A theoretical model of air and steam co-injection to prevent the downward migration of DNAPLs during steam-enhanced extraction

When steam is injected into soil containing a dense volatile non-aqueous phase liquid contaminant the DNAPL vaporized within the heated soil region condenses and accumulates ahead of the steam condensation front. If enough DNAPL accumulates, gravitational forces can overcome trapping forces allowing the liquid contaminant to flow downward. By injecting air with steam, a portion of the DNAPL vapor remains suspended in equilibrium with the air, decreasing liquid contaminant accumulation ahead of the steam condensation front, and thus reducing the possibility of downward migration. In this work, a one-dimensional theoretical model is developed to predict the injection ratio of air to steam that will prevent the accumulation of volatile DNAPLs. The contaminated region is modeled as a one-dimensional homogeneous porous medium with an initially uniform distribution of a single component contaminant. Mass and energy balances are combined to determine the injection ratio of air to steam that eliminates accumulation of the contaminant ahead of the steam condensation front, and hence reduces the possibility of downward migration. The minimum injection ratio that eliminates accumulation is defined as the optimum injection ratio. Example calculations are presented for three DNAPLs, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PCE). The optimum injection ratio of air to steam is shown to depend on the initial saturation and the volatility of the liquid contaminant. Numerical simulation results are presented to validate the model, and to illustrate downward migration for ratios less than optimum. Optimum injection ratios determined from numerical simulations are shown to be in good agreement with the theoretical model.     

Transport of volatile compounds in porous media in the presence of a trapped gas phase

The presence of an immobile gaseous phase in an otherwise-saturated porous medium affects the transport of volatile compounds. The linear theory of partitioning tracers suggests that a volatile tracer introduced into such a system should be retarded with a constant retardation factor. Using high concentrations, however, the saturation of the gaseous phase will change as an effect of the tracer test itself. Competitive gas transfer among all volatile compounds and the change of saturation may lead to tracer concentrations that are temporarily higher than those injected. We analyze the system in the framework of the coherence theory by Helfferich [Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 21 (1) (1981) 51]. The governing equations are formulated as functions of total concentration, i.e., the mass of solutes in all phases per pore volume. Neglecting dispersion and mass-transfer kinetics, we derive the characteristic form of the resulting system of hyperbolic equations. In a system with N volatile compounds, a variation of the concentrations splits up into N waves, each traveling with its own characteristic velocity. If the presence of a gaseous phase is sustained, one wave will be a standing one. We perform numerical model calculations for tracers with various Henry's law coefficients and show that the results agree with the semi-analytical solution obtained by coherence theory.     

Co-injection of air and steam for the prevention of the downward migration of DNAPLs during steam enhanced extraction: an experimental evaluation of optimum injection ratio predictions

When steam is injected into soil containing a dense volatile non-aqueous phase liquid contaminant, the DNAPL vaporized within the heated soil region condenses and accumulates ahead of the steam condensation front. If enough DNAPL accumulates, gravitational forces can overcome trapping forces allowing the liquid contaminant to flow downward. By injecting air with steam, a portion of the DNAPL vapor remains suspended in equilibrium with the air, decreasing liquid contaminant accumulation ahead of the steam condensation front, and thus reducing the possibility of downward migration. In a previous work, a theoretical model was developed to predict the optimum injection ratio of air to steam that would eliminate accumulation of DNAPL ahead of the temperature front and thus minimize the potential for downward migration. In this work, the theoretical model is summarized, and an experiment is presented in order to evaluate the optimum injection ratio prediction. In the experiment, a two-dimensional water saturated sand pack is contaminated with a known mass of TCE (DNAPL). The system is then remediated by co-injecting air and steam at the predicted optimum injection ratio, calculated based on the average contaminant soil concentration in the sand pack. Results for the co-injection of air and steam are compared to results for the injection of pure steam or pure air. Injection at the predicted optimum injection ratio for a volumetric average NAPL saturation, reduced accumulation of the contaminant ahead of the condensation front by over 90%, as compared to steam injection alone. This indicates that the optimum injection ratio prediction is a valuable tool for limiting the spreading of DNAPL during steam-enhanced extraction. Injection at the optimum injection ratio resulted in earlier recovery of contaminant than for steam injection alone. Co-injection of steam and air is also shown to result in much higher recovery rates than air injection alone.     

