Porosity variations in saline media caused by temperature gradients coupled to multiphase flow and dissolution/precipitation

Abstract

We present a theoretical-numerical investigation of porosity variations induced by temperature gradients in unsaturated saline media. It is known that temperature variations cause humidity variations which lead to liquid flow towards and vapour flow away from the hot source. When this phenomenon occurs in saline media, the liquid is salt saturated brine, so that evaporation causes salt precipitation and an ensuing porosity reduction. Condensation of water causes salt dissolution and porosity increase. This process may be important in the case of heat generating waste because it suggests that selfsealing may take place near the waste. On the other hand, salt mass balance will lead to porosity increases in other zones