Transient Heat Transfer from a Circular Cylinder with Constant Surface Heat Flux in a Saturated Porous Layer; Application to Underground Water Velocimetry

Abstract

Transient heat transfer from a cylindrical object placed in a saturated porous layer, which is simulating a heat-generating probe vertically placed in an aquifer, has been analized. Constant heat flux is specified on the cylinder surface and cross flows are assumed. If the conditions are satisfied, it is shown that the measurements of the surface temperature rise with time and of the elapsed time to reach steady state can determine the thermal conductivity of the aquifer and the underground water velocity running through it; the physical quantities of great interest to diversifying fields of underground use.