effect of Moisture Content on Retention of Fluorocarbon Tracers on Sand},
author = {Maxfield, B T and Ginosar, D M and McMurtrey, R D and Rollins, H W and Shook, G M},
abstractNote = {Several fluorocarbon compounds have been evaluated as geothermal tracers in sand column tests using damp, dry, and untreated ‘washed sea sand’. Fluorocarbons evaluated in these tests included two hydrofluorocarbon freons: trifluoromethane (R23) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a), and five perfluorocarbons: perfluorodimethylcyclobutane, perfluoromethylcyclopentane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluorodimethylcyclohexane and perfluorotrimethylcyclohexane. Transport of the fluorocarbon compounds was explored in flowing helium at 23 and 60 °C. This work found that fluorocarbon retention is strongly affected by sand moisture content. The fluorocarbon compounds flowed with the bulk fluid when the sand was damp, but were significantly retained by the solid phase when the sand was thoroughly dried. The data suggest that the fluorocarbons may be conservative tracers in geothermal conditions up to mild superheat but they may not be conservative at geothermal conditions with a high degree of superheat.},
doi = {10.1016/j.geothermics.2004.06.003},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/912255},
journal = {Geothermics},
issn = {0375-6505},
number = 1,
volume = 34,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}