초록 ▼

A method is provided to remove contaminants from contaminated soil. The method may include withdrawing vapors from a vapor extraction well, estimating the amount of water vapor removed from the contaminated soil in the vapors being withdrawn from the vapor extraction well, and applying heat to the c

A method is provided to remove contaminants from contaminated soil. The method may include withdrawing vapors from a vapor extraction well, estimating the amount of water vapor removed from the contaminated soil in the vapors being withdrawn from the vapor extraction well, and applying heat to the contaminated soil from a plurality of heater wells at a rate not greater than that which would vaporize the estimated amount of water vapor. The permeability of the soil may thereby increase by the application of heat. Six or more heat injection wells may be provided for each vapor extraction well, and the heat injection wells may be placed and energized in a regular pattern around the vapor extraction well, which may include multiple rings of heaters around each vapor extraction well.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:providing heat from a plurality of heater wells to at least one portion of a treatment area, wherein the plurality of heater wells comprises one or more first rings of heater wells, at least one first ring surrounding one or more vapor extract

1. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:providing heat from a plurality of heater wells to at least one portion of a treatment area, wherein the plurality of heater wells comprises one or more first rings of heater wells, at least one first ring surrounding one or more vapor extraction wells, and one or more second rings of heater wells, at least one second ring surrounding one of the first rings of heater wells, and wherein the treatment area comprises contaminated soil; wherein providing heat comprises activating at least one of the first rings of heater wells before activating at least one of the second rings of heater wells; allowing the heat to transfer from the plurality of heater wells to at least a portion of the treatment area, wherein the heat vaporizes at least some compounds in the treatment area; removing vapors from the treatment area with at least one of the vapor extraction wells; and controlling a pressure of vapors in at least a portion of the treatment area by controlling heat provided from one or more of the heater wells. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a pressure in at least a portion of the treatment area by controlling vapors removed from the treatment area.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying an amount of heat transferred to at least a portion of the treatment area as a function of an amount of vapor that is removed.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a vacuum to at least a portion of the treatment area for removing the vapors, and further comprising varying an amount of compounds vaporized in the treatment area as a function of the vacuum applied to the treatment area.5. The method of claim 1, wherein compounds in the treatment area comprise water and contaminants.6. The method of claim 5, further comprising estimating an amount of water in the treatment area.7. The method of claim 6, further comprising varying an amount of heat transferred to at least a portion of the treatment area as a function of the estimate of the amount of water in the treatment area.8. The method of claim 6, further comprising controlling the heat transferred such that the heat transferred is less than the heat required to vaporize substantially all of the estimated amount of water in the treatment area.9. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating at least one of the first rings of heater wells after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the treatment area.10. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating at least one of the first rings of heater wells after a predetermined period of time.11. The method of claim 1, further comprising inhibiting migration of the vapors from the treatment area by controlling the pressure of vapors in at least a portion of the treatment area.12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least 6 heater wells are provided for each vapor extraction well.13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells is laterally spaced from another one of the vapor extraction wells by a minimum of about 3 feet.14. The method of claim 1, wherein the heater wells are laterally spaced apart by about 3 feet to about 25 feet.15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprises at least one heater element.16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprises one or more heater elements, and further comprising heating the treatment area by first activating at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements.17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprises one or more heater elements, and further comprising heating the treatment area by activating at least one of the first rings of heater wells surrounding at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising one or more heater elements subsequent to activating at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements.18. The method of claim 1, wherein an array of vapor extraction wells overlays an array of heater wells.19. The method of claim 1, wherein a substantially equilateral triangular array of vapor extraction wells overlays a substantially equilateral triangular array of heater wells.20. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more fluid injection wells in the treatment area.21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the fluid injection wells comprises at least one heater element.22. The method of claim 20, further comprising activating at least one of the fluid injection wells after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the treatment area.23. The method of claim 20, wherein an array of the fluid injection wells overlays an array of heater wells and vapor extraction wells.24. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the permeability of the treatment area by at least about 100 times.25. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:providing a plurality of heater wells within the contaminated soil; providing one or more vapor extraction wells within the contaminated soil; wherein a first ring of heater wells surrounds at least one of the vapor extraction wells, and a second ring of heater wells surrounds the first ring of heater wells; withdrawing vapors from at least one of the vapor extraction wells; estimating an amount of water in the contaminated soil; and applying heat from the plurality of heater wells to at least a portion of the contaminated soil to vaporize less than the estimated amount of water in the contaminated soil, wherein applying heat comprises activating the first ring of heater wells before activating the second ring of heater wells. