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Title: Optimal joule heating of the subsurface

Patent ·
OSTI ID:869380

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.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 5325918
OSTI ID:
869380
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

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Analysis of electrical conductivity imaging journal July 1981
Convexity properties of inverse problems with variational constraints journal January 1991
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