modelImpermeableLayer

Information

1. Purpose of model

Single control volume of an impermeable confining layer (aquitard). Models 2D heat conduction in radial and vertical direction through a saturated stone or clay matrix. Temperature is computed at the cell centre; heat ports at all four surfaces allow coupling to neighbouring cells or boundary conditions.

2. Level of detail, physical effects considered, and physical insight

L4: Discretized control volume. Heat conduction in radial and vertical directions is represented by four thermal resistors (two radial, two vertical). Thermal storage is modeled by a lumped heat capacitor. No fluid flow is possible (impermeable layer).

3. Limits of validity

- No fluid flow or advective heat transport.

- Constant thermal properties of the confining layer solid.

4. Interfaces

port_east: radial inner heat port (Heat, inlet)

port_west: radial outer heat port (Heat, outlet)

port_up: upper vertical heat port (Heat, inlet)

port_down: lower vertical heat port (Heat, outlet)

5. Nomenclature

	T_start	initial temperature of control volume [K]
	A_q	cross-sectional area of control volume [m²]
	z_c	height of control volume [m]
	r	outer edge radius of control volume [m]
	r_d	centre radius of control volume [m]
	port_east.Q_flow etc.	heat flow rate at each port [W]

6. Governing Equations

(no equations — assembly of ThermalResistorRadial, ThermalResistorVertical, and HeatCapacitorStone sub-models)

7. Remarks for Usage

Instantiated as a [N_r, N_z_c] array in ATES_confinedLayer for the upper and lower aquitard layers. Thermal properties are taken from Parameters (Subsurface_Basic record).

8. Validation

Tested in check model "ATES.Validierung.Buoyancy.Val_homogenLayer"

9. References

(no remarks)

10. Version History

Model created by Markus Gillner (markus.gillner@tuhh.de), May 2026

Parameters

Connectors

Components