ALBERT

Description: We study a model of lava flow to determine its thermal and dynamic characteristics from thermal measurements of the lava at its surface. Mathematically this problem is reduced to solving an inverse boundary problem. Namely, using known conditions at one part of the model boundary we determine the missing condition at the remaining part of the boundary. We develop a numerical approach to the mathematical problem in the case of steady-state flow. Assuming that the temperature and the heat flow are prescribed at the upper surface of the model domain, we determine the flow characteristics in the entire model domain using a variational (adjoint) method. We have performed computations of model examples and showed that in the case of smooth input data the lava temperature and the flow velocity can be reconstructed with a high accuracy. As expected, a noise imposed on the smooth input data results in a less accurate solution, but still acceptable below some noise level. Also we analyse the influence of optimization methods on the solution convergence rate. The proposed method for reconstruction of physical parameters of lava flows can also be applied to other problems in geophysical fluid flows.

Description: Studies of discrete volcanic explosions, that usually last less than 2 or 3 min, have suggested that the partitioning of seismic-acoustic energy is likely related to a range of physical mechanisms that depend on magma properties and other physical constraints such as the location of the fragmentation surface. In this paper, we explore the energy partition of a paroxysmal eruptive phase of Tungurahua volcano that lasted for over 4 hr, on 2006 July 14–15, using seismic-acoustic information recorded by stations on its flanks (near field). We find evidence of a linear scaling between seismic and acoustic energies, with time-dependent intensities, during the sustained explosive phase of the eruption. Furthermore, we argue that this scaling can be explained by two different processes: (1) the fragmentation region ultimately acts as the common source of energy producing both direct seismic waves, that travel through the volcanic edifice, and direct acoustic waves coming from a disturbed atmosphere above the summit; (2) the coupling of acoustic waves with the ground to cause seismic waves. Both processes are concurrent, however we have found that the first one is dominant for seismic records below 4 Hz. Here we use the linear scaling of intensities to construct seismic and acoustic indices, which, we argue, could be used to track an ongoing eruption. Thus, especially in strong paroxysms that can produce pyroclastic flows, the index correlation and their levels can be used as quantitative monitoring parameters to assess the volcanic hazard in real time. Additionally, we suggest from the linear scaling that the source type for both cases, seismic and acoustic, is dipolar and dominant in the near field.

Description: Heat pipe heat exchangers could be employed as run-around coils in air conditioning systems for enhanced dehumidification and cooling. This article reviews some of the works conducted on the cooling and dehumidification aspects in various air conditioning systems. They have been proved to be effective in enhancing dehumidification and reducing air conditioning costs especially in hot and humid tropical countries.

Description: The mitigation options to meet the ambitious carbon reduction targets set by the UK government are discussed in this paper, including the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, clean renewable energy integration and a proposed system of integrated fuel cell combined heat and power (FC-CHP) technology. Analysis shows that the use of CCS technology within the current infrastructure can abate half the electricity-associated CO 2 emissions; however, this comes at a high cost penalty. The emissions associated with domestic heat cannot be prevented without changes in the energy infrastructure. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells can provide clean energy at a range of scales and high efficiencies, especially when employed with a CHP system. However, production of CO 2 -free hydrogen is essential for fuel cell technology to contribute substantially to a low carbon economy globally. In this work, three methods were investigated for small-scale distributed hydrogen production, namely steam methane reforming, water electrolysis (WE) and cold plasma jet (CPJ). The criteria used for comparisons include the associated CO 2 emissions and the cost of energy production. CPJ decomposition of methane shows a high potential when combined with integrated FC-CHP technology for economically viable and CO 2 -free generation of energy, especially in comparison to WE. Including the value of the solid carbon product makes the plasma system most attractive economically.

