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REVIEW OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING FOR EVALUATING SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION SYSTEMS
Citation:
Jordan, D. L., J. W. Mercer, AND R. M. Cohen. REVIEW OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING FOR EVALUATING SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION SYSTEMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/R-95/513 (NTIS 95-243051), 1995.
Description:
Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a commonly used remedial technology at sites contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC5) such as chlorinated solvents and hydrocarbon fuels. Modeling tools are available to help evaluate the feasibility, design, and performance of SVE systems. These models provide a means by which to quantify some of the important SVE operating processes.
Modeling can provide estimated answers for numerous questions concerning the feasibility and use of SVE. Screening models can be used in conjunction with site characterization data and best professional judgment to determine the potential feasibility of SVE at a contaminated site. Flow and transport models can then be used to enhance the system design process and estimate performance.
A number of screening, air flow, and compositional flow and transport models are available commercially and in the public domain. For screening, these models include the HyperVentilate and VENTING codes, as well as analytical solutions. Air flow models available at this time include AIRFLOW, CSUGAS, and AIR3D. VENT2D/VENT3D, a compositional flow and transport code, can be used to simulate the transport and removal of complex contaminant mixtures via SVE.
The selection and application of any model will ultimately be the responsibility of the model user. This document provides information on SVE model selection, data requirements, design, and application, describes the equations governing flow and transport processes, and highlights model limitations.