The disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in mined geologic repositories,
the storage of compressed natural gas in underground caverns, and the use of
enhanced hydrocarbon recovery techniques (e.g., flooding of reservoirs with
Adiabatic Calorimeter for
Specific Heat Measurements
heated fluids) are just a few of the applications creating an increasing demand
for the study of rock formations. These applications require specific knowledge
of the thermal properties of the rock surrounding the disposal/storage caverns
or comprising the hydrocarbon reservoirs. RESPEC’s thermal properties
laboratory houses both conventional test systems and a specially designed
thermal properties measurement system (TPMS) to determine:
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Thermal expansion over an operating temperature range of 25°C to 500°C (75°F to
930°F)
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Specific heat over an operating temperature range of 25°C to 350°C (75°F to
660°F)
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Thermal diffusivity and conductivity over an operating temperature range of
25°C to 225°C (75°F to 435°F) and a hydrostatic stress range of 0 to 50 MPa
Dual Specimen Pushrod Dilatometer for
Thermal Expansion Measurements
Linear expansions up to 3.05 cm are measured using a pushrod dilatometer system
which accommodates specimens up to 4.2 cm in diameter and 10 cm in length. An
adiabatic calorimeter measures the specific heat of solid specimens or powdered
samples. Solid specimens up to 5 cm in diameter and 7.5 cm in length and
powdered samples up to 100 cm3 may be tested. Both systems are
completely automated and controlled using a PC-based microprocessor. The
computer-controlled TPMS is suitable for use with larger specimens (10 cm in
diameter and 20 cm in length) and provides for thermal expansion, diffusivity,
and conductivity measurements under simulated in situ stress and temperature
conditions. Diffusivity and conductivity measurements are made using the
guarded radial heat flow technique. The heater configuration consists of (1) a
three-zone central heater situated along the specimen axis, (2) guard heaters
at the specimen ends, and (3) three zones of band heaters on the pressure
vessel exterior.
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