Barrier for blocking movement of contaminants within an aggregate particulate substrate
First Claim
1. A system for preventing the liquid transport of contaminants dissolved in the liquid through an aggregate particulate substrate in the vadose zone, comprising:
- a drying system for removing about at least 75% of the saturation moisture from the aggregate particulate substrate in a generally horizontal drying zone below the contaminants whose liquid transport is to be barred by transporting a drying carrier through the drying zone; and
a generally horizontal barrier region of aggregate particulate formed and maintained by said drying system within the drying zone in the aggregate particulate substrate located below the contaminants, which is about less than 25% of saturation moisture so that said barrier region is impermeable to downward liquid transport of the dissolved contaminants therethrough, even if said drying system is temporally inoperative.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of preventing groundwater contamination by a plume of liquid born toxic contaminants that includes establishing a dry barrier between a plume of liquid contaminants and the water table to immobilize the toxic contaminants. The dry barrier is formed by transporting dry gas into the barrier region, such as with injector wells, and then removing it and any moisture it has absorbed, such as with extraction wells to create a layer or bowl shaped structure that is so dry that liquid borne contaminants cannot pass therethrough. By maintaining the barrier, the contaminants form an immobile crust above the barrier which assists in prevention of liquid transport of contaminants into the groundwater. The system is particularly effective when radioactive contaminants are involved because the contaminants can remain fixed and undisturbed underground.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for preventing the liquid transport of contaminants dissolved in the liquid through an aggregate particulate substrate in the vadose zone, comprising:
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a drying system for removing about at least 75% of the saturation moisture from the aggregate particulate substrate in a generally horizontal drying zone below the contaminants whose liquid transport is to be barred by transporting a drying carrier through the drying zone; and a generally horizontal barrier region of aggregate particulate formed and maintained by said drying system within the drying zone in the aggregate particulate substrate located below the contaminants, which is about less than 25% of saturation moisture so that said barrier region is impermeable to downward liquid transport of the dissolved contaminants therethrough, even if said drying system is temporally inoperative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for forming a barrier against the liquid transport of contaminants down through an aggregate particulate substrate, comprising:
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a. an injection system for forcing a drying carrier into the substrate below the contaminants; and b. an extraction system for withdrawing the drying carrier after it passes through a volume of the aggregate particulate substrate to remove at least about 75% of the saturation moisture from the volume of aggregate particulate substrate, said injection and extraction systems thereby forming a layer of dry aggregate particulate substrate having a saturation value of about 25% or below to prevent any appreciable liquid transport of contaminants down through said dry substrate layer to thereby form the barrier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for blocking the liquid transport of a contaminant down through an aggregate particulate substrate into a water table, comprising the steps of:
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installing a dry barrier region whose water fraction saturation is about 25% or below so that the relative permeability of the dry barrier region is essentially zero in a zone above the water table by; injecting a drying carrier into the aggregate particulate substrate at locations that are generally horizontal to each other below the contaminant in liquid transport; and withdrawing the drying carrier from the aggregate particulate at locations spaced apart generally horizontally from the locations at which the drying carrier is injected, the dry barrier region being installed in a volume between the injection locations and the withdrawal locations; maintaining the drying barrier region by; injecting the drying carrier into the aggregate particulate substrate at locations that are generally horizontal to each other below the contaminant in liquid transport; and withdrawing the drying carrier from the aggregate particulate at locations spaced apart generally horizontally from the locations at which the drying carrier is injected at a reduced rate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification