Effective Thermal Conductivity of Porous Media: An Integrated Approach

Date
2015-09-29
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In this thesis an integrated approach to predict the effective thermal conductivity of porous media is presented. A pore scale level heat transfer model is developed and used to generate a custom mixing rule for thermal conductivity prediction. The novel mixing rule is developed based on particle size distribution data for unconsolidated porous media. The fluid and solid phase are considered, with fluid phase being stagnant. The point contact between the grains and spherical shape of the grains are also assumed. The model and mixing rule are validated and sensitivity analysis is performed. The question of upscaling the results of pore scale level modeling is also addressed. Two approaches are presented: equivalent network model and upscaling using computer tomography images. Equivalent network model was validated using model-by-model validation approach. Computer tomography images upscaling approach was applied to predict the scaled up thermal conductivity of oil sand core samples.
Description
Keywords
Engineering--Petroleum
Citation
Skripkin, E. (2015). Effective Thermal Conductivity of Porous Media: An Integrated Approach (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25789