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Changes in fluid flux and hydraulic head in a geothermal confined aquifer

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Abstract

Understanding the changes in fluid flux and hydraulic head in a confined aquifer where heat flow from below exists is important in the development of a geothermal field of basin-type. A 3D mathematical model describing thermal groundwater flow and heat transport is established. The partial differential governing equations are solved with the standard Galerkin finite element method and the streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin method. Two cases of temperature differences between the bottom and upper boundaries are considered and one case of hydraulic gradient difference between the left and right boundaries are also examined. The numerical results show that when the temperature of the aquifer is under normal temperature and the temperatures of the top boundary are 45, 50 and 55 °C with the temperature of the bottom boundary of 60 °C, the values of fluid flux through the vertical flow section are 1000, 2134, 2214 and 2295 m3/d in Case 2, which are mainly affected by the dynamic viscosity \(u\). When the temperature difference between the top and bottom boundaries increases, the hydraulic gradient in x direction slightly increases with the increasing temperature difference. When the temperature differences are 15, 10, 5 and 0 °C, respectively, the hydraulic gradients are 0.01005, 0.01003, 0.01002 and 0.01 in Cases 1 and 2, and almost keep the same value of 0.01 under normal temperature. The hydraulic head in z direction obeys a nonlinear change and can be described with a 2nd order polynomial function.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (8152026), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (2652013085, 2652014089, 2652015244, 2652015245, 2562015426) and the project of China Geological Survey (1212011120064).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Xueyuan Road 29, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Jingbo Zhao, Xun Zhou, Yuan Yu, Chuanxia Ruan, Xiaocui Wang, Jingwei Li, Qingxiao Zhang & Xiaowei Shen

  2. Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology (BRIUG), 10, Xiao-Guan-Dong-Li, P.O. Box 9818, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China

    Jingbo Zhao

  3. Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Xueyuan Road 29, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Xun Zhou

  4. Beijing Geology Prospecting and Developing Bureau, No.123 West 4th Ring North Road, Beijing, 100195, People’s Republic of China

    Yuan Yu

  5. Tianjin Geothermal Exploration and Development-Designing Institute, Weiguo Road 189, Tianjin, 300250, People’s Republic of China

    Chuanxia Ruan

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  1. Jingbo Zhao
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Correspondence to Xun Zhou.

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Zhao, J., Zhou, X., Yu, Y. et al. Changes in fluid flux and hydraulic head in a geothermal confined aquifer. Environ Earth Sci 75, 397 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5248-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5248-7

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