Neutron Radiography of Fluid Flow for Geothermal Energy Research

AbstractEnhanced geothermal systems seek to expand the potential for geothermal energy by engineering heat exchange systems within the earth. A neutron radiography imaging method has been developed for the study of fluid flow through rock under environmental conditions found in enhanced geothermal energy systems. For this method, a pressure vessel suitable for neutron radiography was designed and fabricated, modifications to imaging instrument setups were tested, multiple contrast agents were tested, and algorithms developed for tracking of flow. The method has shown success for tracking of single phase flow through a manufactured crack in a 3.81cm (1.5 inch) diameter core within a pressure vessel capable of confinement up to 69 MPa (10,000 psi) using a particle tracking approach with bubbles of fluorocarbon-based fluid as the “particles” and imaging with 10 ms exposures

Thermodynamics of Cr2O3, FeCr2O4, ZnCr2O4 and CoCr2O4

High temperature heat capacity measurements were obtained for Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} using a differential scanning calorimeter. These data were combined with previously-available, overlapping heat capacity data at temperatures up to 400 K and fitted to 5-parameter Maier-Kelley C{sub p}(T) equations. Expressions for molar entropy were then derived by suitable integration of the Maier-Kelley equations in combination with recent S{sup o}(298) evaluations. Finally, a database of high temperature equilibrium measurements on the formation of these oxides was constructed and critically evaluated. Gibbs energies of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} were referenced by averaging the most reliable results at reference temperatures of 1100, 1400 and 1373 K, respectively, while Gibbs energies for ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} were referenced to the results of Jacob [Thermochim. Acta 15 (1976) 79-87] at 1100 K. Thermodynamic extrapolations from the high temperature reference points to 298.15 K by application of the heat capacity correlations gave {Delta}{sub f}G{sup o}(298) = -1049.96, -1339.40, -1428.35 and -1326.75 kJ mol{sup -1} for Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, respectively

Solubility of Litharge (a-PbO) in Alkaline Media at Elevated Temperatures

An inert, flowing autoclave facility is used to investigate the solubility behavior of {alpha}-PbO (litharge, tetragonal) in aqueous solutions of morpholine, ammonia and sodium hydroxide between 38 and 260 C. Lead solubilities increased from about 0.4 mmol kg{sup -1} at 38 C to about 4.5 mmol kg{sup -1} at 260 C and were relatively insensitive to the concentration and identity of the pH-reagent. The measured lead solubilities were interpreted using a Pb(II) ion hydroxocomplexing model and thermodynamic functions for these equilibria were obtained from a least-squares analysis of the data. A consistent set of thermodynamic properties for the species Pb(OH){sup +}, Pb(OH){sub 2}(aq) and Pb(OH){sub 3}{sup -} is provided to permit accurate lead oxide solubility calculations over broad ranges of temperature and alkalinity

Helical spin dynamics in commensurate magnets: A study on brochantite, Cu 4 SO 4 ( OH ) 6

We report the direct observation of a commensurate-ordered antiferromagnetic (AFM) state but incommensurate helical spin dynamics in the natural mineral brochantite Cu4SO4(OH)6 through neutron diffraction and neutron spectroscopy measurements. Inelastic neutron scattering measurements reveal magnonlike excitations with considerable dispersion along the c axis and almost flat branches in other principal directions, indicating the strong one-dimensional character of the magnetic correlations. We experimentally observe the effect of the uniform Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction, which elevates the degeneracy of the spin-wave modes, shifting them in opposite directions in reciprocal space. The system has a commensurate AFM ground state, stabilized by the anisotropic symmetric Heisenberg exchange interactions, and quasi-one-dimensional chiral spin dynamics due to the antisymmetric DM interaction. Employing linear spin-wave theory, we were able to construct an effective Heisenberg Hamiltonian. We quantify both the symmetric exchange parameters and the DM vector components in Cu4SO4(OH)6 and determine the mechanism of the magnetic frustration. Our work provides detailed insights into the complex dynamics of the spin chain in the presence of uniform DM interaction

Petrogenesis of Eocene Tamazert continental carbonatites (Central High Atlas, Morocco): implications for a common source for the Tamazert and Canary and Cape Verde Island carbonatites

