| Title | The Portable Electronic Divided Bar (PEDB): a Tool for Measuring Thermal Conductivity of Rock Samples |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anson M. Antriasian |
| Year | 2010 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | PEDB, portable electronic divided bar, thermal conductivity, heat flow, geothermal modeling, anisotropy |
| Abstract | The thermal conductivity of a geological formation is an essential physical property to be determined when attempting to understand and model heat flow. The Portable Electronic Divided Bar (PEDB) is an effective tool in measuring thermal conductivity, and is currently playing an important in the development of heat flow modelling of Australian geothermal resources. The PEDB is an electronic apparatus that produces a temperature gradient across a specially prepared rock sample; and with its precision heat flow monitoring system, it allows thermal conductivity of a rock sample to be determined via the application of Fourier’s Law. A simple spreadsheet allows direct temperature measurements—utilising thermocouples—to be recorded and interpreted to provide an absolute thermal conductivity value within ±3.5%. Measurements are rapid, taking from 5 to 15 minutes per sample. In addition to uniaxial thermal conductivity measurements, biaxial and triaxial measurements can be made with the PEDB, allowing for studies of thermal conductivity anisotropy. Cylindrical core as well as irregularly shaped rock samples can be measured. |