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Title: Finite element analysis of heat transport in a hydrothermal zone

Abstract

Two-phase heat transport in the vicinity of a heated, subsurface zone is important for evaluation of nuclear waste repository design and estimation of geothermal energy recovery, as well as prediction of magma solidification rates. Finite element analyses of steady, two-phase, heat and mass transport have been performed to determine the relative importance of conduction and convection in a permeable medium adjacent to a hot, impermeable, vertical surface. The model includes the effects of liquid flow due to capillarity and buoyancy and vapor flow due to pressure gradients. Change of phase, with its associated latent heat effects, is also modeled. The mechanism of capillarity allows for the presence of two-phase zones, where both liquid and vapor can coexist, which has not been considered in previous investigations. The numerical method employs the standard Galerkin/finite element method, using eight-node, subparametric or isoparametric quadrilateral elements. In order to handle the extreme nonlinearities inherent in two-phase, nonisothermal, porous-flow problems, steady-state results are computed by integrating transients out to a long time (a method that is highly robust).

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6774328
Report Number(s):
SAND-87-0132C; CONF-8706110-1
ON: DE87009298
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 5. international conference on numerical methods for thermal problems, Montreal, Canada, 29 Jun 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; HEAT TRANSFER; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; CONVECTION; FINITE ELEMENT METHOD; THEORETICAL DATA; THERMAL CONDUCTION; DATA; ENERGY TRANSFER; INFORMATION; MANAGEMENT; MASS TRANSFER; NUMERICAL DATA; NUMERICAL SOLUTION; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; 052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 990220 - Computers, Computerized Models, & Computer Programs- (1987-1989)

Citation Formats

Bixler, N E, and Carrigan, C R. Finite element analysis of heat transport in a hydrothermal zone. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Bixler, N E, & Carrigan, C R. Finite element analysis of heat transport in a hydrothermal zone. United States.
Bixler, N E, and Carrigan, C R. 1987. "Finite element analysis of heat transport in a hydrothermal zone". United States.
@article{osti_6774328,
title = {Finite element analysis of heat transport in a hydrothermal zone},
author = {Bixler, N E and Carrigan, C R},
abstractNote = {Two-phase heat transport in the vicinity of a heated, subsurface zone is important for evaluation of nuclear waste repository design and estimation of geothermal energy recovery, as well as prediction of magma solidification rates. Finite element analyses of steady, two-phase, heat and mass transport have been performed to determine the relative importance of conduction and convection in a permeable medium adjacent to a hot, impermeable, vertical surface. The model includes the effects of liquid flow due to capillarity and buoyancy and vapor flow due to pressure gradients. Change of phase, with its associated latent heat effects, is also modeled. The mechanism of capillarity allows for the presence of two-phase zones, where both liquid and vapor can coexist, which has not been considered in previous investigations. The numerical method employs the standard Galerkin/finite element method, using eight-node, subparametric or isoparametric quadrilateral elements. In order to handle the extreme nonlinearities inherent in two-phase, nonisothermal, porous-flow problems, steady-state results are computed by integrating transients out to a long time (a method that is highly robust).},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6774328}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}

Conference:
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