Modeling of soil vapor extraction (SVE) systems — Part I

A model is presented for the remediation of a vadose-zone soil by soil vapor extraction (SVE). The proposed model allows for flexibility in the characterization of the soil as a combination of sorbents of different properties. The realism and accuracy of the simulated extraction rate and vacuum predictions are demonstrated by comparison with field data while the species conservation aspects of the model are validated by column data from soil materials of many different characteristics. One simulation is compared to data from a pilot SVE project where trichlorethylene (TCE) was the contaminant, and is shown to predict species concentration levels and cumulative removal to a good degree of accuracy.