Description: A multistage continuous isothermal endoreversible chemical engine system with a finite driving fluid is investigated in this paper, and the mass transfer law obeys the linear mass transfer law [ $$g\propto \mathrm{\Delta }\mu $$ ]. Under the condition that both the initial time and the initial key component concentration in the driving fluid are fixed, the maximum power output of the multistage chemical engine system and the corresponding optimal concentration configuration of the key component in the driving fluid are derived by applying Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) theory, and numerical examples for three different boundary conditions are given. The results show that the difference between the chemical potential of the key component and the Carnot chemical potential for the maximum power output is a constant, and the key component concentration in the driving fluid decreases with the increase of time nonlinearly; when both the process period and the final concentration of the key component are fixed, there is an optimal control strategy for the maximum power output of the multistage chemical engine system, and the maximum power outputs of the system and the corresponding optimal control strategies are different for different final concentrations. The obtained results can provide some theoretical guidelines for the optimal designs and operations of practical energy conversion systems.

Description: Recently, several studies have been conducted regarding the Atkinson cycle and Atkinson engine which have resulted in various thermal efficiency and output power analysis. In the present study, output power and engine thermal efficiency are maximized via employing the NSGA-II approach and thermodynamic analysis. The multi-objective evolutionary approach on the basis of the NSGA-II method is implemented throughout this work for optimizing the above-mentioned variables. To evaluate the aforementioned goal, two objective functions which comprises the power output ( W ) and cycle efficiency ( ) have been included in the optimization process simultaneously.

Description: The expansion of offshore renewable energy infrastructure and the need for trans-continental shelf power transmission require the use of submarine high-voltage (HV) cables. These cables have maximum operating surface temperatures of up to 70 °C and are typically buried 1–2 m beneath the seabed, within the wide range of substrates found on the continental shelf. However, the heat flow pattern and potential effects on the sedimentary environments around such anomalously high heat sources in the near-surface sediments are poorly understood. We present temperature measurements from a 2-D laboratory experiment representing a buried submarine HV cable, and identify the thermal regimes generated within typical unconsolidated shelf sediments—coarse silt, fine sand and very coarse sand. We used a large (2 x 2.5 m 2 ) tank filled with water-saturated spherical glass beads (ballotini) and instrumented with a buried heat source and 120 thermocouples to measure the time-dependent 2-D temperature distributions. The observed and corresponding Finite Element Method simulations of the steady state heat flow regimes and normalized radial temperature distributions were assessed. Our results show that the heat transfer and thus temperature fields generated from submarine HV cables buried within a range of sediments are highly variable. Coarse silts are shown to be purely conductive, producing temperature increases of 〉10 °C up to 40 cm from the source of 60 °C above ambient; fine sands demonstrate a transition from conductive to convective heat transfer between cf. 20 and 36 °C above ambient, with 〉10 °C heat increases occurring over a metre from the source of 55 °C above ambient; and very coarse sands exhibit dominantly convective heat transfer even at very low ( cf. 7 °C) operating temperatures and reaching temperatures of up to 18 °C above ambient at a metre from the source at surface temperatures of only 18 °C. These findings are important for the surrounding near-surface environments experiencing such high temperatures and may have significant implications for chemical and physical processes operating at the grain and subgrain scale; biological activity at both microfaunal and macrofaunal levels; and indeed the operational performance of the cables themselves, as convective heat transport would increase cable current ratings, something neglected in existing standards.

Description: The efficient use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems in buildings presents a control challenge due to their simultaneous production of thermal and electrical energy. The use of thermal energy storage coupled with a CHP engine provides an interesting solution to the problem—the electrical demands of the building can be matched by the CHP engine, while the resulting thermal energy can be regulated by the thermal energy store. Based on the thermal energy demands of the building the thermal store can provide extra thermal energy or absorb surplus thermal energy production. This paper presents a multi-input multi-output inverse-dynamics-based control strategy that will minimise the electrical grid utilisation of a building, while simultaneously maintaining a defined operative temperature. Electrical demands from lighting and appliances within the building are considered. In order to assess the performance of the control strategy, a European Standard validated simplified dynamic building physics model is presented that provides verified heating demands. Internal heat gains from solar radiation and internal loads are included within the model. Results indicate the control strategy is effective in minimising the electrical grid use and maximising the utilisation of the available energy when compared with conventional heating systems.

