Experimental investigation of characteristic length scale in periodic heterogeneous porous media

✍ Scribed by N. C. Irwin; M. M. Botz; R. A. Greenkorn

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 571 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0169-3913
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00135858

✦ Synopsis

An experimental investigation of scale-dependent dispersion in periodic heterogeneous porous media was conducted. Models with two-, three-and four-layer periodic heterogeneities were constructed to investigate the effect of heterogeneity size on the scale-dependence of dispersion. Longitudinal dispersion coefficients were determined as a function of column length by measuring the breakthrough of a continuous injection of potassium chloride tracer solution. Chloride ion concentration was monitored by recording the millivolt potential of silver/silver chloride electrodes placed at intervals along the length of the column. In all three models, dispersion appeared to be scale dependent up to a distance of approximately 20-30 times the size of the repeated heterogeneity group (hydraulic refit). Because all three models suggested a similar dependence, it was concluded that a medium with periodic heterogeneity may likely be characterized by the scale of its hydraulic unit.