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Toward enhanced subsurface intervention methods using chaotic advection.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21600670     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Many intervention activities in the terrestrial subsurface involve the need to recover/emplace distributions of scalar quantities (e.g. dissolved phase concentrations or heat) from/in volumes of saturated porous media. These scalars can be targeted by pump-and-treat methods or by amendment technologies. Application examples include in-situ leaching for metals, recovery of dissolved contaminant plumes, or utilizing heat energy in geothermal reservoirs. While conventional pumping methods work reasonably well, costs associated with maintaining pumping schedules are high and improvements in efficiency would be welcome. In this paper we discuss how transient switching of the pressure at different wells can intimately control subsurface flow, generating a range of "programmed" flows with various beneficial characteristics. Some programs produce chaotic flows which accelerate mixing, while others create encapsulating flows which can isolate fluid zones for lengthy periods. In a simplified model of an aquifer subject to balanced pumping, chaotic flow topologies have been predicted theoretically and verified experimentally using Hele-Shaw cells. Here, a survey of the key characteristics of chaotic advection is presented. Mathematical methods are used to show how these characteristics may translate into practical situations involving regional flows and heterogeneity. The results are robust to perturbations, and withstand significant aquifer heterogeneity. It is proposed that chaotic advection may form the basis of new efficient technologies for groundwater interventions.
Authors:
Michael G Trefry; Daniel R Lester; Guy Metcalfe; Alison Ord; Klaus Regenauer-Lieb
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-5-6
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of contaminant hydrology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1873-6009     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-5-23     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8805644     Medline TA:  J Contam Hydrol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia; Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia; School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
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