Description: The power and the efficiency of a triple-shaft open intercooled, recuperated gas turbine cycle are analyzed and optimized based on the model established using thermodynamic optimization theory in Part 1 of this paper by adjusting the low-pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop, the mass flow rate and the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path. First, the power output is optimized by adjusting the intercooling pressure ratio, the air mass flow rate or the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path. Second, the thermodynamic first-law efficiency is optimized subject to a fixed fuel flow rate and a fixed overall size by seeking the optimal intercooling pressure ratio, the compressor inlet pressure drop and optimal flow area allocation ratio between the low-pressure compressor inlet and the power turbine outlet. The numerical examples show that increase in effectiveness of intercooler increases power output and its corresponding efficiency and increase in effectiveness of recuperator decreases power output appreciably but increases its corresponding efficiency; there exist an optimal low-pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop and an optimal intercooling pressure ratio, which lead to a maximum power. For a fixed fuel mass rate and a fixed overall area of low-pressure compressor inlet and power turbine outlet, maximum thermodynamic first-law efficiency is obtained by optimizing low-pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop and intercooling pressure ratio. The double-maximum thermodynamic first-law efficiency is obtained by searching optimal flow area allocation between low-pressure compressor inlet and power turbine outlet.

Description: With non-renewable energy sources depleting quickly, solar energy could prove a viable option owing to its abundance and eco-friendliness. Modeling and simulation of a solar energy-driven single-stage absorption chiller was carried out using the transient simulation software ‘TRNSYS’. An evacuated tube collector coupled with an insulated tank served as heat source for the absorption chiller. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency parameters of the collector as well as the loss coefficient for the storage tank. These parameters along with standard chiller performance data were used to model the system. The influence of climatic conditions, storage capacity and various control schemes with and without auxiliary heating on the output of the system is analyzed and presented in the paper.

Description: Based upon the theoretical principle of the thermochemical energy storage pumping pipe system, a new cooling system has been presented. In order to analyse the performance and design of the system based on adsorption pumping pipe process, a simplified mathematical model is developed. Both simulation and experimental results are given and discussed. The comparison of various methods (ammonium dissolves, evaporation of CO 2 , etc.) showed that it is the simplest and most reliable to use adsorbents such as zeolite in this cooling system. A total of 250 g zeolite 13X could reduce the temperature of 330 ml by 15°C in 2–3 min (for beverage self-cooling applications). For future work, a large scale demonstration system is required to prove the viability and long term performance of thermochemical cooling/energy storage system.

Description: Considering the flow processes of the working fluid with the pressure drops, a thermodynamic model for a triple-shaft open intercooled-recuperated gas turbine cycle is established using thermodynamic optimization theory in Part 1 of this paper. The relative pressure drops associated with the flow through various cross-sectional areas are derived as functions of the low-pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop. The analytical formulae of the cycle's power and efficiency are derived. The performance of the model cycle is optimized by adjusting the compressor inlet pressure, the mass flow rate and the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path in Part 2 of this paper.

Description: The presence of calcite in and near faults, as the dominant material, cement, or vein fill, indicates that the mechanical behaviour of carbonate-dominated material likely plays an important role in shallow- and mid-crustal faulting. To better understand the behaviour of calcite, under loading conditions relevant to earthquake nucleation, we sheared powdered gouge of Carrara Marble, 〉98 per cent CaCO 3 , at constant normal stresses between 1 and 100 MPa under water-saturated conditions at room temperature. We performed slide-hold-slide tests, 1–3000 s, to measure the amount of static frictional strengthening and creep relaxation, and velocity-stepping tests, 0.1–1000 μm s –1 , to evaluate frictional stability. We observe that the rates of frictional strengthening and creep relaxation decrease with increasing normal stress and diverge as shear velocity is increased from 1 to 3000 μm s –1 during slide-hold-slide experiments. We also observe complex frictional stability behaviour that depends on both normal stress and shearing velocity. At normal stresses less than 20 MPa, we observe predominantly velocity-neutral friction behaviour. Above 20 MPa, we observe strong velocity-strengthening frictional behaviour at low velocities, which then evolves towards velocity-weakening friction behaviour at high velocities. Microstructural analyses of recovered samples highlight a variety of deformation mechanisms including grain size reduction and localization, folding of calcite grains and fluid-assisted diffusion mass transfer processes promoting the development of calcite nanograins in the highly deformed portions of the experimental fault. Our combined analyses indicate that calcite fault gouge transitions from brittle to semi-brittle behaviour at high normal stress and slow sliding velocities. This transition has important implications for earthquake nucleation and propagation on faults in carbonate-dominated lithologies.

