Optimal storage of freshwater in saline aquifers

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, Jeoloji Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2005

Öğrenci: DENİZ KÜSTÜ

Danışman: HASAN YAZICIGİL

Özet:

Storage of freshwater in saline aquifers has a strategic importance in water deficit countries. The freshwater stored in these aquifers may be the only source of water available during times of crisis. Coupled simulation and optimization type groundwater management models have been developed that will achieve the optimal control of the storage of freshwater in a stagnant manner for constant density and variable density flows in hypothetical single- and multi-layered saline aquifers. The study is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, a transient model of five years is simulated that allows sufficient time for the freshwater mound to be created. In the second stage, an optimization model is formulated which minimizes the pumping/injection rates of a set of hydraulic gradient control wells subject to a set of constraints consisting of systems response equations, demand requirements, hydraulic gradient controls, pumping and injection limitations. The optimization models select which wells to be pumped and which ones to be injected and decide on their pumping/injection schedules to maintain the freshwater mound from migration. The results of the optimization models showed that the mound is successfully contained in its original location by controlling the hydraulic gradient via pumping/injection wells.