Dynamic Behavior of CO2 in a Wellbore and Storage Formation: Wellbore-Coupled and Salt-Precipitation Processes during Geologic CO2 Sequestration

For investigating the wellbore flow process in CO2 injection scenarios, coupled wellbore-reservoir (WR) and conventional equivalent porous media (EPM) models were compared with each other. In WR model, during the injection, conditions for the wellbore including pressure and temperature were dynamically changed from the initial pressure (7.45–8.33 MPa) and temperature (52.0–55.9°C) of the storage formation. After 3.35 days, the wellbore flow reached the steady state with adiabatic condition; temperature linearly increased from the well-head (35°C) to the well-bottom (52°C). In contrast, the EPM model neglecting the wellbore process revealed that CO2 temperature was consistently 35°C at the screen interval. Differences in temperature from WR and EPM models resulted in density contrast of CO2 that entered the storage formation (~200 and ~600 kg/m3, resp.). Subsequently, the WR model causing greater density difference between CO2 and brine revealed more vertical CO2 migration and counterflow of brine and also developed the localized salt-precipitation. Finally, a series of sensitivity analyses for the WR model was conducted to assess how the injection conditions influenced interplay between flow system and the localized salt-precipitation in the storage formation

FACTORS OF GROUNDWATER FLUCTUATION IN SHIN KORI NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN KOREA

To establish an aging management plan considering seawater influx and changes in groundwater within nuclear power plant sites, the characteristics of groundwater flow must be understood. This study investigated the characteristics of groundwater flow within the site and analyzed groundwater level recorded by monitoring wells to evaluate groundwater flow characteristics and elements that affected these characteristics for supplying the information to conduct the appropriate aging management for ensuring the safety of the safety-related structures in Shin Kori Unit 1 and 2. The increase in groundwater level during the wet season results from high sea-level conditions and the large amount of precipitation. As a result of the analysis of groundwater distribution and change characteristics, the site could be divided into a rainfall-affected area and a tide-affected area. First, the rainfall-affected area can further be divided into areas that are affected simultaneously by excavation, backfill, and a permanent dewatering system. Secondly, areas that are not affected by excavation, or the dewatering system, or by structure arrangement and excavation. Analysis of the spectrum for wells affected by tides resulted in confirmation of the M2 component (12.421 hr) and S2 component (12.000 hr) of the semidiurnal tides, and the O1 component (25.819 hr) of the diurnal tides. In the cross-correlation results regarding tides and groundwater levels, the lag time occurred diversely within 1-3 hours by the effect of the well location from sea, the distribution of the backfill material with depth, and the concrete structure

Effect of TiCl4 Post-Treatment on the Embedded-Type TiO2 Nanotubes Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We have studied the effect of TiCl4 post-treatment on the embedded-type TiO2 nanotubes (NT)-dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The TiO2 nanoparticles layer formed on TiO2 NTs surface by TiCl4 post-treatment showed different morphologies depending on TiCl4 treatment temperature. These different morphologies influenced the cell efficiency of TiO2 NT-DSSCs. The TiO2 NT treated with TiCl4 at 50°C exhibited a rougher surface than that treated at 70°C. The rough surface of the TiO2 NT improved the charge exchange between the dye and electrolyte. The TiO2 NT treated with TiCl4 at 50°C showed better fill factor and cell efficiency than that treated at 70°C. The TiCl4 post-treatment of TiO2 NT was effective at conditions of low temperature and long times. The TiO2 NT-DSSCs with TiCl4 post-treatment at 50°C for 1.5 h showed an efficiency of 6.52%. Copyright © 2015 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.

Response Analysis of Multi-Layered Volcanic Aquifers in Jeju Island to the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake

Seismic waves caused by earthquakes can lead to the movement of fresh groundwater and saltwater in coastal aquifers. The groundwater level, temperature, and electrical conductivity in coastal monitoring wells on the volcanic island of Jeju all responded to the 2011 M 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. As a result of the earthquake, groundwater temperature and electrical conductivity patterns demonstrated freshwater outflow and saltwater inflow through the monitoring wells in multi-layered coastal aquifers. The seismicity also affected the behavior of ocean tides occurring at depth along the multi-layered coastal aquifers. These observations prove that the use of multi-depth systems for monitoring groundwater level, temperature, and electrical conductivity are more effective than single monitoring systems for understanding the exact behavior of multi-layered aquifers as well as efficiently detecting earthquake-induced or anthropogenic impacts on aquifers in coastal, karstic, or volcanic areas