Review of unsaturated-zone transport and attenuation of volatile organic compound (VOC) plumes leached from shallow source zones

Reliable prediction of the unsaturated zone transport and attenuation of dissolved-phase VOC (volatile organic compound) plumes leached from shallow source zones is a complex, multi-process, environmental problem. It is an important problem as sources, which include solid-waste landfills, aqueous-phase liquid discharge lagoons and NAPL releases partially penetrating the unsaturated zone, may persist for decades. Natural attenuation processes operating in the unsaturated zone that, uniquely for VOCs includes volatilisation, may, however, serve to protect underlying groundwater and potentially reduce the need for expensive remedial actions. Review of the literature indicates that only a few studies have focused upon the overall leached VOC source and plume scenario as a whole. These are mostly modelling studies that often involve high strength, non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) sources for which density-induced and diffusive vapour transport is significant. Occasional dissolved-phase aromatic hydrocarbon controlled infiltration field studies also exist. Despite this lack of focus on the overall problem, a wide range of process-based unsaturated zone - VOC research has been conducted that may be collated to build good conceptual model understanding of the scenario, particularly for the much studied aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). In general, the former group is likely to be attenuated in the unsaturated zone due to their ready aerobic biodegradation, albeit with rate variability across the literature, whereas the fate of the latter is far less likely to be dominated by a single mechanism and dependent upon the relative importance of the various attenuation processes within individual site - VOC scenarios. Analytical and numerical modelling tools permit effective process representation of the whole scenario, albeit with potential for inclusion of additional processes - e.g., multi-mechanistic sorption phase partitioning, and provide good opportunity for further sensitivity analysis and development to practitioner use. There remains a significant need to obtain intermediate laboratory-scale and particularly field-scale (actual site and controlled release) datasets that address the scenario as a whole and permit validation of the available models. Integrated assessment of the range of simultaneous processes that combine to influence leached plume generation, transport and attenuation in the unsaturated zone is required. Component process research needs are required across the problem scenario and include: the simultaneous volatilisation and dissolution of source zones; development of appropriate field-scale dispersion estimates for the unsaturated zone; assessment of transient VOC exchanges between aqueous, vapour and sorbed phases and their influence upon plume attenuation; development of improved field methods to recognise and quantify biodegradation of CAHs; establishment of the influence of co-contaminants; and, finally, translation of research findings into more robust practitioner practice.     

Pore-scale modeling of dispersion in disordered porous media

We employ a direct pore-level model of incompressible flow that uses the modified moving particle semi-implicit (MMPS) method. The model is capable of simulating both unsteady- and steady-state flow directly in microtomography images of naturally-occurring porous media. We further develop this model to simulate solute transport in disordered porous media. The governing equations of flow and transport at the pore level, i.e., Navier-Stokes and convection-diffusion, are solved directly in the pore space mapped by microtomography techniques. Three naturally-occurring sandstones are studied in this work. We verify the accuracy of the model by comparing the computed longitudinal dispersion coefficients against the experimental data for a wide range of Peclet numbers, i.e., 5×10(-2)相似文献   

Simulating the fate and transport of TCE from groundwater to indoor air

This work provides an exploratory analysis on the relative importance of various factors controlling the fate and transport of volatile organic contaminants (in this case, TCE) from a DNAPL source zone located below the water table and into the indoor air. The analysis is conducted using the multi-phase compositional model CompFlow Bio, with the base scenario problem geometry reminiscent of a field experiment conducted by Rivett [Rivett, M.O., (1995), Soil–gas signatures from volatile chlorinated solvents: Borden field experiments. Groundwater, 33(1), 84–98.] at the Borden aquifer where groundwater was observed to transport a contaminant plume a substantial distance without vertical mass transport of the contaminant across the capillary fringe and into the vadose zone. Results for the base scenario model indicate that the structure of the permeability field was largely responsible for deflecting the groundwater plume upward towards the capillary fringe, permitting aqueous phase diffusion to transport the TCE into the vadose zone. Alternative permeability realizations, generated as part of a Monte Carlo simulation process, at times deflected the groundwater plume downwards causing the extended thickness of the saturated zone to insulate the vadose zone from exposure to the TCE by upward diffusive transport. Comparison of attenuation coefficients calculated using the CompFlow Bio and Johnson and Ettinger [Johnson, P.C. and Ettinger, R.A., (1991), Heuristic model for predicting the intrusion rate of contaminant vapors into buildings. Environmental Science and Technology, 25, 1445–1452.] heuristic model exhibited fortuitous agreement for the base scenario problem geometry, with this agreement diverging for the alternative permeability realizations as well as when parameters such as the foundation slab fracture aperture, the indoor air pressure drop, the capillary fringe thickness, and the infiltration rate were varied over typical ranges.     

