Abstracts

In groundwater flow model calibration, it is a tradition and standard to look at the calibration
error statistics. As a rule of thumb when the statistic errors are minimized, the
simulated groundwater elevations are supposed to match the observed elevations at the
available/selected calibration targets. Thus the groundwater flow directions are theoretically
considered to match as well. However, quite often it is the case that groundwater flow
directions do not match to the best for a long term average flow condition even when the
minimized calibration errors are found. Reasons may include: 1) the observation event (as
calibration targets) does not necessarily represent the long term average conditions due to
groundwater elevation fluctuations (and hence groundwater flow direction variations); 2)
groundwater elevation measurement errors; 3) over simplification of the site conditions
such as lumping different hydrogeological units to a single model layer where a vertical
hydraulic gradient may exist, etc. For a contaminated site where a plume in groundwater
is fully delineated, a long term groundwater flow direction is obtained that should be a
primary calibration target to focus on. Focusing on groundwater flow direction match in
groundwater flow model calibration is extremely important when using a calibrated model
to optimize the design of the groundwater remediation system.
289 - Self-Sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR) –
Vapour Emissions Characterization and Mitigation
Cody Murray & Jason I. Gerhard
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering - Western University, London, Ontario,
Canada
Gavin P. Grant, Grant Scholes, & Dave Major
Savron Solutions, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR) is a novel technology based on
the principles of smouldering combustion where the contaminants, primarily Non-Aqueous
Phase Liquids (NAPLs), are the fuel for the reaction. STAR is self-sustaining in that,
following a short duration, localized ignition event, the combustion front propagates
through the contaminated material without any externally added energy. The reaction is
supported and accelerated by air injection. This technology is capable of destroying greater
than 99.9% of contaminant / waste mass and has many potential applications to the oil and
gas, manufacturing, and utility industries. The STAR process is well suited for the in situ
treatment of NAPL source zones as well as the ex situ treatment (STARx) of excavated
soils, drilling muds, or other contaminated soils. In addition, STARx can be used for the
treatment of organic wastes such as waste oils and lagoon sludges when the waste material
is mixed with a porous media to establish the conditions required for smouldering combustion
reactions to take place.
The objective of this work is to study the gaseous emissions from STAR and STARx. In
particular, this work seeks to characterize the emissions and determine the factors affecting
the volatile emissions rate and its relationship to treatment efficiency / remediation
performance. Specific attention is being given to characterize (i) combustion gases, such
as carbon dioxide (CO 2
), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxygen (O 2
), (ii) volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), and (iii) aerosols/oil mists. These are being quantified for both the
IAH-CNC 2015 WATERLOO CONFERENCE
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