Evaluation of Coupled Thermal and Hydraulic Relationships Used in Simulation of Thermally-Induced Water Flow in Unsaturated Soils

Tuǧçe Başer, John S. McCartney, Yi Dong, Ning Lu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of coupling between the thermal and hydraulic properties of soils on simulations of the distribution in temperature and degree of saturation surrounding a geothermal heat exchanger in an unsaturated soil deposit. This information is relevant to the simulation of geothermal heat storage systems in unsaturated soil layers. The simulations involved heat transfer coupled with water flow in both liquid and vapor forms, and were performed considering the properties of sand, silt, and clay. A water table was fixed at a depth of 20 m below the extent of the heat exchanger, which means that the different soils considered have different initial hydraulic conditions along the length of the heat exchanger. After heat injection for 90 days at the same heat injection rate, the ground temperatures varied significantly with the soil type, with the clay showing the greatest changes in temperature despite having a lower thermal conductivity than the sand. The clay layer also experienced the greatest changes in degree of saturation and had the highest heat transfer due to latent heat transfer, likely because the initial degree of saturation was higher in this soil. The results indicate that a larger change in degree of saturation may occur in soils with a higher initial hydraulic conductivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGeotechnical Special Publication
EditorsLaureano R. Hoyos, John S. McCartney, Sandra L. Houston, William J. Likos
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages370-380
Number of pages11
EditionGSP 302
ISBN (Electronic)9780784481677, 9780784481684, 9780784481691, 9780784481707
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event2nd Pan-American Conference on Unsaturated Soils: Applications, PanAm-UNSAT 2017 - Dallas, United States
Duration: Nov 12 2017Nov 15 2017

Publication series

NameGeotechnical Special Publication
NumberGSP 302
Volume2017-November
ISSN (Print)0895-0563

Other

Other2nd Pan-American Conference on Unsaturated Soils: Applications, PanAm-UNSAT 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDallas
Period11/12/1711/15/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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