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Experimental assessment on the thermal and moisture migration of sand-based materials combined with kaolin and graphite

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Abstract

The thermal and moisture diffusion and soil water diffusivity in sand-based backfill materials were evaluated. Compared with the original sand, the thermal conductivity of sand/kaolin and sand/kaolin/graphite blends (5% blending percentage each) with 10% water content increased by 9% and 17%, respectively, and the average values at all test points for their soil water diffusivity reduced by 68% and 84%, respectively. Based on the unsteady heat conduction differential equation, the average apparent thermal diffusivity at all test points for the sand/kaolin blend increased by 7% compared with the sand, and that for the sand/kaolin blend with adding the graphite rose by 173%. The main moisture effect range in the sand/kaolin blend was about 2/5 of the sand. The thermal diffusion in the sand was prompted by kaolin additive, which could be further highly improved after adding the graphite. Kaolin and graphite could be available additives against the moisture migration in the sand-based backfill material.

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Abbreviations

C :

Specific water capacity (cm−1)

D :

Soil water diffusivity (cm2 min−1)

I :

Electric current (A)

K :

Hydraulic conductivity (cm min−1)

l :

Length of the thermal probe (m)

q l :

Heat flux (W m-2)

T :

Temperature (°C)

t :

Time (s)

U :

Heating voltage (V)

W :

Water content (d.b.)

x :

Distance (m)

α :

Thermal diffusivity (m2 s−1)

γ w :

Degree of moisture migration

Δ :

Difference

η :

Boltzmann transformation parameter (cm min−0.5)

θ :

Volumetric moisture content (cm3 cm−3)

λ :

Thermal conductivity (W m-1 K-1)

ρ :

Density (kg m-3)

φ :

Degree of thermal migration

a:

Apparent

h:

Heating

i:

Initial

s:

Saturated state

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under No. 51376017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Thermal Engineering, School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China

    Bin Liang, Meiqian Chen & Junli Guan

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Flow and Heat Transfer of Phase Changing in Micro and Small Scale, Beijing, 100044, China

    Bin Liang, Meiqian Chen & Junli Guan

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Correspondence to Meiqian Chen.

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Liang, B., Chen, M. & Guan, J. Experimental assessment on the thermal and moisture migration of sand-based materials combined with kaolin and graphite. Heat Mass Transfer 58, 1075–1089 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-021-03162-2

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