CRITICAL STATE OF THE ART REVIEW OF VAPOR EXTRACTION
Sami A. Fam, Ph.D., P.E., L.S.P, Innovative Engineering Solutions, Inc., Norwood, MA 02062
The vapor extraction technology induces airflow in the subsurface using an above ground vacuum blower/pump system. Adequate air movement within the contaminated zones is of primary importance to the success of the vapor extraction system (VES). The induced airflow brings "clean" air in contact with the contaminated soil, non aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), and soil moisture. The contaminated soil gas is drawn off by the VES and the air in the soil matrix becomes recharged with new vapor phase contamination as the soil/pore water/soil gas/NAPL partitioning is re-established.
The objective of this paper is to review VES design procedures with particular emphasis on selecting the appropriate airflow rates in the subsurface and the utility of numerical modeling techniques in this selection process. In addition, the paper shall examine the effects of soil parameters on VES success with emphasis on the effects of soil moisture. The paper shall initially introduce the VES design goals and vapor extraction theory.
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