Introduction to Heat Transfer in Porous Media Flow — Lesson 1

This lesson covers the concept of heat transfer in porous media, focusing on the scenario where fluid flow occurs simultaneously with a temperature front traveling. It discusses how temperature fronts move, the impact of mixing and dispersion, and the role of capillary pressure and relative permeability. The lesson also delves into the concept of thermal equilibrium in flow through porous media and volume averaging methods, which are non-equilibrium methods. It provides a detailed explanation of how temperature profiles pan out in porous media and the various heat transfer processes that can occur, including heat conduction and sensible heat carried by fluid flow. The lesson concludes with a discussion on the assumption of thermal equilibrium in porous media.

Video Highlights

01:14 - Explanation of thermal equilibrium in flow through porous media
07:06 - Detailed explanation of heat transfer processes in porous media
22:14 - Discussion on the assumption of thermal equilibrium in porous media

Key Takeaways

- Heat transfer in porous media involves complex processes including fluid flow, temperature front movement, and heat conduction.
- The concept of thermal equilibrium is crucial in understanding heat transfer in porous media. It assumes that the solid and fluid phases have equal temperatures.
- Heat transfer processes in porous media include heat conduction through the solid part and heat carried by fluid flow.
- The assumption of thermal equilibrium simplifies the treatment of heat transfer in porous media, especially when the size of the capillaries is less than 1 micrometer.
- The thermal conductivity of porous solids is different from that of intact solids due to the presence of holes in the porous solids.