Abstract
Groundwater tracer tests are often used to improve aquifer characterization, but they present several disadvantages, such as the need to pour solutions or dyes into the aquifer system and alteration of the water’s chemical properties. Thus, tracers can affect the groundwater flow mechanics and data interpretation becomes more complex, hindering effective study of ground heat pumps for low enthalpy geothermal systems. This paper presents a preliminary methodology based on a multidisciplinary application of heat as a tracer for defining the main parameters of shallow aquifers. The field monitoring techniques electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS) are noninvasive and were applied to a shallow-aquifer test site in northeast Italy. The combination of these measurement techniques supports the definition of the main aquifer parameters and therefore the construction of a reliable conceptual model, which is then described through the numerical code FEFLOW. This model is calibrated with DTS and validated by ERT outcomes. The reliability of the numerical model in terms of fate and transport is thereby enhanced, leading to the potential for better environmental management and protection of groundwater resources through more cost-effective solutions.
Résumé
Les essais de traçage des eaux souterraines sont souvent utilisés pour améliorer la caractérisation d’un aquifère, mais ils présentent plusieurs inconvénients, tels que la nécessité d’injecter des solutions ou colorants dans l’aquifère et l’altération des propriétés chimiques de l’eau. Ainsi, les traceurs peuvent affecter les écoulements d’eau souterraine, rendant l’interprétation des données plus complexe, entravant l’étude des pompages à chaleur pour les systèmes géothermaux de basse enthalpie. Cet article présente une méthode préliminaire basée sur une application pluri-disciplinaire de la chaleur comme traceur pour définir les principaux paramètres d’aquifères superficiels. Les mesures de tomographie électrique (ERT) et la détection des températures distribuées (DTD) sont non invasives et ont été appliquées sur un site test d’aquifère peu profond dans le Nord Est de l’Italie. La combinaison de ces techniques de mesure satisfait la définition des principaux paramètres de l’aquifère et donc l’élaboration d’un modèle conceptuel fiable, qui est ensuite décrit à l’aide du code numérique FEFLOW. Ce modèle est paramétré avec DTD et validé par les sorties ERT. La fiabilité du modèle numérique en termes du devenir et du transport est par là renforcée, pouvant conduire à une meilleure gestion de l’environnement et à une meilleure protection des ressources en eau souterraine à l’aide de solutions d’un meilleur rapport coût-efficacité.
Resumen
Los ensayos con trazadores en agua subterránea se utilizan a menudo para mejorar la caracterización del acuífero, pero presentan varias desventajas, como la necesidad de verter soluciones o colorantes en el sistema acuífero y la alteración de las propiedades químicas del agua. Por lo tanto, los trazadores pueden afectar la mecánica del flujo del agua subterránea y la interpretación de los datos se torna más compleja, lo que dificulta el estudio efectivo de las bombas de calor terrestre para los sistemas geotérmicos de baja entalpía. Este artículo presenta una metodología preliminar basada en una aplicación multidisciplinaria del calor como trazador para definir los principales parámetros de acuíferos poco profundos. Las técnicas de monitoreo de campo, la tomografía de resistividad eléctrica (ERT) y la detección de temperatura distribuida (DTS) no son invasivas y se aplicaron a un sitio de prueba en un acuífero somero en el noreste de Italia. La combinación de estas técnicas de medición respalda la definición de los principales parámetros del acuífero y, por lo tanto, la construcción de un modelo conceptual confiable, que luego se describe a través del código numérico FEFLOW. Este modelo está calibrado con DTS y validado por los resultados de ERT. Por lo tanto, se mejora la confiabilidad del modelo numérico en términos de destino y transporte, lo que permite una mejor gestión ambiental y protección de los recursos de aguas subterráneas a través de soluciones más rentables.
摘要
常常采用地下水示踪试验提高含水层特征描述水平,但是其也显示出几个缺点,诸如需要把溶剂或者燃料灌入含水层系统,改变水的化学特性。因此,示踪剂可影响地下水流机理,数据解译变得更加复杂,阻碍了低热焓地热系统地下水热泵的有效研究。本文展示了基于多学科应用热量作为示踪剂确定浅层含水层主要参数的初步方法。野外监测技术如电阻断层摄影和分布式温度传感技术为非侵入式的,应用于意大利北部一个浅层含水层中。这些测量技术结合一起可以支持主要含水层参数的定义,因此,进而支持建立一个可靠的概念模型,然后通过数值编码FEFLOW对模型进行描述。这个模型利用分布式温度传感技术进行校正,利用电阻断层摄影技术进行验证。因此在热羽和传输方面,提高了数值模型的可靠性,就有可能通过更加合算的解决方法对地下水资源进行更好地进行环境管理和保护。
Resumo
Os testes de rastreamento de águas subterrâneas são frequentemente utilizados para melhorar a caracterização do aquífero, mas apresentam várias desvantagens, como a necessidade de derramar soluções ou corantes no sistema aquífero e a alteração das propriedades químicas da água. Assim, os traçadores podem afetar a mecânica do fluxo de águas subterrâneas e a interpretação dos dados torna-se mais complexa, dificultando o estudo efetivo de bombas de calor terrestres para sistemas geotérmicos de baixa entalpia. Este artigo apresenta uma metodologia preliminar baseada em uma aplicação multidisciplinar de calor como um traçador para a definição dos principais parâmetros dos aquíferos rasos. As técnicas de monitoramento de campo, tomografia de resistividade elétrica (TRE) e detecção de temperatura distribuída (DTD), não são invasivas e foram aplicadas em um local de teste de um aquífero raso no nordeste da Itália. A combinação dessas técnicas de medição sustenta a definição dos principais parâmetros do aquífero e, portanto, a construção de um modelo conceitual confiável, que então é descrito através do código numérico FEFLOW. Este modelo é calibrado com DTD e validado pelos resultados de TRE. A confiabilidade do modelo numérico em termos de destino e transporte é, assim, aprimorada, conduzindo ao potencial para uma melhor gestão ambiental e proteção dos recursos de águas subterrâneas através de soluções mais viáveis economicamente.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to the reviewers for their careful and meticulous reading of the manuscript, which resulted in improvement of this paper. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Lorenzo Altissimo of “Centro Idrico di Novoledo” (Villaverla, Vicenza; Italy). Eng. Alberto Salmistraro and Eng. Zeno Farina from the local renewable energies firm Eneren S.r.l. performed the TRT measurements using their devices and software. The thesis work of Mr. Liuzzo Scorpo and Mr. Capellari provided additional support for field data and geophysical surveys. The use of the ETR inversion software provided by A. Binley is also gratefully acknowledged.
Funding
The funds of the 2014 PRAT (Progetto di Ricerca di Ateneo of Padua University, 2014) supported this project. The grant number is CPDA144544.
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Cultrera, M., Boaga, J., Di Sipio, E. et al. Modelling an induced thermal plume with data from electrical resistivity tomography and distributed temperature sensing: a case study in northeast Italy. Hydrogeol J 26, 837–851 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1700-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1700-3