Air sparging is a technology employed on contaminated sites, whereby pressurized air is injected directly into the groundwater. Through direct contact with the injected air, contaminants are stripped from the groundwater. The increased concentration of oxygen in the groundwater and soil also promotes biodegradation of contaminants. This technology can be used in the remediation of sites with both chlorinated-solvents and petroleum contamination.
Air sparge systems typically employ a compressor to pressurize ambient air, a heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the pressurized air stream, and a manifold to distribute the pressurized air stream to any number of injection wells installed on the site.
Considerations in the design of an air sparge system include required air flow rate, air pressure, and the number of injection wells. Various types and sizes of compressors are available to satisfy almost any set of requirements. Another factor in the use of air sparging is the movement of vapors through the soil towards the surface. Air sparge systems are often used in conjunction with soil-vapor extraction systems, creating a negative pressure in the soil to draw the contaminant-laden air out of the ground.
Please follow the links to view the various types of equipment used in air sparge systems.
