Aerosol injection into vadose zone
a technology of vadose zone and aerosol injection, which is applied in the direction of fluid removal, contaminated soil reclamation, borehole/well accessories, etc., can solve the problems of limited remediation approaches, increased cost, and inability to meet the needs of the environment, so as to avoid aggregation of introduced materials and increase the useful dispersion properties of particles
Inactive Publication Date: 2010-12-09
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY +1
View PDF7 Cites 1 Cited by
- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
The present invention provides an apparatus and process for delivering to a subsurface liquid and / or solid amendments in the form of aerosols. The process involves delivering particles suspended in gas as a suspension, which increases the useful dispersion properties of the particles. The aerosol amendment can be introduced into a subsurface region as an aerosol, the injected aerosol retaining the ability to migrate radially from an injection point such that the amendment may be distributed vertically upward and downward as well as lateral directions. The apparatus and process also allow for the selection of a desired particle size for introduction into the subsurface. The result is a broad distribution of injected compounds lining pores in the vadose (unsaturated) zone.
Problems solved by technology
Conventional methods for introducing amendments into the saturated subsurface do not work well in the unsaturated zone.
The inability to distribute amendments in contaminated unsaturated zones has limited the approaches that can be taken towards remediation.
However, the process set forth in the patent requires a fracturing technique which is time and labor intensive, adds greatly to the cost, and has not been widely used or adopted.
Method used
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View moreImage
Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Smart ImageViewing Examples
Examples
Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test
Embodiment Construction
[0026]Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intende...
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More PUM
Login to View More Abstract
An apparatus and process for delivering aerosol-based amendments into a subsurface region is provided. The apparatus used to form the aerosol has an ability to restrict the aerosol particle size to a preferred particle size range such that undesired particle sizes are not introduced. By maintaining a proper ratio of aerosol particle size to subsurface pore size, the efficiency of an aerosol introduction can be enhanced.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 217,805, filed on Jun. 4, 2009 and which is incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-AC09-08SR22470 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention is directed towards an apparatus and method for introducing amendments into unsaturated subsurface zones. The invention is more particularly directed to the use of specific sizes and ratios of liquids and solid aerosol particles suspended in an injection gas stream. The invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering compounds to the vadose zone to improve remediation. The concept involves delivering compounds by creating small particles, or aerosols, that can be suspended in a flo...
Claims
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More Application Information
Patent Timeline
Login to View More Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E21B43/16
CPCB09C1/00
Inventor RIHA, BRIAN D.MURDOCH, LAWRENCE C.HALL, RICHARD J.
Owner CLEMSON UNIVERSITY