The Tamazert Eocene alkaline complex of the Central High Atlas Range of Morocco hosts the largest outcropping occurrences of carbonatites in northern Africa. The complex consists of carbonatites and undersaturated ultramafic to syenitic alkaline to peralkaline silicate rocks. Mineralogically and geochemically the Tamazert carbonatites are classified as calciocarbonatites, magnesiocarbonatites and silicocarbonatites.They are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements (Cs, Rb, Ba, U,Th), but depleted in high field strength elements (particularly, Ti, Nb and Ta). Stable and radiogenic isotope ratios vary in the range of δ13CPDB=-5·8 to 1·8 0/00, δ18OSMOW=6·9-23·5 0/00, initial 87Sr/86Sr=0·7031-0·7076, 143Nd/144Nd=0·5125-0·5129 and 206Pb/204Pb=18·29-19·89. Calciocarbonatites intruding Jurassic limestones have the highest δ13C and δ18O values and the most radiogenic initial 87Sr/86Sr, but least radiogenic 143Nd/144Nd, 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios, and are interpreted to have interacted with the limestones (crustal components). The magnesio- and silicocarbonatites have Sr, Nd and Pb isotope ratios that are nearly identical to those of low-87Sr/86Sr calciocarbonatites. The isotope signature of the high-Sr, low-87Sr/86Sr calciocarbonatites with mantle-type O and C isotopic compositions indicates the presence of HIMU- and EMI-type components in the mantle source of the Tamazert carbonatites, similar to what has been proposed for the Cape Verde and Canary Islands.The close similarity in carbonatite composition between the Cape Verde and Canary Islands and Tamazert suggests a common sublithospheric source for these carbonatites. We therefore propose that theTamazert carbonatites originated through melting of Canary plume material that may have flowed through a sub-lithospheric corridor extending from the Atlantic near the Canary Islands to the Middle Atlas, formed by the delamination of the subcontinental lithosphere in response to Africa-Europe collision at c. 42Ma. Seismic tomography data suggest that the common source may be within the lower mantle at depths >1000 km

Solubility and Surface Adsorption Characteristics of Metal Oxides to High Temperature

The interaction of high temperature aqueous solutions with mineral surfaces plays a key role in many aspects of fossil, geothermal and nuclear energy production. This is an area of study in which the subsurface geochemical processes that determine brine composition, porosity and permeability changes, reservoir integrity, and fluid flow rates overlap with the industrial processes associated with corrosion of metal parts and deposition of solids in pipes and on heat exchanger surfaces. The sorption of ions on mineral surfaces is also of great interest in both the subsurface and ''above ground'' regimes of power production, playing a key role in subsurface migration of contaminants (nuclear waste disposal, geothermal brine re-injection, etc.) and in plant operations (corrosion mitigation, migration of radioactive metals from reactor core to heat exchanger, etc.). In this paper, results of the solubility and surface chemistry of metal oxides relevant to both regimes are summarized

The heat capacity of a natural monticellite and phase equilibria in the system CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2

The heat capacity of a natural monticellite (Ca1.00Mg.09Fe.91Mn.01Si0.99O3.99) measured between 9.6 and 343 K using intermittent-heating, adiabatic calorimetry yields Cp0(298) and S2980 of 123.64 +/- 0.18 and 109.44 +/- 0.16 J [middle dot] mol-1 K-1 respectively. Extrapolation of this entropy value to end-member monticellite results in an S0298 = 108.1 +/- 0.2 J [middle dot] mol-1 K-1. High-temperature heat-capacity data were measured between 340-1000 K with a differential scanning calorimeter. The high-temperature data were combined with the 290-350 K adiabatic values, extrapolated to 1700 K, and integrated to yield the following entropy equation for end-member monticellite (298-1700 K): ST0(J [middle dot] mol-1 K-1) = S2980 + 164.79 In T + 15.337 [middle dot] 10-3 T + 22.791 [middle dot] 105 T-2 - 968.94. Phase equilibria in the CaO-MgO-SiO2 system were calculated from 973 to 1673 K and 0 to 12 kbar with these new data combined with existing data for akermanite (Ak), diopside (Di), forsterite (Fo), merwinite (Me) and wollastonite (Wo). The location of the calculated reactions involving the phases Mo and Fo is affected by their mutual solid solution. A best fit of the thermodynamically generated curves to all experiments is made when the S0298 of Me is 250.2 J [middle dot] mol-1 K-1 less than the measured value of 253.2 J [middle dot] mol-1 K-1.A best fit to the reversals for the solid-solid and decarbonation reactions in the CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2 system was obtained with the [Delta]G0298 (kJ [middle dot] mole-1) for the phases Ak(-3667), Di(-3025), Fo(-2051), Me(-4317) and Mo(-2133). The two invariant points - Wo and -Fo for the solid-solid reactions are located at 1008 +/- 5 K and 6.3 +/- 0.1 kbar, and 1361 +/- 10 K and 10.2 +/- 0.2 kbar respectively. The location of the thermodynamically generated curves is in excellent agreement with most experimental data on decarbonation equilibria involving these phases.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26132/1/0000208.pd

Pressure-temperature evolution of primordial solar system solids during impact-induced compaction

Prior to becoming chondritic meteorites, primordial solids were a poorly consolidated mix of mm-scale igneous inclusions (chondrules) and high-porosity sub-μm dust (matrix). We used high-resolution numerical simulations to track the effect of impact-induced compaction on these materials. Here we show that impact velocities as low as 1.5 km s−1 were capable of heating the matrix to >1,000 K, with pressure–temperature varying by >10 GPa and >1,000 K over ~100 μm. Chondrules were unaffected, acting as heat-sinks: matrix temperature excursions were brief. As impact-induced compaction was a primary and ubiquitous process, our new understanding of its effects requires that key aspects of the chondrite record be re-evaluated: palaeomagnetism, petrography and variability in shock level across meteorite groups. Our data suggest a lithification mechanism for meteorites, and provide a ‘speed limit’ constraint on major compressive impacts that is inconsistent with recent models of solar system orbital architecture that require an early, rapid phase of main-belt collisional evolution