TESVE model for design of soil vapor extraction systems with thermal enhancement
- Lowney Associates, Mountain View, CA (United States)
Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a popular and effective technology for removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), from the subsurface soils. The performance of SVE systems is based on three key parameters: the rate of mass removal, the time required to achieve cleanup goals, and the cost of cleanup. These performance parameters depend on physical and chemical factors such as the rate and pattern of air flow through the affected soils, contaminant type, and the degree of partitioning between4en the vapor-, liquid-, dissolved- and adsorbed-phase. The effectiveness of SVE can be enhanced by raising the soil temperature. This is done using various methods including electrical heating, and hot air volatilization. TESVE (Thermally-Enhanced Soil Vapor Extraction), a multi-component, non-isothermal, three dimensional software model is a powerful tool in evaluating the feasibility of SVE, optimizing system design, predicting system performance, and, ultimately reducing cleanup costs. The TESVE model was run for SVE site at McClellan Air Force Base, California. Four SVE design scenarios were modeled for removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) from the subsurface soil. Two scenarios used hot air injection/extraction, one considered ambient air injection/extraction, and one used high flow vapor extraction with no injection. The model predicted pressure distribution, velocity vectors, temperature profile, mass removal rate, and concentration degradation rate. These data were used to establish the optimal design for installation and operation of the SVE. Preliminary results indicated that by optimizing the system design, the United States Air Force (USAF) would achieve a savings of approximately $500,000 and 4 years of system operation over the conventional SVE design being proposed.
- OSTI ID:
- 96674
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9504134--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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