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising controlling a pressure of vapors in at least a portion of the contaminated soil by controlling heat provided from the plurality of heater wells.27. The method of claim 25, further comprising controlling a pressure in at least a portion of the treatment area by controlling vapors withdrawn from the contaminated soil.28. The method of claim 25, further comprising varying an amount of heat transferred to at least a portion of the contaminated soil as a function of an amount of vapor that is removed.29. The method of claim 25, further comprising varying an amount of heat transferred to at least a portion of the contaminated soil as a function of the estimated amount of water in the contaminated soil.30. The method of claim 25, further comprising applying a vacuum to at least a portion of the treatment area for removing the vapors, and further comprising varying an amount of compounds vaporized in the contaminated soil as a function of the vacuum applied to the contaminated soil.31. The method of claim 25, further comprising activating one or more of the plurality of heater wells after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil.32. The method of claim 25, further comprising activating one or more of the plurality of heater wells after a predetermined period of time.33. The method of claim 25, further comprising inhibiting migration of the vapors from the contaminated soil by controlling a pressure of vapors in at least a portion of the contaminated soil.34. The method of claim 25, wherein at least 6 heater wells are provided for each vapor extraction well.35. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells is laterally spaced from another one of the vapor extraction wells by a minimum of about 3 feet.36. The method of claim 25, wherein the heater wells are laterally spaced apart by about 3 feet to about 25 feet.37. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprises one or more heater elements.38. The method of claim 37, further comprising heating the contaminated soil by first activating at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements.39. The method of claim 37, further comprising heating the contaminated soil by activating at least one of the heater wells closest to at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements subsequent to activating at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements.40. The method of claim 25, wherein an array of vapor extraction wells overlays an array of the heater wells.41. The method of claim 25, wherein a substantially equilateral triangular array of vapor extraction wells overlays a substantially equilateral triangular array of the heater wells.42. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing one or more fluid injection wells in the contaminated soil.43. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the fluid injection wells comprises at least one heater element.44. The method of claim 42, further comprising activating at least one of the fluid injection wells after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil.45. The method of claim 42, wherein an array of the fluid injection wells overlays an array of heater wells and vapor extraction wells.46. The method of claim 25, further comprising increasing the permeability of the contaminated soil by at least about 100 times.47. A soil remediation system adapted to remediate:a treatment area comprising contaminated soil, comprising: one or more vapor extraction wells; plurality of heater wells comprising one or more first rings of heater wells, at least one of the first rings surrounds at least one of the vapor extraction wells, and one or more second rings of heater wells, at least one of the second rings surrounds one of the first rings of heater wells; and a control system; wherein the control system is configured to control a pressure in the contaminated soil by controlling (1) an amount of heat supplied to the soil by the heater wells, wherein the control system is configured to activate at least one of the first rings of heater wells before activating at least one of the second rings of heater wells, and (2) an amount of vapor removed from the soil through at least one of the vapor extraction wells. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein the control system is further configured to monitor a pressure in the contaminated soil.49. The system of claim 47, wherein one or more of the vapor extraction wells comprise one or more heater elements.50. The system of claim 49, wherein the control system is further configured to first activate at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements to heat at least a portion of the contaminated soil.51. The system of claim 49, wherein the control system is further configured to activate at least one of the heater wells closest to one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements subsequent to activating at least one of the heater elements in at least one of the vapor extraction wells comprising the one or more heater elements.52. The system of claim 47, wherein the control system is further configured to activate at least one of the heater wells after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil.53. The system of claim 47, wherein the control system is further configured to activate at least one of the heater wells after a predetermined period of time.54. The system of claim 47, wherein the control system is further configured to vary the amount of heat supplied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil as a function of the amount of vapor that is removed.55. The system of claim 47, wherein the control system is further configured to control the pressure in the contaminated soil as a function of a vacuum applied to at least one of the vapor extraction wells.56. The system of claim 47, further comprising an estimated amount of water in at least a portion of the contaminated soil.57. The system of claim 56, wherein the control system is further configured to vary the amount of heat supplied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil as a function of the estimated amount of water in at least a portion of the contaminated soil.58. The system of claim 56, wherein the control system is further configured to control the amount of heat supplied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil to vaporize less than the estimated amount of water in at least a portion of the contaminated soil.59. The system of claim 56, wherein controlling the vapor pressure in at least a portion of the contaminated soil inhibits migration of vapors from the contaminated soil.60. The system of claim 56, further comprising one or more fluid injection sources.61. The system of claim 60, wherein at least one of the fluid injection sources comprises one or more heater elements.62. The system of claim 61, wherein the control system is further configured to activate at least one of the fluid injection sources after a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the contaminated soil.63. The system of claim 56, wherein at least 6 heater wells are provided for each vapor extraction well.64. The system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the vapor extraction wells is laterally spaced from another one of the vapor extraction wells by a minimum of about 3 feet.65. The system of claim 47, wherein the heater wells are laterally spaced apart by about 3 feet to about 25 feet.66. The system of claim 47, wherein an array of vapor extraction wells overlays an array of heater wells.67. The system of claim 47, wherein a substantially equilateral triangular array of vapor extraction wells overlays a substantially equilateral triangular array of heater wells.68. The system of claim 47, further comprising an array of fluid injection wells.69. The system of claim 68, wherein an array of fluid injection wells overlays an array of heater wells and vapor extraction wells.70. The system of claim 47, wherein the permeability of the contaminated soil is increased by at least about 100 times.