Considerations for the Design of In Situ Vapor Extraction Systems: Radius of Influence vs. Zone of Remediation |
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| Authors: | Paul C Johnson Robert A Ettinger |
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| Institution: | Paul C. Johnson;, Ph.D., is a senior research engineer at Shell Development Co.'s Westhollow Research Center (P.O. Box 1380, Room ET-103, Houston, TX 77251–1380) where he has worked since 1987. He is currently interested in innovative treatment technologies for soils and ground water as well as the development of technically defensible risk-based corrective action goals. He holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of California, Davis, and Princeton University, respectively. Beginning August 15,1994, he will be an associate professor of civil engineering at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Robert A. Ettinger;earned an M.S. degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently employed as an associate research engineer in the Environmental RD&T directorate at Shell Development Co.'s Westhollow Research Center. |
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| Abstract: | When designing in situ soil vapor extraction systems, the number and placement of vapor extraction wells arc typically based on the radius of influence determined from some combination of pilot test data, theoretical considerations, and experience. In this report, we examine common methods used to determine the radius of influence, and through examples we illustrate how effective this remedial design approach is. Significant conclusions arc the following: (a) systems designed by radius of influence-based approaches may never achieve desired remedial goals: (b) systems designed by radius of influence-based approaches may result in longer operation times and higher total costs than a system that incorporates remedial goals and some level of fundamentally based predictive modeling: and (c) at best, the radius of influence-based approach ensures containment of contaminant vapors. |
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