Thermal energy storage in an unconfined aquifer: 2. Model development, validation, and application

Molson, John; Frind, Emil O.; Palmer, Carl D.

doi:10.1029/92wr01472

Cited by 141 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The modification occurs because of the heat exchange between water and rock, causing both damping (i.e., decrease in signal amplitude) and retardation (i.e., time lag of the signal) of recharge . Studies have also demonstrated thermal damping and retardation in porous media (e.g., Molson et al, 1992;Palmer et al, 1992;Markle and Schincariol, 2007) and fractures (e.g., Molson et al, 2007). The nonconservative nature of water temperature, even within fairly large conduits, facilitates estimates of conduit size via an analysis of input and output thermographs Luhmann et al, 2012;Birk et al, 2014).…”

Section: A J Luhmann Et Al: Thermal Damping and Retardation In Karmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal damping and retardation in karst conduits

Luhmann

Covington²,

Myre³

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Water temperature is a non-conservative tracer in the environment. Variations in recharge temperature are damped and retarded as water moves through an aquifer due to heat exchange between water and rock. However, within karst aquifers, seasonal and short-term fluctuations in recharge temperature are often transmitted over long distances before they are fully damped. Using analytical solutions and numerical simulations, we develop relationships that describe the effect of flow path properties, flow-through time, recharge characteristics, and water and rock physical properties on the damping and retardation of thermal peaks/troughs in karst conduits. Using these relationships, one can estimate the thermal retardation and damping that would occur under given conditions with a given conduit geometry. Ultimately, these relationships can be used with thermal damping and retardation field data to estimate parameters such as conduit diameter. We also examine sets of numerical simulations where we relax some of the assumptions used to develop these relationships, testing the effects of variable diameter, variable velocity, open channels, and recharge shape on thermal damping and retardation to provide some constraints on uncertainty. Finally, we discuss a multitracer experiment that provides some field confirmation of our relationships. High temporal resolution water temperature data are required to obtain sufficient constraints on the magnitude and timing of thermal peaks and troughs in order to take full advantage of water temperature as a tracer.

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Section: A J Luhmann Et Al: Thermal Damping and Retardation In Karmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal damping and retardation in karst conduits

Luhmann

Covington²,

Myre³

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…A two-dimensional groundwater flow and heat transport model using the model code HEATFLOW (Molson et al, 1992;Molson and Frind, 2005) was set up according to the model used by Kalbus et al (2008a,b). The conceptual model ( Fig.…”

Section: Model Set-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of aquifer and streambed heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater discharge

Kalbus

Schmidt

Molson

et al. 2009

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

121

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Abstract. The spatial distribution of groundwater fluxes through a streambed can be highly variable, most often resulting from a heterogeneous distribution of aquifer and streambed permeabilities along the flow pathways. Using a groundwater flow and heat transport model, we defined four scenarios of aquifer and streambed permeability distributions to simulate and assess the impact of subsurface heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater fluxes through the streambed: (a) a homogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer; (b) a heterogeneous streambed within a homogeneous aquifer; (c) a well connected heterogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer; and (d) a poorly connected heterogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer. The simulation results were compared with a base case scenario, in which the streambed had the same properties as the aquifer, and with observed data. The results indicated that the aquifer has a stronger influence on the distribution of groundwater fluxes through the streambed than the streambed itself. However, a homogeneous low-K streambed, a case often implemented in regional-scale groundwater flow models, resulted in a strong homogenization of fluxes, which may have important implications for the estimation of peak mass flows. The flux distributions simulated with heterogeneous low-K streambeds were similar to the flux distributions of the base case sceCorrespondence to: E. Kalbus (edda.kalbus@web.de) nario, despite the lower permeability. The representation of heterogeneous distributions of aquifer and streambed properties in the model has been proven to be beneficial for the accuracy of flow simulations.

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“…The water flow depends on properties of the water as well as the solid, and 30 the gradient of the hydraulic head, as stated in Darcy's law (Molson et al, 1992;Nield and Bejan, 2013):…”

Section: Mechanisms and Equationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical and Numerical Solutions of Radially Symmetric Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Problems

Birhanu

Kitterød

Krogstad³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. The paper discusses analytical and numerical radial solutions of the differential equations for heat transport in water-saturated porous media. In particular, a similarity solution is obtained for a 2D-horizontal confined aquifer with constant radial flow. Numerical solutions are derived using a high-resolution Lagrangian approach suppressing spurious oscillations and artificial dispersion. There is a good correspondence between numerical and analytical solutions.The primary purpose of the investigation has been to calculate the recovery factor of an Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage 5 (ATES) system with a cyclic repetition of injection and pumping. Solutions covering both instantaneous and delayed heat transfer between fluid and solid, as well as time varying water flow, are derived and applied to a one-well test case.In hydrological terms, these solutions are relevant for a wide range of problems where groundwater reservoirs are utilized for extraction and storage (viz. irrigation; water supply; geothermal extraction).

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Thermal energy storage in an unconfined aquifer: 2. Model development, validation, and application

Cited by 141 publications

References 46 publications

Thermal damping and retardation in karst conduits

Thermal damping and retardation in karst conduits

Influence of aquifer and streambed heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater discharge

Analytical and Numerical Solutions of Radially Symmetric Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Problems

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