ИСТИНА

The rapid experimental technique for determination of equilibrium water content in porous media in contact with ice (unfrozen water) or gas hydrates (nonclathrated water) is developed. The method is based on experimental data of pore water potential via water content on the samples and some thermodynamic calculations. The water potential of soil (or artificial porous media) is determined by device WP4–T, developed by Decagon Devices (USA) at the range of positive in Celsius temperatures (above and below room temperature). The main purpose of the report is to demonstrate how the experimental data on water potential Ψ (as well as a difference of chemical potential between pore water and bulk water) via water content in porous media (natural soils and artificial media) may be used for thermodynamic calculations of unfrozen and nonclathrated water content as a function of pressure and temperature. As for unfrozen water content in porous media the method is work in a wide range of negative on Celsius temperatures between zero and minus 30 °C. As for nonclathrated water content the method is work both at negative and positive temperatures.