Hydraulic conductivity of clays in confined tests under low hydraulic gradients

1999 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Dixon ◽  
J Graham ◽  
M N Gray

Clay barriers normally function at hydraulic gradients much lower than are commonly used in laboratory tests for hydraulic conductivity. This paper describes low-gradient tests on compacted illite, Na-bentonite, and sand-bentonite specimens at a range of dry densities. The tests examined the effects of deionized or saline pore fluid, the initial degree of saturation at the time of compaction, and back-pressuring to achieve saturation during permeation. No "critical" or "threshold" gradients were observed. In low-density materials, "transitional" gradients defined two separate regions of Darcian flow. Low flow rates and low hydraulic conductivities were associated with hydraulic gradients below the transitional gradient. Higher conductivities were associated with gradients above the transitional gradient. Hydraulic conductivities decreased with increasing initial density. They appeared independent of initial degree of saturation or back-pressuring. Tests on Na-rich bentonite showed that deionized and saline permeants produced similar hydraulic conductivities. Measured hydraulic conductivities were in reasonable agreement with values computed using the Poiseuille and Kozeny-Carman equations. Key words: hydraulic conductivity, gradient, Darcian, illite, bentonite.

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 504-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Sri Ranjan ◽  
T Karthigesu

The measurement of water flow through clay at low hydraulic gradients (<1) is a very difficult task requiring several months to accomplish in a laboratory. A capillary flow meter, capable of measuring extremely low flow rates through clay samples under low imposed hydraulic gradients, has been designed and tested. Flux as low as 10–12 m·s–1 was successfully measured using this flow meter. To minimize the contaminatiion effects, perchloroethylene, which has self-cleaning ability, mixed with Sudan IV was used as the bubble liquid in the capillary flow meter. Glass and Teflon® valves were fused to the inflow and outflow capillary tubes to permit these components to be flushed with cleaning agents and distilled water. The movement of the menisci through the capillary tube was used as a measure of the volume flow rate through the sample. A sensitive differential pressure transducer was connected between the inflow and outflow end of the clay sample to measure the imposed hydraulic head difference. This flow meter has been independently calibrated against a conventional constant head permeameter. Once the clay samples have stabilized in a permeameter, oedometer, or a triaxial cell, multiple flow measurements under low hydraulic gradients can be done in less than an hour. Key words: nonlinear flow, saturated hydraulic conductivity, non-Darcy flow, ultra-low flow meter.


Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Ogochukwu Ozotta ◽  
Philip J. Gerla

The transport of dissolved minerals and groundwater flow plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of many wetlands. Nonetheless, installing equipment to monitor groundwater seepage is invasive, harms vegetation, and can impact biodiversity. By remotely mapping surface temperature in late summer, when there is the greatest difference between warm soil and cold groundwater, temperature patterns can expose areas with the greatest upward gradient and flow. The conventional method of using tensiometers to measure hydraulic gradient and estimate flux using Darcy’s law was applied and compared with thermal imaging to characterize groundwater seepage at two contrasting sites within a central North Dakota fen (groundwater discharge wetland). Both sites exhibited variable gradients between the shallow and deep tensiometers. The temperature trend determined from the thermal imaging showed a closer relationship to the measured hydraulic gradients at the herbaceous (Sedge) site than at the wooded (Willow) site. Saturated hydraulic conductivity K ranged from 6 × 10−5 to 2 × 10−4 m/s for the Willow site; and 6 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−4 m/s for Sedge site. The flux calculated for the Willow site ranged from 1.4 × 10−5 to 2.7 × 10−4 m/s and that of the Sedge site ranged from 2.2 × 10−6 to 6.3 × 10−5 m/s. The gradients are affected at shallow depth because of heterogeneous soil stratigraphy, which is likely the reason that seepage faces at the sites cannot be mapped solely by thermal imaging.


