Thermodynamic Correction for Salts in Variably Saturated Porous Media

Authors: Burns, Erick; Parlange, Jean-Yves; Selker, John; Guenther, Ronald

Source: Transport in Porous Media, Volume 63, Number 3, June 2006 , pp. 381-398(18)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Using thermodynamic principles, the general relationship describing the equilibrium vapor content in the gas phase above a saline liquid and across a curved liquid–gas interface is developed. Since high salt concentration affects the intensive and extensive liquid properties, it is also necessary to account for these effects in liquid water content/liquid water pressure relationship curves so that experimentally derived curves for pure water may be useful for elevated salt concentrations. The appropriate thermodynamic relationships are derived to describe the salt effects on liquid and vapor properties. The resulting equations are valid for salt concentrations between zero and saturation, and for any temperatures that nominally occur in nearsurface geologic materials.

Keywords: sodium chloride (NaCl); saline; brine; vapor depression; thermodynamic correction; constitutive relation; unsaturated

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11242-005-8431-y

Affiliations: 1: Email: erick@lifetime.oregonstate.edu

Publication date: 2006-06-01