The influence of mass transfer on solute transport in column experiments with an aggregated soil

The spreading of concentration fronts in dynamic column experiments conducted with a porous, aggregated soil is analyzed by means of a previously documented transport model (DFPSDM) that accounts for longitudinal dispersion, external mass transfer in the boundary layer surrounding the aggregate particles, and diffusion in the intra-aggregate pores. The data are drawn from a previous report on the transport of tritiated water, chloride, and calcium ion in a column filled with Ione soil having an average aggregate particle diameter of 0.34 cm, at pore water velocities from 3 to 143 cm/h. The parameters for dispersion, external mass transfer, and internal diffusion were predicted for the experimental conditions by means of generalized correlations, independent of the column data. The predicted degree of solute front-spreading agreed well with the experimental observations. Consistent with the aggregate porosity of 45%, the tortuosity factor for internal pore diffusion was approximately equal to 2. Quantitative criteria for the spreading influence of the three mechanisms are evaluated with respect to the column data. Hydrodynamic dispersion is thought to have governed the front shape in the experiments at low velocity, and internal pore diffusion is believed to have dominated at high velocity; the external mass transfer resistance played a minor role under all conditions. A transport model such as DFPSDM is useful for interpreting column data with regard to the mechanisms controlling concentration front dynamics, but care must be exercised to avoid confounding the effects of the relevant processes.     

An analytical solution for vertical transport of volatile chemicals in the vadose zone

An analytical solution is presented for one-dimensional vertical transport of volatile chemicals through the vadose zone to groundwater. The solution accounts for the important transport mechanisms of the steady advection of water and gas, diffusion and dispersion in water and gas, as well as adsorption, and first-order degradation. By assuming a linear, equilibrium partitioning between water, gas and the adsorbed chemical phases, the dependent variable in the mathematical model becomes the total resident concentration. The general solution was derived for cases having a constant initial total concentration over a discrete depth interval and a zero initial total concentration elsewhere. A zero concentration gradient is assumed at the groundwater table. Examples are given to demonstrate the application of the new solution for calculating the case of a non-uniform initial source concentration, and estimating the transport of chemicals to the groundwater and the atmosphere. The solution was also used to verify a numerical code called VLEACH. We discovered an error in VLEACH, and found that the new solution agreed very well with the numerical results by corrected VLEACH. A simplified solution to predict the migration of volatile organic chemical due to the gas density effect has shown that a high source concentration may lead to significant downward advective gas-phase transport in a soil with a high air-permeability.     

Effect of dissolved organic matter and bacteria on contaminant transport in riverbank filtration

A mathematical model for the transport of hydrophobic organic contaminants in an aquifer under simplistic riverbank filtration conditions is developed. The model considers a situation where contaminants are present together with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bacteria. The aquifer is conceptualized as a four-phase system: two mobile colloidal phases, an aqueous phase, and a stationary solid phase. An equilibrium approach is used to describe the interactions of contaminants with DOM, bacteria, and solid matrix. The model is composed of bacterial transport equation and contaminant transport equation. Numerical simulations are performed to examine the contaminant transport behavior in the presence of DOM and bacteria. The simulation results illustrate that contaminant transport is enhanced markedly in the presence of DOM and bacteria, and the impact of DOM on contaminant mobility is greater than that of bacteria under examined conditions. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the model is sensitive to changes of three lumped parameters: K+1 (total affinity of stationary solid phase to contaminants), K+2 (total affinity of DOM to contaminants), and K+3 (total affinity of bacteria to contaminants). In a situation where contaminants exist simultaneously with DOM and bacteria, contaminant transport is mainly affected by a ratio of K+1/K+2/K+3, which can vary with changes of equilibrium distribution coefficient of contaminants and/or colloidal concentrations. In riverbank filtration, the influence of DOM and bacteria on the transport behavior of contaminants should be accounted to accurately predict the contaminant mobility.     