ORL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Jingjing Liu ◽  
Tengfang Chen ◽  
Zhenggang Lv ◽  
Dezhong Wu

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In China, nasal cannula oxygen therapy is typically humidified. However, it is difficult to decide whether to suspend nasal cannula oxygen inhalation after the nosebleed has temporarily stopped. Therefore, we conducted a preliminary investigation on whether the use of humidified nasal cannulas in our hospital increases the incidence of epistaxis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a survey of 176,058 inpatients in our hospital and other city branches of our hospital over the past 3 years and obtained information concerning their use of humidified nasal cannulas for oxygen inhalation, nonhumidified nasal cannulas, anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, and oxygen inhalation flow rates. This information was compared with the data collected at consultation for epistaxis during these 3 years. <b><i>Results:</i></b> No significant difference was found between inpatients with humidified nasal cannulas and those without nasal cannula oxygen therapy in the incidence of consultations due to epistaxis (χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.007, <i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). The same trend was observed among hospitalized patients using anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs (χ<sup>2</sup> = 2.082, <i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). Among the patients with an inhaled oxygen flow rate ≥5 L/min, the incidence of ear-nose-throat (ENT) consultations due to epistaxis was 0. No statistically significant difference was found between inpatients with a humidified oxygen inhalation flow rate &#x3c;5 L/min and those without nasal cannula oxygen therapy in the incidence of ENT consultations due to epistaxis (χ<sup>2</sup> = 0.838, <i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of ENT consultations due to epistaxis between the low-flow nonhumidified nasal cannula and nonnasal cannula oxygen inhalation groups (χ<sup>2</sup> = 18.428, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). The same trend was observed between the 2 groups of low-flow humidified and low-flow nonhumidified nasal cannula oxygen inhalation (χ<sup>2</sup> = 26.194, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Neither high-flow humidified nasal cannula oxygen inhalation nor low-flow humidified nasal cannula oxygen inhalation will increase the incidence of recurrent or serious epistaxis complications; the same trend was observed for patients who use anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. Humidification during low-flow nasal cannula oxygen inhalation can prevent severe and repeated epistaxis to a certain extent.


Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1547-1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Slater ◽  
D. R. Glaser

Resistivity and induced polarization (IP) measurements (0.1–1000 Hz) were made on clay‐free unconsolidated sediments from a sandy, alluvial aquifer in the Kansas River floodplain. The sensitivity of imaginary conductivity σ″, a fundamental IP measurement, to lithological parameters, fluid conductivity, and degree of saturation was assessed. The previously reported power law dependence of IP on surface area and grain size is clearly observed despite the narrow lithologic range encountered in this unconsolidated sedimentary sequence. The grain‐size σ″ relationship is effectively frequency independent between 0.1 and 100 Hz but depends on the representative grain diameter used. For the sediments examined here, d90, the grain diameter of the coarsest sediments in a sample, is well correlated with σ″. The distribution of the internal surface in the well‐sorted, sandy sediments investigated here is such that most of the sample weight is likely required to account for the majority of the internal surface. We find the predictive capability of the Börner model for hydraulic conductivity (K)estimation from IP measurements is limited when applied to this narrow lithologic range. The relatively weak dependence of σ″ on fluid conductivity (σw) observed for these sediments when saturated with an NaCl solution (0.06–10 S/m) is consistent with competing effects of surface charge density and surface ionic mobility on σ″ as previously inferred for sandstone. Importantly, IP parameters are a function of saturation and exhibit hysteretic behavior over a drainage and imbibition cycle. However, σ″ is less dependent than the real conductivity σ′ on saturation. In the case of evaporative drying, the σ″ saturation exponent is approximately half of the σ′ exponent. Crosshole IP imaging illustrates the potential for lithologic discrimination of unconsolidated sediments. A fining‐upward sequence correlates with an upward increase in normalized chargeability Mn, a field IP parameter proportional to σ″. The hydraulic conductivity distribution obtained from the Börner model discriminates a hydraulically conductive sand–gravel from overlying medium sand.


Author(s):  
Yo Han Jung ◽  
Young Uk Min ◽  
Jin Young Kim

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the effect of tip clearance on the suction performance and flow characteristics at different flow rates in a vertical mixed-flow pump. Numerical analyses were carried out by solving three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Steady computations were performed for three different tip clearances under noncavitating and cavitating conditions at design and off-design conditions. The pump performance test was performed for the mixed-flow pump and numerical results were validated by comparing the experimental data for a system characterized by the original tip clearance. It was shown that for large tip clearance, the head breakdown occurred earlier at the design and high flow rates. However, the head breakdown was quite delayed at low flow rate. This resulted from the cavitation structure caused by the tip leakage flow at different flow rates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qi Jia ◽  
Bao-Ling Cui ◽  
Zu-Chao Zhu ◽  
Yu-Liang Zhang