Description: The elastic properties of homogeneous, isotropic materials are well constrained. However, in heterogeneous and evolving materials, these essential properties are less well-explored. During sintering of volcanic ash particles by viscous processes as well as during compaction and cementation of sediments, microstructure and porosity undergo changes that affect bulk dynamic elastic properties. Here using a model system of glass particles as an analogue for initially granular rock-forming materials, we have determined porosity and P -wave velocity during densification. Using these results, we test models for the kinetics of densification and the resultant evolution of the elastic properties to derive a quantitative description of the coupling between the kinetics of isotropic densification and the evolving dynamic elastic moduli. We demonstrate the power of the resultant model on a wide range of data for non-coherent sediments as well as sedimentary and volcanic rocks. We propose that such constraints be viewed as an essential ingredient of time-dependent models for the deformation of evolving materials in volcanoes and sedimentary basins.

Description: The mistakes in recent literatures are analyzed, and a new model for an endoreversible closed modified Brayton cycle with isothermal heat addition coupled to variable-temperature reservoirs is established using finite-time thermodynamics in this paper. The range of isothermal heat addition modification is determined, and the analytical formulae of the dimensionless power output, thermal efficiency and dimensionless power density of the cycle are derived. The effects of the cycle parameters on the global performances of power output and power density and the performances at maximum power design and maximum power density are analyzed by numerical calculations. The results show that there exist optimal compressor pressure ratios, respectively, which lead to maximum dimensionless power output and maximum dimensionless power density, that the optimal compressor pressure ratio and the thermal efficiency at maximum power design are always smaller than the corresponding ones at maximum power density design, and that dimensionless power output and maximum specific volume at maximum power design are always bigger than the corresponding ones at maximum power density design. The results imply that the power density design possesses the advantages such as smaller equipment volume and higher thermal efficiency at the cost of disadvantages such as bigger compressor pressure ratio and power output loss. Maximizing the power density gives a compromise between power and the size of the engine. The calculations also show that an endoreversible closed modified Brayton cycle with isothermal heat addition cannot work at the maximum thermal efficiency design point.

Description: We present a study of the seismic velocity variations that occurred in the structure before the large 2010 eruption of Merapi volcano. For the first time to our knowledge, the technique of coda wave interferometry is applied to both families of similar events (multiplets) and to correlation functions of seismic noise. About half of the seismic events recorded at the summit stations belong to one of the ten multiplets identified, including 120 similar events that occurred in the last 20 hr preceding the eruption onset. Daily noise cross-correlation functions (NCF) were calculated for the six pairs of short-period stations available. Using the stretching method, we estimate time-series of apparent velocity variation (AVV) for each multiplet and each pair of stations. No significant velocity change is detected until September 2010. From 10 October to the beginning of the eruption on 26 October, a complex pattern of AVV is observed with amplitude of up to ±1.5 per cent. Velocity decrease is first observed from families of deep events and then from shallow earthquakes. In the same period, AVV with different signs and chronologies are estimated from NCF calculated for various station pairs. The location in the horizontal plane of the velocity perturbations related with the AVV obtained from NCF is estimated by using an approach based on the radiative transfer approximation. Although their spatial resolution is limited, the resulting maps display velocity decrease in the upper part of the edifice in the period 12–25 October. After the eruption onset, the pattern of velocity perturbations is significantly modified with respect to the previous one. We interpret these velocity variations in the framework of a scenario of magmatic intrusion that integrates most observations. The perturbation of the stress field associated with the magma migration can induce both decrease and increase of the seismic velocity of rocks. Thus the detected AVVs can be considered as precursors of volcanic eruptions in andesitic volcanoes, without taking their sign into account.

