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Title: Monitoring probe for groundwater flow

Abstract

A monitoring probe for detecting groundwater migration. The monitor features a cylinder made of a permeable membrane carrying an array of electrical conductivity sensors on its outer surface. The cylinder is filled with a fluid that has a conductivity different than the groundwater. The probe is placed in the ground at an area of interest to be monitored. The fluid, typically saltwater, diffuses through the permeable membrane into the groundwater. The flow of groundwater passing around the permeable membrane walls of the cylinder carries the conductive fluid in the same general direction and distorts the conductivity field measured by the sensors. The degree of distortion from top to bottom and around the probe is precisely related to the vertical and horizontal flow rates, respectively. The electrical conductivities measured by the sensors about the outer surface of the probe are analyzed to determine the rate and direction of the groundwater flow.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Aiken, SC
  2. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869457
Patent Number(s):
5339694
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
monitoring; probe; groundwater; flow; detecting; migration; monitor; features; cylinder; permeable; membrane; carrying; array; electrical; conductivity; sensors; outer; surface; filled; fluid; placed; ground; monitored; typically; saltwater; diffuses; passing; walls; carries; conductive; direction; distorts; field; measured; degree; distortion; top; bottom; precisely; related; vertical; horizontal; rates; respectively; conductivities; analyzed; determine; rate; conductive fluid; water flow; permeable membrane; flow rates; flow rate; outer surface; electrical conductivity; monitoring probe; /73/

Citation Formats

Looney, Brian B, and Ballard, Sanford. Monitoring probe for groundwater flow. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Looney, Brian B, & Ballard, Sanford. Monitoring probe for groundwater flow. United States.
Looney, Brian B, and Ballard, Sanford. Sat . "Monitoring probe for groundwater flow". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869457.
@article{osti_869457,
title = {Monitoring probe for groundwater flow},
author = {Looney, Brian B and Ballard, Sanford},
abstractNote = {A monitoring probe for detecting groundwater migration. The monitor features a cylinder made of a permeable membrane carrying an array of electrical conductivity sensors on its outer surface. The cylinder is filled with a fluid that has a conductivity different than the groundwater. The probe is placed in the ground at an area of interest to be monitored. The fluid, typically saltwater, diffuses through the permeable membrane into the groundwater. The flow of groundwater passing around the permeable membrane walls of the cylinder carries the conductive fluid in the same general direction and distorts the conductivity field measured by the sensors. The degree of distortion from top to bottom and around the probe is precisely related to the vertical and horizontal flow rates, respectively. The electrical conductivities measured by the sensors about the outer surface of the probe are analyzed to determine the rate and direction of the groundwater flow.},
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}
}