Transition from mixed to forced convection for opposing vertical flows in liquid-saturated porous media
Mixed-convection phenomena can occur within liquid-dominated geothermal reservoirs due to interactions of injected flows, or ground-water flows, with the buoyancy-induced fluid motion. This problem was studied experimentally and numerically for the case of opposing flows about a vertical heat source in a liquid-saturated porous medium. The ratio of the Rayleigh number (Ra) to the Peclet number (Pe) was identified as the nondimensional parameter which characterizes the relative influence of buoyancy-driven to pressure-gradient-driven fluid motion. The transition from mixed to forced convection was numerically determined to be (Ra/Pe) approx. = -0.5, where the minus sign denotes superimposed downflow. Agreement between measured and predicted thermal-field results showed that the finite-element code of Gartling and Hickox (1982 a,b) can be used to model low-temperature (single-phase) geothermal reservoirs throughout the natural, mixed, and forced convection regimes. 9 refs., 6 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5700439
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-85-0270C; CONF-850801-32; ON: DE85010662
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150904* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Geothermal Reservoir & Well Performance
CONVECTION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT TRANSFER
HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
LIQUID FLOW
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
POROUS MATERIALS
REINJECTION
THERMOSYPHON EFFECT