Numerical studies of solute transport in a fractured medium subject to near- and non-equilibrium mass transfer

• Published in: Annals of nuclear energy Vol. 22; no. 7; pp. 453 - 469
• Main Authors: Buckley, R.L., Loyalka, S.K., Williams, M.M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1995
• ISSN: 0306-4549; 1873-2100
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-4549(94)00072-M

Numerical investigations of solute transport in a fractured medium consisting of a plane fracture surrounded by a rock matrix are conducted. The transport in the liquids is described by advection-diffusion equations, while the boundary interactions within the rock matrix are modeled by use of isotherms. Near-equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions are considered, and computations are carried out for a wide range of rock matrix and interaction parameters. We find that if the solute travel time is much greater than the time constant governing the rate of adsorption-desorption occurring in the rock matrix, near-equilibrium conditions may be assumed. However, if the travel time is comparable to the time constant, then the non-equilibrium considerations are important.