Abstract Affected by rotor–stator interaction and unstable inner flow, asymmetric pressure distributions and pressure fluctuations cannot be avoided in centrifugal pumps. To study the pressure distributions on volute and front casing walls, dynamic pressure tests are carried out on a centrifugal pump. Frequency spectrum analysis of pressure fluctuation is presented based on Fast Fourier transform and steady pressure distribution is obtained based on time-average method. The results show that amplitudes of pressure fluctuation and blade-passing frequency are sensitive to the flow rate. At low flow rates, high-pressure region and large pressure gradients near the volute tongue are observed, and the main factors contributing to the pressure fluctuation are fluctuations in blade-passing frequency and high-frequency fluctuations. By contrast, at high flow rates, fluctuations of rotating-frequency and low frequencies are the main contributors to pressure fluctuation. Moreover, at low flow rates, pressure near volute tongue increases rapidly at first and thereafter increases slowly, whereas at high flow rates, pressure decreases sharply. Asymmetries are observed in the pressure distributions on both volute and front casing walls. With increasing of flow rate, both asymmetries in the pressure distributions and magnitude of the pressure decrease.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-54
Author(s):  
Subhra Shankha Koley ◽  
Huang Chen ◽  
Ayush Saraswat ◽  
Joseph Katz

Abstract This experimental study characterizes the interactions of axial casing grooves with the flow in the tip region of an axial turbomachine. The tests involve grooves with the same inlet overlapping with the rotor blade leading edge, but with different exit directions located upstream. Among them, U grooves, whose circumferential outflow opposes the blade motion, achieve a 60% reduction in stall flowrate, but degrade the efficiency around the best efficiency point (BEP) by 2%. The S grooves, whose outlets are parallel to the blade rotation, improve the stall flowrate by only 36%, but do not degrade the BEP performance. To elucidate the mechanisms involved, stereo-PIV measurements covering the tip region and interior of grooves are performed in a refractive index matched facility. At low flow rates, the inflow into both grooves, which peaks when they are aligned with the blade pressure side, rolls up into a large vortex that lingers within the groove. By design, the outflow from S grooves is circumferentially positive. For the U grooves, fast circumferentially negative outflow peaks at the base of each groove, causing substantial periodic variations in the flow angle near the blade leading edge. At BEP, interactions with both grooves become milder, and most of the tip leakage vortex remains in the passage. Interactions with the S grooves are limited hence they do not degrade the efficiency. In contrast, the inflow into and outflow from the U grooves reverses direction, causing entrainment of secondary flows, which likely contribute to the reduced BEP efficiency.


Author(s):  
Shyam P. Tekade ◽  
Diwakar Z. Shende ◽  
Kailas L. Wasewar

Abstract Hydrogen is one of the important non-conventional energy sources because of its high energy content and non-polluting nature of combustions. The water splitting reaction is one of the significant methods for hydrogen generation from non-fossil feeds. In the present paper, the hydrogen generation has been experimentally investigated with water splitting reaction using metal aluminum in presence of potassium hydroxide as an activator under flow conditions. The rate of hydrogen generation was reported in the annular micro- reactor of 1 mm annulus using various flow rates of aqueous 0.5 N KOH ranging from 1 ml/min to 10 ml/min. The complete conversion of aluminum was observed at all the flow rates of aqueous KOH. The hydrogen generation rate was observed to depend on the flow rate of liquid reactant flowing through the reactor. At 1 ml/min of 0.5 N KOH, hydrogen generates at an average rate of 3.36 ml/min which increases to 10.70 ml/min at 10 ml/min of aqueous KOH. The Shrinking Core Model was modified for predicting the controlling mechanism. The rate of hydrogen generation was observed to follow different controlling mechanisms on various time intervals at low flow rates of aqueous KOH. It was observed that chemical reaction controls the overall rate of hydrogen generation at higher flow rates of aqueous KOH.


1983 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Barkatt ◽  
William Sousanpour ◽  
Alisa Barkatt ◽  
Morad A. Boroomand ◽  
Pedro B. Macedo

ABSTRACTLeach tests carried out on SRL TDS-131 Defense Waste Class indicate that at high flow rates the controlling mechanism is simple corrosion. The matrix elements (Si, Al) are leached out at rates similar to those of the leaching of the alkalis and of boron, and the leaching process is nearly linear with time. At slow flow rates (below 1 m/yr) leaching becomes controlled by the build-up of a protective layer. Al and most of the Si remain in the leached surface layer. The leach rates decrease in the course of the test before leveling off at constant values which are almost inversely proportional to the contact time, indicating that leachate concentrations have become solubility-limited. The low concentrations observed at this stage indicate the formation of alteration products.


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