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Quantum Monte Carlo Study of Small Hydrocarbon AtomizationEnergies

Journal Article · · Molecular Physics
OSTI ID:890668

A new temperature-profile method was recently developed foranalyzing perturbed flow conditions in superheated porous media. Themethod uses high-resolution temperature data to estimate the magnitude ofthe heat-driven liquid and gas fluxes that form as a result of boiling,condensation, and recirculation of pore water. In this paper, we evaluatethe applicability of this new method to the more complex flow behavior infractured formations with porous rock matrix. In such formations, withtheir intrinsic heterogeneity, the porous but low-permeable matrixprovides most of the mass and heat storage capacity, and dominatesconductive heat transfer. Fractures, on the other hand, offer highlyeffective conduits for gas and liquid flow, thereby generatingsignificant convective heat transfer. After establishing the accuracy ofthe temperature-profile method for fractured porous formations, we applythe method in analyzing the perturbed flow conditions in a large-scaleunderground heater test conducted in unsaturated fractured porous tuff.The flux estimates for this test indicate a signifcant reflux of waternear the heat source, on the order of a few hundred millimeter peryear-much larger than the ambient percolation flux of only a fewmillimeter per year.

Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Basic EnergySciences. Chemical Sciences Geosciences and Biosciences Division; National Science Foundation. CREST Program Grant HRD-0318519
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
890668
Report Number(s):
LBNL--57069; BnR: KC0301020
Journal Information:
Molecular Physics, Journal Name: Molecular Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 104
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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