EX-SITU GTR
THERMAL DESORPTION USING GAS THERMAL REMEDIATION
GTR™ is a system that is also used for onsite soil treatment, when the soil is treated on site after excavation (no transportation off site).
The Process
The contaminated soils are excavated and stored in a pile; while building the pile, heating and extraction wells are layered into the soil. On the first layer of contaminated soil, a range of wells is placed. Then again a layer of soil, a range of wells, etc. In a standard design, piles are 65 feet long and between 9 and 21 feet high. The volume of the soil to be treated determines the final width.
In case of large volumes, the number of soil treatment units will be multiplied, and are set up week after week. With such an overlapping setup, large treatment capacities can be achieved with reasonable costs.
EX SITU KEY ADVANTAGES
-
Guaranteed results
-
No soil transportation
-
Easy and flexible
-
Competitive pricing
CONTAINERIZED TREATMENT
CONTAINERIZED THERMAL DESORPTION SYSTEMS FOR REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOILS, SLUDGE, SEDIMENTS & ASSORTED MEDIA
Containerized Thermal Desorption Systems
GEO designs, constructs and operates or leases its patented containerized thermal desorption (“CTD”) systems for onsite remediation of contaminated media, including soils, sludge, sediments and mixed waste streams. The CTD systems were designed for crude oil recovery from soils and sludge. The capacity of each container is 80 m3. The units are operated in cycles of 25 or 50 days.
Hydrocarbon Vapor Recovery & Reuse in Thermal Process
The containerized units utilize a vapor recovery and reuse feature that allows the hydrocarbon vapors to be used as a supplemental fuel in a portion of the GTR heater units. This green and sustainable feature reduces the external fuel demand of the project.
GAS THERMAL REMEDIATION
Thermal Conduction Heating (TCH) is one of the most robust and frequently deployed methods of In Situ Thermal Remediation. GEO’s patented GTR® technology allows natural gas, propane or liquid fuel to be used to power the TCH system. Common benefits of using the GTR® method vs. electrical heating are:
-
No electrical upgrades required at many projects
-
Existing natural gas supply sufficient at small-to-medium sites
-
System is modular with no complex central distribution systems
-
Standard heaters provide up to 2 kW per meter length output
Ex-Situ Thermal Desorption (ESTD) using Gas Thermal Remediation (GTR™). GTR™ is a system that is also used for onsite soil treatment, when the soil is treated on site after excavation (no transportation off site)."
BATCH PILE TREATMENT
Batch Pile Treatment is one of the most commonly applied methods of Ex Situ
Thermal Desorption for the remediation of soils. When soil is heated, the organic
contaminants extracted from the soil pile or are destroyed in place.
Concentrations of chlorinated VOCs in soil can be reduced by almost 100% at
temperatures much lower than traditional “rotating kiln” arrangements. Diesel
and motor oil range petroleum hydrocarbon and most SVOC contaminants can
be removed by 99% or greater, and are most reliably remediated from the soil
matrix at temperatures between 200°C to 350°C by the following mechanisms:
-
Steam stripping of NAPLs up to and at 100°C,
-
Evaporation (volatilization) from 100°C to 350°C+,
-
Oxidation from 100°C to 350°C+, and
-
Pyrolysis (thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen) from 100°C to 350°C+.
Batches ranging in volume from 10,000 m3 to 250 m3 have been successfully implemented in the United States and at several projects in Europe and Africa. Common applications have treated Pesticides, Di- & Trichlorobenzene, Heavy Oils, Paraffins, Dioxins, Jet Fuel, PCE and TCE.
GTR-O (Recuperative Oxidizer In-Well Vapor Treatment)
GTR-O is a method of using residual hydrocarbon contaminants in the extracted vapor stream as supplemental fuel to heat the treated soil. This thermal oxidization process removes [destroys] the contaminants from vapor.
GTR-O integrated into the thermal remediation project can provide the following benefits:
-
Energy Efficient: utilizes the thermal value of contaminants to heat soils and thereby reduces energy requirements
-
Simple & Cost-Effective: no large, external vapor treatment system is required
-
Scalable: for use at both large and small project applications
Batch Pile Treatment can also utilize conventional soil vapor extraction and treatment techniques when thermal oxidation may not be desired. Because the soil is heated indirectly (via conduction), a relatively small and simple vapor treatment system is required (compared to traditional direct-fired units).
Batch Pile Treatment Construction
The general, sequential phases of earthwork for a pile are shown in the picture series below. Generally, the soil is piled to the terminal height beginning on one end and then working to the opposite end of the pile, so that the loader and excavator do not drive over the wells already installed.
Construction of the batch pile generally follows these steps:
WHY THERMAL?
*Eliminates Uncertainties: A remedial solution should be both certain and final. The ability to achieve performance-based goals is a testament to the reliability and predictability of our technologies. Performance-based contracts are available for most applications, and unlike other technologies, the application of thermal remediation eliminates "rebound" of contaminants. There is no place to hide: thermal remediation removes organic contaminants from a diverse series of lithologies, including clays, silts, sands, sandstone, and fractured rock. *Minimal Neighborhood Nuisances: No excavation and no transportation of soil (trucks, accidents, dirty roads, dust, etc.) necessary. Projects have been implemented beneath businesses, buildings, apartments, and even homes. *Competitive Pricing: The total cleanup costs with GTRâ„¢ are very competitive, especially when considering the full remediation costs: -No long term liabilities (and no uncertainty associated with it) -Restoration of full property value No long term monitoring -No disruption of operations during remediation -Time value of money: remediation cycle of less than one year When all costs are taken into account, thermal is often the most economical choice. *Applicable to a Wide Variety of Contaminants, Soil Types, and Configurations: Nearly all organic contaminants and a few inorganic contaminants are suitable for GTRâ„¢ treatment. The technology works effectively in all soil types as conductive heat progresses quasi-homogeneously throughout the different soil types. *Often the Most Sustainable Remediation Option: GTRâ„¢ is a very sustainable option compared to more traditional alternatives: -After treatment, land usage is often unrestricted. With ISTD using GTRâ„¢, land is no longer limited in its usage to low-level industry. It is fit for any use. -Low energy consumption: The efficient burners, combined with the use of "clean" natural gas or propane, make ISTD with GTRâ„¢ very energy efficient. -No electrical upgrades: Usually, no electrical upgrades are required at the project site. When natural gas is unavailable, the GTRâ„¢ units operate from mobile propane tanks. -Heater wells can be reused as geothermal heat storage units. With the reuse of the remediation device as heat storage unit, total CO2 impact can be reduced to a minimum and in some cases even be totally neutralized, benefitting redevelopment projects.