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The effect of fracture morphology on transfers in porous geomaterials

The transfer of heat or mass through fractured porous rocks is fundamental to a wide range of problems including geothermal reservoir exploitation and subsurface contamination. We investigate the transfer properties of idealized fractured porous materials comprising a diffusive solid pervaded by an array of channels through which a liquid flows. Using a tracer method, we study how the channel radii, lengths and spacing, as well as the average flow velocity, flow field and system diffusivity, influence the cooling time of the surrounding solid. Based on the analysis of the advection and diffusion processes in each simulated system, we introduce a semi-empirical model that captures the entire range of results. We will also discuss how the tracer method can be further developed to investigate the transfer mechanisms in porous materials featuring complex networks of interconnected fractures.

Author(s):

Danielle Griffani    
The University of Sydney
Australia

Pierre Rognon    
The University of Sydney
Australia

Itai Einav    
The University of Sydney
Australia