Heat exchange in unsaturated porous media with heat dependent water flow

We discuss the heat and mass transport in unsaturated-saturated porous media including heat exchange between infiltrated water and matrix. We include the thermal influence on hydraulic permeability and on the water expansion which changes the water saturation. This consequently influences the hydraulic permeability. Numerical modelling includes the direct and inverse solution of the problem, where model parameters are determined. Numerical experiments require only simple input/output measurements of suitable flow characteristics in laboratory conditions with 3D cylindrical samples. The flow model is based on Richard’s strongly non-linear parabolic equation based on empirical van Genuchten’s capillary-pressure model. The transport includes longitudinal and transversal dispersion. © 2019 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland