Hydraulic and earth engineering – Soil remediation – In situ contaminant removal or stabilization
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-21
2001-01-16
Suchfield, George (Department: 3672)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Soil remediation
In situ contaminant removal or stabilization
C166S052000, C166S269000, C210S747300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174107
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a device for carrying-out of the process according to claim
1
of the publication print WO 92/00918, i.e. for creating in an aquifer an oxidation and precipitation zone or a reduction zone between a number of injection wells arranged around one or more extraction wells for purified water, which zone is intended for in situ precipitation or reduction of substances not desired in the ground water, the desired zone being created intermittently between each pair of adjacent injection wells by (i) introducing oxygen, oxygen-containing gas or an oxygen-releasing substance into the water in both wells when creating an oxidation and precipitation zone, or introducing into the water in both wells an oxygen-consuming substance when creating a reduction zone, and (ii) pumping the water in one of the wells from below upwards while pumping the water in the other well from above downwards whereby a circulation circuit is formed in the aquifer between the two wells, said injection wells each comprising an outer tube which at least at the ground-water carrying portion of its length is apertured and water-pervious.
The prior device suggested according to the WO 92/00918 has shown to operate satisfactorily in a number of applications. In some cases where the ground-water has been “troublesome” and severely mingled with contaminants it has turned out that the ejectors have become rather severely clogged such that the process has been slowed down. Particularly the re-directing zones in the gaps between the various tubes have been clogged. The outer tube exhibits only one internal surface in contact with the water while the inner tube is surrounded by the “troublesome” water both internally and externally. In the annular spaces between the tubes there are thus formed deposits both at the outer and inner surfaces so that they will be heavily clogged and the flow restricted. Furthermore, it has turned out to be difficult to flush away or otherwise get rid of said deposits due to the relatively small tube diameter of the injection wells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention thus is to eliminate said disadvantage by means of a differently designed device for this purpose. The invention is essentially distinguished in that at the upper end of the outer tube is mounted a circulation vessel from which extends downwardly within the outer tube on one hand a first conduit, ending at the height of the upper portion of the aquifer and slightly above its mouth being provided with a pressure inlet means so as to form an upper ejector, and at the other a second conduit, which ends at or below the middle of the aquifer and at its lower end supporting an externally sealingly mounted balloon body, which is inflatable into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the outer tube, said second conduit closely above said body carrying a pressure inlet means, so as to form a second ejector, both pressure inlet means and the balloon body being connected with one or more suitable pressure sources.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3878097 (1975-04-01), Mochizuki et al.
patent: 5006250 (1991-04-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5246309 (1993-09-01), Hobby
patent: 5362400 (1994-11-01), Martinell
patent: 5885775 (1999-06-01), Kerfoot
Hagg-Martinell Ann
Martinell Rudolf
Hagg-Martinell Ann
Hydrophilia AB
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Suchfield George
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