DNAPL and LNAPL Distributions in Soils; Experimental and Modeling Studies.
Abstract
This project contributes to our understanding of the intricacies of immiscible fluid behavior in soils contaminated with non aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). First, one and two-dimensional laboratory experiments conducted to study the distribution and flow of DNAPLs and LNAPLs in homogeneous and layered soils show that seemingly subtle aspects of immiscible fluid behavior can manifest themselves in important large scale effects. For example, it is shown that the equilibrium distribution of an LNAPL lens can only be explained by hysteresis in the capillary pressure-saturation relation. Second, although it is generally recognized that immiscible transport is highly sensitive to soil heterogeneities, current models are not well equipped to characterize their influence on NAPL flow. This report summarizes a unique method for modeling one- dimensional, multiphase flow through porous media. Third, the development of a two-dimensional pore-scale model based on a modified diffusion limited aggregation algorithm is presented. We felt the limitation of a low capillary number imposed by percolation-based models was too stringent for most DNAPLs of interest in contaminant hydrology. The model presented simulates the unstable flow characteristics often exhibited when DNAPLs invade water-saturated soil.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA342524
Entities
People
- A. Swanson
- C. D. Miller
- D. B. Mcwhorter
- D. S. Durnford
- F. Marinelli
- H. L. Trantham
Organizations
- Colorado State University