Physical Simulations
Experiments involving PCE
Physical simulations of various Perchloroethylene (PCE) spills were conducted in both initially water saturated and unsaturated, 1- and 2 dimensional porous media. To study the movement of PCE in the presence of stratification, glass
columns and the flow container were packed with distict layers of various
homogeneous sands. Volumetric DNAPL and water contents, as well as bulk density values, were determined with a dual-energy gamma radiation system. Inflow and outflow rates were also measured during each experiment.
Experiments in water saturated stratified porous media showed a large accumilation of PCE in the sand columns and lateral movement and pooling, just above the coarse/fine layer interface.
Contour Plot of Volumetric PCE Contents in the Saturated Zone, 7 days after the spill.
Similar experiments in water unsaturated media showed less lateral movement both
above and below the coarse/fine layer interface.
Contour Plot of Volumetric PCE Contents in the Unsaturated Zone, 7 days after the spill.
Experiments involving Soltrol
A quantitative three-fluid experiment involving the LNAPL Soltrol 220 was conducted in close collaboration with Dr. Mart Oostrom of the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory in Richland, WA. The flow container was filled under saturated condictions with a mixture of three uniform sands. After lowering the water table to a height of 25 cm above the bottom of the container, 825 ml of Soltrol
was injected at a constant rate from a small source located on top of the sand.
After allowing redistribution of the Soltrol in the partly saturated sand for four days, the water table was slowly raised to a height of 65 cm. Seven days later, the water table was slowly reduced to a height of 10 cm. Throughout the experiment, water and NAPL saturations were obtained at a number of locations with the dual-energy gamma radiation system.
Back to Soil Physics
Back to Multifluid Flow Research