TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical evaluation of the local-equilibrium assumption in modeling NAPL-pool dissolution
AU - Seagren, Eric A.
AU - Rittmann, Bruce E.
AU - Valocchi, Albert J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The research described in this article was supported by grant DE-FG-02-89ER60773 from the Subsurface Science Program of the Office of Health and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This paper has not been subjected to the DOE's peer or administrative review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department and no official endorsement should be inferred.
PY - 1999/7
Y1 - 1999/7
N2 - An analytical modeling analysis was used to assess when local equilibrium (LE) and nonequilibrium (NE) modeling approaches may be appropriate for describing nonaqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) pool dissolution. NE mass-transfer between NAPL pools and groundwater is expected to affect the dissolution flux under conditions corresponding to values of Sh′St (the modified Sherwood number (Lx k1/Dz) multiplied by the Stanton number (k1/vx))<≈400. A small Sh′St can be brought about by one or more of: a large average pore water velocity (vx), a large transverse dispersivity (αz), a small pool length (Lx), or a small mass-transfer coefficient (k1). On the other hand, at Sh′St>≈400, the NE and LE solutions converge, and the LE assumption is appropriate. Based on typical groundwater conditions, many cases of interest are expected to fall in this range. The parameter with the greatest impact on Sh′St is k1. The NAPL pool mass-transfer coefficient correlation of Pfannkuch was evaluated using the toluene pool data from Seagren et al.. Dissolution flux predictions made with k1 calculated using the Pfannkuch correlation were similar to the LE model predictions, and deviated systematically from predictions made using the average overall k1 = 4.76 m/day estimated by Seagren et al. and from the experimental data for vx>18 m/day. The Pfannkuch correlation k1 was too large for vx>≈10 m/day, possibly because of the relatively low Peclet number data used by Pfannkuch. The results of the modeling analyses were evaluated by comparing pool dissolution fluxes from the literature to each other and to the corresponding LE and NE model predictions. The LE model described most of the pool dissolution flux data reasonably well, given the uncertainty in some of the model parameter estimates, suggesting that the LE model can be a useful tool for describing steady-state NAPL pool dissolution under some conditions. However, a conclusive test of the LE assumption was difficult due to the limited range of experimental conditions covered and the uncertainties in some of the model input parameters, including the mass-transfer coefficient correlation required for the NE model.
AB - An analytical modeling analysis was used to assess when local equilibrium (LE) and nonequilibrium (NE) modeling approaches may be appropriate for describing nonaqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) pool dissolution. NE mass-transfer between NAPL pools and groundwater is expected to affect the dissolution flux under conditions corresponding to values of Sh′St (the modified Sherwood number (Lx k1/Dz) multiplied by the Stanton number (k1/vx))<≈400. A small Sh′St can be brought about by one or more of: a large average pore water velocity (vx), a large transverse dispersivity (αz), a small pool length (Lx), or a small mass-transfer coefficient (k1). On the other hand, at Sh′St>≈400, the NE and LE solutions converge, and the LE assumption is appropriate. Based on typical groundwater conditions, many cases of interest are expected to fall in this range. The parameter with the greatest impact on Sh′St is k1. The NAPL pool mass-transfer coefficient correlation of Pfannkuch was evaluated using the toluene pool data from Seagren et al.. Dissolution flux predictions made with k1 calculated using the Pfannkuch correlation were similar to the LE model predictions, and deviated systematically from predictions made using the average overall k1 = 4.76 m/day estimated by Seagren et al. and from the experimental data for vx>18 m/day. The Pfannkuch correlation k1 was too large for vx>≈10 m/day, possibly because of the relatively low Peclet number data used by Pfannkuch. The results of the modeling analyses were evaluated by comparing pool dissolution fluxes from the literature to each other and to the corresponding LE and NE model predictions. The LE model described most of the pool dissolution flux data reasonably well, given the uncertainty in some of the model parameter estimates, suggesting that the LE model can be a useful tool for describing steady-state NAPL pool dissolution under some conditions. However, a conclusive test of the LE assumption was difficult due to the limited range of experimental conditions covered and the uncertainties in some of the model input parameters, including the mass-transfer coefficient correlation required for the NE model.
KW - Dissolution
KW - Equilibrium
KW - Groundwater
KW - Models
KW - NAPL (nonaqueous phase liquid)
KW - Nonequilibrium
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U2 - 10.1016/S0169-7722(99)00026-1
DO - 10.1016/S0169-7722(99)00026-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033013843
SN - 0169-7722
VL - 39
SP - 109
EP - 135
JO - Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
JF - Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
IS - 1-2
ER -