Description: The influx of groundwater into hot kimberlite deposits results in the reaction of water with olivine-rich rocks. The products of the reaction are serpentine and release of latent heat. The rise of temperature due to the heat release increases the rate of the reaction. Under certain conditions, this self-speeding up of the reaction can result in instabilities associated with a significantly higher final serpentinization in slightly warmer regions of the kimberlite deposit. We conduct linear stability analysis of serpentinization in an isolated volume of porous kimberlitic rocks saturated with water and an inert gas. There is a counteracting interplay between the heat release tending to destabilize the uniform distribution of parameters and the heat conduction tending to stabilize it by smoothing out temperature perturbations. We determine the critical spatial scale separating the parameters where one phenomenon dominates over another. The perturbations of longer-than-critical length grow, whereas the perturbations of shorter-than-critical length fade. The analytical results of the linear stability analysis are supported by direct numerical simulations using a full nonlinear model.

Description: Inelastic deformation can either occur with dilatancy or compaction, implying differences in porosity changes, failure and petrophysical properties. In this study, the roles of water as a pore fluid, and of temperature, on the deformation and failure of a micritic limestone (white Tavel limestone, porosity 14.7 per cent) were investigated under triaxial stresses. For each sample, a hydrostatic load was applied up to the desired confining pressure (from 0 up to 85 MPa) at either room temperature or at 70 °C. Two pore fluid conditions were investigated at room temperature: dry and water saturated. The samples were deformed up to failure at a constant strain rate of ~10 –5 s –1 . The experiments were coupled with ultrasonic wave velocity surveys to monitor crack densities. The linear trend between the axial crack density and the relative volumetric strain beyond the onset of dilatancy suggests that cracks propagate at constant aspect ratio. The decrease of ultrasonic wave velocities beyond the onset of inelastic compaction in the semi-brittle regime indicates the ongoing interplay of shear-enhanced compaction and crack development. Water has a weakening effect on the onset of dilatancy in the brittle regime, but no measurable influence on the peak strength. Temperature lowers the confining pressure at which the brittle–semi-brittle transition is observed but does not change the stress states at the onset of inelastic compaction and at the post-yield onset of dilatancy.

Description: Remote sensing thermal data of active lava flows allow the evaluation of effusion rates. This is made possible by a simple formula relating the lava effusion rate to the heat flux radiated per unit time from the surface of the flow. Due to the assumptions of the model, this formula implies that heat flux, surface temperature and lava temperature vary as a function of the flow thickness. These relationships, never verified or validated before, have been used by several authors as a proof of the weakness of the model. Here, multispectral infrared and visible imaging spectrometer (MIVIS) high spatial resolution (5–10 m) thermal data acquired during Etna's 2001 eruption were used to investigate downflow heat flux variations in the lava flow emitted from a vent located at 2100 m a.s.l. A high correlation between the downflow heat flux and the lava flow thickness (measured from a pre-existing digital elevation model) was found. Topography beneath the flow appears to play an important role both in lava emplacement mechanisms and flow dynamics. MIVIS-derived downflow effusion rates are consistent with the law of conservation of mass assessing the reliability of remote sensing techniques.

Description: The effects of thermocouples physical size on the performance of a thermoelectric heat pump (TEH) driven by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) device are investigated in this article. The physical size refers to the length and the cross-sectional area of the thermocouples. The performance analysis is multiobjective, including stable electrical current, heating load, coefficient of performance, maximum heating load and maximum heating temperature difference. A characteristic parameter, i.e. area–length ratio, is defined to describe the thermocouples physical size. The influences of the parameter are analyzed by detailed numerical examples. A practical example is proposed to show how to select appropriate thermoelectric modules (TEMs) to construct a high-performance TEG–TEH system satisfying different requirements. The results show that an improvement in its performance is possible by optimizing internal physical size of thermocouples. The conclusion obtained could be used for the selection of TEMs and the design of the TEG–TEH system.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical analysis of the capillary pumped loop (CPL) performance using different working liquids. CPL is a passive heat transfer device, using no mechanical pump to circulate the working liquid, usually composed of a liquid tank, an evaporator, a condenser, a liquid and a vapor line. Heat load is applied on the external surface of the evaporator, partially transferred to the wick inside. Because of this heat load capillary forces are developed inside the porous structure, due to meniscus formation between liquid and vapor surface of the liquid, causing a pressure oscillation capable to pump the flow out of the evaporator. In this paper CPL performance is evaluated using different working liquids, such as water, ammonia, acetone and freon-134. These have different thermophysical properties such as latent heat, viscosity and density, causing different behavior when used as working liquid. Water was found more stable for higher temperature differences, due to higher latent heat of vaporization, while ammonia could take advantage of its viscosity for small temperature differences.

