A review of numerical simulation of hydrothermal systems

Many advances in simulating single and two-phase fluid flow and heat transport in porous media have recently been made in conjunction with geothermal energy research. These numerical models reproduce system thermal and pressure behaviour and can be used for heat-transport problems other than those associated with geothermal energy development, such as high-level radioactive waste disposal and heat-storage projects. Although these models are general, additional research is necessary before they can be applied to certain site-specific problems that are concerned with additional processes, such as mass transport and flow in fractured media.