A 3D DEM Model for Air Sparging Technology in the Saturated Granular Soils

Abstract

This work provides a three-dimensional discrete element simulation (DEM) model to study the air sparging technology. The simulations have taken into account the multi-phases of bubble (gas) - fluid (water) - soil (solid) particles. Bubbles are treated as discrete individual particles, with buoyancy and drag forces applied to bubbles and soil particles. The trajectory of each discrete bubble particle can be tracked using the discrete element model. It is found that the diffusion of the whole bubble is inverted conical though the motion behavior of a single bubble particle is random. Furthermore, the distribution of the radius of influence (ROI) is not uniform. The bubbles become more concentrated as in the center of the inverted cone. The number of bubbles dissipated from the water surface is normally distributed. The DEM simulation is a novel approach to studying air sparging technology that can provide us a deeper insight into bubble migration at the microscopic level.