Abstract
A previously developed two-dimensional numerical model is further developed for simulating the transport of dissolved contaminants originating from dissolution of a coal tar pool in a stratified, saturated porous medium. The model is used to simulate contaminant transport resulting from a rectangular-shaped coal-tar-pool dissolution experiment conducted in a large-scale experimental aquifer. The experimental porous medium consists of two sand strata, a high-hydraulic-conductivity upper stratum and a low-hydraulic-conductivity bottom stratum. The experiment was conducted to a time of 354 days and the groundwater velocity was changed several times within this duration. Model simulations show good agreement against observed contaminant concentrations, and simulations show that dissolved solute below the pool migrated deeper into the bottom stratum as compared to the upper stratum. Furthermore, simulations also suggest that contaminant concentrations in the lower stratum never reached quasi steady-state during the experimental time frame.
Résumé
Un modèle 2D numérique construit précédemment est développé plus en avant pour simuler le transport de contaminants dissous originaires de la dissolution d’un gisement de goudron de houille dans un milieu poreux stratifié et saturé. Le modèle est utilisé pour simuler le transport de contaminant résultant d’une expérience de dissolution d’un gisement rectangulaire de goudron de houille, conduite dans un aquifère expérimental à large échelle. Le milieu poreux expérimental consiste en deux strates de sables: une à forte conductivité hydraulique dans la strate la plus élevée, et une à basse conductivité hydraulique dans la strate la plus basse. L’expérience a été conduite durant 354 jours et la vitesse de l’eau souterraine a variée plusieurs fois durant cette période. Les simulations du modèle montrent une bonne concordance avec les concentrations observées en contaminant; elles montrent aussi que le soluté dissout sous le gisement descend plus profondément dans la strate la plus basse, comparée à la strate la plus haute. De plus, les simulations suggèrent également que les concentrations en contaminant dans la strate la plus basse n’atteignent jamais un état quasi-permanent durant le temps d’expérimentation.
Resumen
Un modelo numérico en dos dimensiones desarrollado previamente ha sido rediseñado para simular el transporte de contaminantes disueltos cuyo origen es la disolución de una balsa de alquitrán en un medio estratificado, saturado y poroso. El modelo se ha utilizado para simular el transporte de contaminantes resultante de la disolución de una balsa de alquitrán de forma rectangular en un acuífero experimental a gran escala. El medio poroso experimental consiste en dos estratos de arena, uno superior con una conductividad alta y otro inferior con baja conductividad. El experimento se llevó a cubo durante 354 días y la velocidad del agua subterránea se cambió varias veces durante este tiempo. Las simulaciones del modelo presentan una buena correlación con las concentraciones observadas de contaminante, y muestran que el soluto disuelto bajo la balsa migró más profundamente dentro del estrato inferior comparativamente con el estrato superior. Además, las simulaciones también apuntaban a que las concentraciones de contaminante en el estrato inferior no alcanzaban nunca el estado casi estacionario durante el tiempo de experimentación.
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Acknowledgments
This study was partially funded by a research grant from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology Foundation. The authors would like to thank Ms. Jessica Kruczek for contributing to the simulations.
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Lee, K.Y., Khinast, J. & Kim, JH. Numerical modeling of contaminant transport resulting from dissolution of a coal-tar pool in an experimental aquifer. Hydrogeol J 15, 705–714 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0144-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0144-y