Effect of S-p Relation Model on DNAPL Migration Simulation Result

To consider effective countermeasures against groundwater contaminated with dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as chlorinated solvents, it is first important to understand the mechanism of their migration in heterogeneous aquifer. In addition, numerical analysis models to simulate such a complex migration in heterogeneous aquifer are required. The displacement pressure, which is a minimum pressure for one liquid to enter a soil pore saturated with the other liquid, affects DNAPLs migration in heterogeneous aquifer. Although effects of the displacement pressure on DNAPLs migration are represented by the relationship between liquid saturation and capillary pressure (S-p relation) such as van Genuchten model or Brooks and Corey model, there are few reports on their compatibilities between real phenomena and simulation result. This study focused on the displacement pressure effects on the DNAPLs migration, and pointed out the difference between an experimental result and simulation results with each S-p model.