Assessing the impact of weather events at mid-latitudes on the atmospheric transport of chemical pollutants using a 2-dimensional multimedia meteorological model

We investigate the long-range transport potential (LRTP) of five different classes of hypothetical chemical pollutants (volatile, multimedia, semivolatile, particle-associated and hydrophilic) during a low pressure weather event using a novel 2 (x- and z-axis)-Dimensional Multi-Media Meteorological Model (2D4M). The atmosphere (z-axis) is described by three atmospheric layers, where two layers constitute the boundary layer and the third layer the free troposphere. The 2D4M can describe distinct weather events on a regional scale and calculate the LRTP of chemicals as a function of time during these events. Four weather factors are used to model weather events and their influence on the atmospheric transport of chemicals: (1) temperature, (2) wind speed and mixing dynamics of the troposphere, (3) hydroxyl radical concentrations and (4) precipitation. We have modeled the impact of variability in each of these factors on LRTP of pollutants during a front event associated with a low pressure period that interrupts a dominant high pressure system. The physico-chemical properties of the pollutant determine which specific weather factors contribute most to variability in transport potential during the event. Volatile and multimedia chemicals are mainly affected by changing atmospheric mixing conditions, wind speeds and OH radical concentrations, while semivolatile substances are also affected by temperature. Low-vapor-pressure pollutants that are particle-associated, and water-soluble pollutants are most strongly affected by precipitation. Some chemical pollutants are efficiently transported from the boundary layer into the upper troposphere during the modeled low pressure event and are transported by much higher wind speeds than in the boundary layer. Our model experiments show that the transport potential of volatile, multimedia and semivolatile compounds is significantly increased during a front event as a result of efficient tropospheric mixing and fast wind speeds in the upper troposphere, whereas low-volatility and hydrophilic chemicals are largely scavenged from the atmosphere. In future LRTP assessment of chemical contaminants as required by the Stockholm Convention and the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, it is therefore advised to prioritize volatile, multimedia and semivolatile chemicals that are identified in initial screening.     

Using the multiple cell balance method to solve the problem of two-dimensional groundwater flow and contaminant transport with nonequilibrium sorption

The problem of large-scale contamination of groundwater by relatively low levels of organic contaminants is most frequently addressed by extracting and treating the impacted groundwater. This pump-and-treat strategy is often unsuccessful because of difficulties encountered in recovering the contaminants from relatively immobile zones within the porous medium. These zones can exist at the particle scale, as intraparticle or intra-aggregate porosity, and at the larger scales, as low-permeability layers or lenses interspersed in substantially more permeable layers. This work focuses on achieving an efficient numerical solution to a system of groundwater flow and contaminant transport equations that sufficiently captures the dynamics of slow desorption in a two-dimensional porous medium. The conceptual model and governing equations are presented. A numerical method for solving the governing equations, the upstream-weighted, multiple cell balance (UMCB) method, is proposed. The UMCB algorithm has been employed previously for the case of solute transport with equilibrium sorption, and is extended here to the nonequilibrium case. The approach employs a finite-element basis function and a finite-difference local mass balance, and is designed to reduce computational and storage requirements, while minimizing the mass balance error. The computational grid is formed by division of the flow domain into triangular elements. An invented node at the center of each element divides the element into three subtriangular regions. By linking the center of each triangular element and the mid-point of each elemental side, a multiangular region, referred to as an exclusive subdomain, is defined. The discretized system of governing equations is derived from the integral form that describes the mass balance in the exclusive subdomain of each node. The paper details the application of the numerical method, and demonstrates that the method is reasonably accurate and computationally efficient for a two-dimensional domain subject to nonequilibrium sorption.     

One-dimensional simulation of solute transfer in saturated–unsaturated porous media using the discontinuous finite elements method

A one-dimensional transport model for simulating water flow and solute transport in homogeneous–heterogeneous, saturated–unsaturated porous media is presented. The model is composed of a combination of accurate numerical algorithms for solving the nonlinear Richard's and advection–dispersion equations (ADE). The mixed form of Richard's equation is solved using a standard finite element method (FEM) with primary variable switching. The transport equation is solved using operator splitting, with the discontinuous finite element method (DFE) for discretization of the advective term. A slope limiting procedure for DFE avoids numerical instabilities but creates very limited numerical dispersion for high Peclet numbers. An implicit finite differences scheme (FD) is used for the dispersive term.The unsaturated flow and transport model (Wamos-T) is applied to a variety of rigorous problems including transient flow, heterogeneous medium and abrupt variations of velocity in magnitude and direction due to time-varying boundary conditions. It produces accurate and mass-conservative solutions for a very large range of grid Peclet numbers. The Wamos-T model is a good and robust alternative for the simulation of mass transport in unsaturated domain.     

