The role of eddies in solute transport and recovery in rock fractures: Implication for groundwater remediation |
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| Authors: | Seung Hyun Lee In Wook Yeo Kang‐Kun Lee Won Sang Lee |
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| Institution: | 1. Unit of Ice Sheet and Sea Level Changes, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea;2. Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea;3. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
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| Abstract: | A better understanding of solute transport and retention mechanism in rock fractures has been challenging due to difficulty in their direct observations in microscale rough‐walled fractures. Six representative troughs in a rough‐walled fracture were selected for microscale observations of eddy formation with increasing flow velocity and its effect on spatiotemporal changes of solute concentration. This experimental study was enabled by a microscale visualization technique of micro particle image velocimetry. With increasing flow velocity (Re ≤ 2.86), no eddies were generated, and solutes along the main streamlines transported rapidly, whereas those near the wall moved slowly. A larger amount of solutes remained trapped at all troughs at Re = 2.86 than Re < 1. For Re = 8.57, weak eddies started to be developed at the troughs on the lee side, which little contributed to overall solute flushing in the fracture. Accordingly, a large of amount of water was needed for solute flushing. The flow condition of 1 < Re < 10, before a full development of eddies, was least favourable in terms of time and amount of remediation fluid required to reach a target concentration. After large eddies were fully developed at troughs on the lee side for Re = 17.13, solutes were substantially reduced by eddies with less amount of water. Fully developed eddies were found to enhance solute transport and recovery, as opposed to a general consensus that eddies trap and delay solutes. Direct inflow into troughs on the stoss side also made a great contribution to solute flushing out of the troughs. This study indicates that fully developed eddies or strong inflows at troughs are highly possible to form for Re > 10 and this flow range could be favourable for efficient remediation. |
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| Keywords: | eddies immobile fluid zone recovery rock fracture solute transport visualization technique |
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