Description: The thermoacoustic heat engine (TAHE) is a type of prime mover that converts thermal power to acoustic power. It is composed of two heat exchangers (the devices heat source and sink), some kind of porous medium where the conversion of power takes place and a tube that houses the acoustic wave produced. Its simple design and the fact that it is one of a few prime movers that do not require moving parts make such a device an attractive alternative for many practical applications. The acoustic power produced by the TAHE can be used to generate electricity, drive a heat pump or a refrigeration system. Although the geometry of the TAHE is simple, the behavior of the engine is complex with 30+ design parameters that affect the performance of the device; therefore, designing such a device remains a significant challenge. In this work, a radical design methodology using reinforcement learning (RL) is employed for the design and optimization of a TAHE for the first time. Reinforcement learning is a machine learning technique that allows optimization by specifying ‘good’ and ‘bad’ behavior using a simple reward scheme r . Although its framework is simple, it has proved to be a very powerful tool in solving a wide range of complex decision-making/optimization problems. The RL technique employed by the agent in this work is known as Q-learning. Preliminary results have shown the potential of the RL technique to solve this type of complex design problem, as the RL agent was able to figure out the correct configuration of components that would create positive acoustic power output. The learning agent was able to create a design that yielded an acoustic power output of 643.31 W with a thermal efficiency of 3.29%. It is eventually hoped that with increased understanding of the design problem, in terms of the RL framework, it will be possible to ultimately create an autonomous RL agent for the design and optimization of complex TAHEs with minimal predefined conditions/restrictions.

Description: We performed complex conductivity measurements on 28 core samples from the hole drilled for the Humu'ula Groundwater Research Project (Hawai'i Island, HI, USA). The complex conductivity measurements were performed at 4 different pore water conductivities (0.07, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0, and 10 S m –1 prepared with NaCl) over the frequency range 1 mHz to 45 kHz at 22 ± 1 °C. The in-phase conductivity data are plotted against the pore water conductivity to determine, sample by sample, the intrinsic formation factor and the surface conductivity. The intrinsic formation factor is related to porosity by Archie's law with an average value of the cementation exponent m of 2.45, indicating that only a small fraction of the connected pore space controls the transport properties. Both the surface and quadrature conductivities are found to be linearly related to the cation exchange capacity of the material, which was measured with the cobalt hexamine chloride method. Surface and quadrature conductivities are found to be proportional to each other like for sedimentary siliclastic rocks. A Stern layer polarization model is used to explain these experimental results. Despite the fact that the samples contain some magnetite (up to 5 per cent wt.), we were not able to identify the effect of this mineral on the complex conductivity spectra. These results are very encouraging in showing that galvanometric induced polarization measurements can be used in volcanic areas to separate the bulk from the surface conductivity and therefore to define some alteration attributes. Such a goal cannot be achieved with resistivity alone.

Description: We investigate the relationship between complex conductivity spectra and both permeability and pore mean size and distribution of 22 core samples (21 volcanic rocks and 1 clayey sandstone). The volcanic core samples were extracted from a wellbore drilled for the Humu‘ula Groundwater Research Project in the Humu‘ula saddle region between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes (Hawaii). The quadrature conductivity spectra of volcanic rocks exhibit a subtle, but generally detectable, relaxation frequency in the range 0.3 Hz to 45 kHz similar to the relaxation frequency observed for clayey sandstones. We find a fair relationship between this relaxation frequency and the pore size determined by mercury porosimetry. Combined with the intrinsic formation factor of the core samples, the relaxation frequency can be used as an indicator of the permeability of the material. The predicted values of the permeability are grossly consistent with the permeability values to air (in the range 0.001–100 mD) within two orders of magnitude. The measured permeability values are highly correlated to the peak of the pore size distribution determined from mercury porosimetry divided by the intrinsic formation factor. By fitting the complex conductivity spectra with the pore size distribution, we obtain the normalized chargeability of the core samples, which is, in turn, highly correlated to the measured cation exchange capacity.

