Author(s): K. Kobayashi; R. Hinkelmann; R. Helmig
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Gas-water processes; Two-phase model; Two-phase/three-component model
Abstract: Gas-water processes in the subsurface are numerically investigated using two different types of model concept, a two-phase model and a two-phase/three-component model. The significant difference between these two models is that the two-phase/threecomponent model can simulate the composition (here, water, methane and air) of the phases (here, water and gas). Thus, the dissolution and degassing of air and methane into and out of the water phase, the evaporation of liquid-water to the gas phase and the condensation of gaswater to the water phase, in short the mass transfers between the phases, can be dealt with by the two-phase/three-component model. On the basis of comparative studies of water-methane interactive behaviour in a simple homogeneous system simulated by these two models, it becomes clear that the reliability of the two-phase model is questionable in some conditions since the mass of methane dissolved in the water is not negligible. Thus, we recommend the use of the two-phase/three-component model in those conditions.
Year: 2003