Effects of soil moisture and physical-chemical properties of organic pollutants on vapor-phase transport in the vadose zone

Vapor-phase transport of organic pollutants is one of the important pathways in the distribution and attenuation of volatile organic compounds in the vadose zone. In this study, the impact of vapor-phase partitioning and of the physical-chemical properties of organic pollutants on vapor-phase transport was assessed. An experimentally derived relationship to predict vapor sorption for a variety of soil types under varying soil moisture conditions was incorporated into the two-dimensional finite-element model, Vocwaste. The revised model was then used to simulate the transport of volatile organics. Vapor-phase partitioning in the model accounted for vapor uptake by sorption onto moist mineral surfaces as well as sorption at the liquid-solid interface and dissolution into soil water. Under dry conditions, vapor-phase sorption of volatile organic pollutants was shown to have a retarding effect on transport of organic vapors. However, for shallow, contaminated soils, volatilization was controlled by vapor diffusion, even under dry conditions where vapor-phase sorption was high. The influence of Henry's law constant and of the aqueous-phase (solid-liquid) partition coefficient for volatile organic pollutants was considered in the simulations. Volatilization of organic vapors was shown to be favored for contaminants with high Henry's law constants and low aqueous-phase partitioning coefficients. Because of the interdependence of these two physical-chemical properties, individual properties of the contaminant should not be considered in isolation in the evaluation of vapor transport.     

One-dimensional simulation of solute transfer in saturated-unsaturated porous media using the discontinuous finite elements method

A one-dimensional transport model for simulating water flow and solute transport in homogeneous-heterogeneous, saturated-unsaturated porous media is presented. The model is composed of a combination of accurate numerical algorithms for solving the nonlinear Richard's and advection-dispersion equations (ADE). The mixed form of Richard's equation is solved using a standard finite element method (FEM) with primary variable switching. The transport equation is solved using operator splitting, with the discontinuous finite element method (DFE) for discretization of the advective term. A slope limiting procedure for DFE avoids numerical instabilities but creates very limited numerical dispersion for high Peclet numbers. An implicit finite differences scheme (FD) is used for the dispersive term. The unsaturated flow and transport model (Wamos-T) is applied to a variety of rigorous problems including transient flow, heterogeneous medium and abrupt variations of velocity in magnitude and direction due to time-varying boundary conditions. It produces accurate and mass-conservative solutions for a very large range of grid Peclet numbers. The Wamos-T model is a good and robust alternative for the simulation of mass transport in unsaturated domain.     

Coupling geochemistry with a particle tracking transport model

Coupling geochemistry and transport appears unavoidable since it is rare that either of these two phenomena alone can account for the movement of solutes in groundwater. The chemical model is based on thermodynamic equilibrium. The method used is a Gibbs free energy minimization constrained by mass balances. The model calculates the aqueous speciation, the precipitation and the dissolution of pure minerals or solid solutions. The transport equation is solved by the random walk technique which avoids the problem of numerical dispersion for transport, but may be more time consuming than finite differences or elements if a large number of particles are necessary in order to get a sufficiently “smooth” solution. However, when the chemistry deals with a realistic number of elements (e.g., > 10), the cost of the chemistry computation largely dominates that of transport. Special techniques had to be developed in order to solve problems linked to the conditions present in some of the CEC CHEMVAL tests (boundary with fixed concentrations and very low Péclet numbers). The coupling consists of calculating the exchanges of chemical elements between two populations. The first population is sedentary, constituted by a mesh of fixed cells representing the composition of the solid phase. The other population is nomadic, represented by a set of particles which are advected by groundwater flow. A vector of real numbers is associated with each mobile particle. This vector accounts for the mass of each element dissolved in the moving liquid phase. For this reason, the transport equation is only solved once for the whole set of elements. The main assumptions that were necessary to perform the coupling in a simple way are discussed. Two applications are presented: (1) a verification compared to an analytical solution; and (2) the simulation of a percolation experiment through a sandstone core.     

Application of dispersion modeling to indoor gas release scenarios

Many complex models are available to study the dispersion of contaminants or ventilation effectiveness in indoor spaces. Because of the computationally complex numerical schemes employed, most of these models require mainframe computers or workstations. However, simple design tools or guidelines are needed, in addition to complicated models. A dispersion model based on the basic governing equations was developed and uses an analytical solution. Because the concentration is expressed by an analytical solution, the grid size and time steps are user definable. A computer program was used to obtain numerical results and to obtain release history from a thermodynamic source model. The model can be used to estimate three-dimensional spatial and temporal variations in concentrations resulting from transient gas releases in an enclosure. The model was used to study a gas release scenario from a pressurized cylinder into a large ventilated building, in this case, a transit parking and fueling facility.     

