Cover zones, surface treatments

Figure 14.1 presents the main components of a typical in situ SVE system.910 Vertical extraction wells are installed inside the contaminated zone at appropriate distances from one another. The SVE wells are typically constructed of PVC pipe, with a screened interval, which is placed within the contaminated zone. The wells are connected to blowers or vacuum pumps, which induce a continuous airflow through the pores of the unsaturated zone. The soil surface is sometimes covered with an impermeable seal, made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) or bentonite clay for example, to prevent the vertical influx of air from the surface, which might cause short-circuiting problems, and promote horizontal gas flow through the contaminated area. The airstream, which contains the contaminant vapors, passes initially through an air-water separation unit to remove the entrained moisture and is then directed to the gas treatment unit, where the contaminants are thermally destroyed or removed by adsorption. 

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