title: Description and verification of a novel flow and transport model for silicate-gel emplacement.
abstract: We present a novel approach for the numerical simulation of the gelation of silicate solutions under density-dependent flow conditions. The method utilizes an auxiliary, not density-dependent solute that is subject to a linear decay function to provide temporal information that is used to describe the viscosity change of the fluid. By comparing the modeling results to experimental data, we are able to simulate the behavior and the gelation process of the injected solute for three different compositions, including long-term stability of the gelated area, and non-gelation of low concentrations due to hydro-dynamic dispersion. This approach can also be used for other types of solutes with this gelling property and is useful in a variety of applications in geological, civil and environmental engineering.
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Dresden, Institute for Groundwater Management, D-01062 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: marc.walther@tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Utku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Solpuker
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Informatics, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Informatics, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany; Technische Universität Dresden, Applied Environmental System Analysis, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kolditz
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Dresden, Institute for Groundwater Management, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liedl
authors.affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D005782:Gels; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D017640:Silicates
keywords: Density-dependent; Gelation; Laboratory experiment; Numerical modeling; OpenGeoSys; Viscosity change