Transport of a non-volatile contaminant in unsaturated porous media in the presence of colloids

Stable colloidal particles can travel long distances in subsurface environments and carry particle-reactive contaminants with them to locations further than predicted by the conventional advective-dispersive transport equation. When such carriers exist in a saturated porous medium, the system can be idealized as consisting of three phases: an aqueous phase, a carrier phase, and a stationary solid matrix phase. However, when colloids are present in an unsaturated porous medium, the system representation should include one more phase, i.e. the air phase. In the work reported, a mathematical model was developed to describe the transport and fate of the colloidal particles and a non-volatile contaminant in unsaturated porous media. The model is based on mass balance equations in a four-phase porous medium. Colloid mass transfer mechanisms among aqueous, solid matrix, and air phases, and contaminant mass transfer between aqueous and colloid phases are represented by kinetic expressions. Governing equations are non-dimensionalized and solved to investigate colloid and contaminant transport in an unsaturated porous medium. A sensitivity analysis of the transport model was utilized to assess the effects of several parameters on model behavior. The colloid transport model matches successfully with experimental data of Wan and Wilson. The presence of air-water interface retards the colloid transport significantly counterbalancing the facilitating effect of colloids. However, the retardation of contaminant transport by colloids is highly dependent on the properties of the contaminant and the colloidal surface.     

The effect of improved nowcasting of precipitation on air quality modeling

The predictive potential of air quality models and thus their value in emergency management and public health support are critically dependent on the quality of their meteorological inputs. The atmospheric flow is the primary cause of the dispersion of airborne substances. The scavenging of pollutants by cloud particles and precipitation is an important sink of atmospheric pollution and subsequently determines the spatial distribution of the deposition of pollutants. The long-standing problem of the spin-up of clouds and precipitation in numerical weather prediction models limits the accuracy of the prediction of short-range dispersion and deposition from local sources. The resulting errors in the atmospheric concentration of pollutants also affect the initial conditions for the calculation of the long-range transport of these pollutants. Customary the spin-up problem is avoided by only using NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) forecasts with a lead time greater than the spin-up time of the model. Due to the increase of uncertainty with forecast range this reduces the quality of the associated forecasts of the atmospheric flow.In this article recent improvements through diabatic initialization in the spin-up of large-scale precipitation in the Hirlam NWP model are discussed. In a synthetic example using a puff dispersion model the effect is demonstrated of these improvements on the deposition and dispersion of pollutants with a high scavenging coefficient, such as sulphur, and a low scavenging coefficient, such as cesium-137. The analysis presented in this article leads to the conclusion that, at least for situations where large-scale precipitation dominates, the improved model has a limited spin-up so that its full forecast range can be used. The implication for dispersion modeling is that the improved model is particularly useful for short-range forecasts and the calculation of local deposition. The sensitivity of the hydrological processes to proper initialization implies that the spin-up problem may reoccur with changes in the model and increased model resolution. Spin-up should be an ongoing concern for atmospheric modelers.     

Development of a transport phenomena model for accidental releases of heavy gases in an industrial environment

The present paper discusses the development of a transport phenomena model for the dispersion of heavy gases. It describes the three-dimensional transient dispersion processes of an accidentally released contaminant. The model accounts for heavy gas effects and allows one to explicitly resolve the effect of twodimensional buildings in the ambient flow field. The results of the simulation are compared with those of other calculation procedures for conditions where the different approaches are applicable. In addition, comparisons are made with results from field experiments on heavy gas dispersion.     

Removal of NAPLs from the unsaturated zone using steam: prevention of downward migration by injecting mixtures of steam and air

Steam injection for remediation of porous media contaminated by nonaqueous phase liquids has been shown to be a potentially efficient technology. There is, however, concern that the technique may lead to downward migration of separate phase contaminant. In this work, a modification of the steam injection technology is presented, where a mixture of steam and air was injected. In two-dimensional experiments with unsaturated porous medium contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids, it was demonstrated how injection of pure steam lead to severe downward migration. Similar experiments, where steam and air were injected simultaneously, resulted in practically no downward migration and still rapid cleanup was achieved. The processes responsible for the prevention of downward migration when injecting steam-air mixtures were analyzed using a nonisothermal multiphase flow and transport model. Hereby, three mechanisms were identified and it was demonstrated how the effectiveness of these mechanisms depended on the air-to-steam mixing ratio.