Theme: 01. Remediation Technology Innovations

Topic Area: 01r. Thermal Conductive Heating: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Formatted Title:

Energy Losses during Thermal Remediation: Do the Math

Background/Objectives:

In this paper we explore the heat transfer to ambient environment in thermal remediation sites. For a large-scale thermal remediation project, energy management is important to managing costs and efficiency. Achieving target temperatures will mobilize contaminants in situ and allow for removal of these chemicals to the surface where they can be managed as hazardous waste. Achieving this goal with an understanding of the heat losses is an important consideration in any thermal project. Reaching and maintaining the target treatment temperature can be affected by many other environmental factors, such as groundwater flow, wind, and precipitation.

Approach/Activities:

Heat loss mechanisms can be modelled in finite element (FEM) analysis. The open source program Elmer was used in this study. This work confirms simulation results are representative of real remediation projects and match empirical (back of the envelope) calculations. By applying energy conservation laws to a 3-D mesh representing the remediation project, the heat loss can be predicted and plotted as a function of time to show the efficiency of the thermal transfer inside of a treatment area.

Results/Lessons Learned:

Result of this simulation shows the heat loss throughout the project can be easily predicted. The simulation methodology described in this paper can be used to plan future remediation projects and evaluate the operations of thermal treatment systems.

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Bruce McGee