Description: The Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex (PCCVC) is one of the best examples of tectonic control on volcanism at the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes (southern Chile). The PCCVC comprises several volcanic centres that erupted dominantly SiO 2 -rich magmas at the intersection of the trench-parallel Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone (LOFZ) and an inherited NW–SE basement structure. The PCCVC began an explosive and later effusive eruption on 2011 June 4 causing decimetre- to metre-scale surface deformation that was observed by a series of Envisat ASAR satellite scenes. We modelled this data and complemented it with time-series of two continuous GPS stations and seismicity recorded by a local network. Deformation during the first 3 days of the eruption can be modelled either by two point sources aligned with the NW–SE Cordón Caulle graben or by a closing dyke with a significant component of left-lateral motion along the graben. These models are discussed with respect to their implications on the estimated rheology and the eruption mechanism. GPS observations near the volcanic complex reveal an additional, more localised effect related to the LOFZ in the south of the complex. Coeruptive deformation at the main geological structures of the PCCVC is further supported by relocated seismicity, which is concentrated along the Cordón Caulle graben and to the western side of the LOFZ.

Description: Coal fires are severe hazards to environment, health and safety throughout the world. Efficient and economical extinguishing of these fires requires that the extent of the subsurface coal fires should be delineated. Electrical and electromagnetic methods have been used to detect coal fires in recent years. However, the resistivity change of coal-bearing rocks at high temperature is rarely investigated. The resistivity characteristics of coal fires at different temperatures and depths are seldomly researched as well. In this paper, we present the results of measurements of several coal-bearing rocks’ resistivity and permeability under high temperature. Two major causes for the change in resistivity with increasing temperature are recognized, there are the increase of charge carriers and thermal fracturing, of which the first one is probably the dominant cause. A set of 2-D simulations is carried out to compare the relation of resolution and efficiency of coal fires detection to temperature and depth when adopting the electrical resistance tomography. The simulation results show that the resolution and efficiency decrease with the decrease of temperature and the increase of depth. Finally, the electrical resistance tomography is used to delineate coal fires in the Anjialing Open Pit Mine. Most low-resistivity regions are verified as coal-fire areas according to the long-term monitoring of borehole temperature. The results indicate that the electrical resistance tomography can be used as a tool for the detection of coal fires.

Description: Accurate information on thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of materials is of central importance in relation to geoscience and engineering problems involving the transfer of heat. Several methods, including the classical divided bar technique, are available for laboratory measurements of thermal conductivity, but much fewer for thermal diffusivity. We have generalized the divided bar technique to the transient case in which thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity and thereby also thermal diffusivity are measured simultaneously. As the density of samples is easily determined independently, specific heat capacity can also be determined. The finite element formulation provides a flexible forward solution for heat transfer across the bar, and thermal properties are estimated by inverse Monte Carlo modelling. This methodology enables a proper quantification of experimental uncertainties on measured thermal properties and information on their origin. The developed methodology was applied to various materials, including a standard ceramic material and different rock samples, and measuring results were compared with results applying traditional steady-state divided bar and an independent line-source method. All measurements show highly consistent results and with excellent reproducibility and high accuracy. For conductivity the obtained uncertainty is typically 1–3 per cent, and for diffusivity uncertainty may be reduced to about 3–5 per cent. The main uncertainty originates from the presence of thermal contact resistance associated with the internal interfaces in the bar. These are not resolved during inversion and it is imperative that they are minimized. The proposed procedure is simple and may quite easily be implemented to the many steady-state divided bar systems in operation. A thermally controlled bath, as applied here, may not be needed. Simpler systems, such as applying temperature-controlled water directly from a tap, may also be applied.