Physical Hydrogeology
Earth 458
Lecture 10-3: Contaminant hydrogeology:
Advection dispersion equation
542
Transport in Uniform Media
• Consider 1-D transport in a homogeneous soil column with
a continuous source input (similar to Darcy’s experiment).
Qin Qout
@ C0
Input Output
1 1
C/Co C/Co
to time to t’
time
What is this called? plug flow or piston flow
543
Transport in Uniform Media
• In reality, we observe a breakthrough curve at the outlet.
1
C/C0 dispersion
0.5
0
to t' time
• C/C0 = 0.5 represents the center of solute mass
• From it, we can calculate average groundwater velocity:
544
Transport in Uniform Media
• Let’s model this:
Qin Qout
@ C0
10 m
q = 0.5 m/s
D = 0.1 m2/s
What BC’s should we use? LHS ® constant concentration
RHS ® constant flux
545
Transport in Uniform Media
• How does the solute progress along the column?
t = t1 C/C0 = 1
Flow
C/C0 = 0
t = t2
Note the increased
C/C0 = 1 C/C0 = 0 spreading with
time or distance in
the bottom figure
t = t3
C/C0 = 1
zone of dispersion C/C0 = 0
546
Concentration Profiles
• Concentration profile of C/Co vs distance
1
C/Co t1 t2 t3
0.5
0
x1 x2 x3 Advection and
1 diffusion
C/Co
0.5
Advection only Advection, diffusion
0 and dispersion
distance
547
Summary of Solute Transport
Processes
• Advection moves the contaminants at the bulk
average groundwater velocity.
• Hydrodynamic dispersion spreads the
contaminants in all directions.
• Spreading is greatest parallel to flow
(longitudinal).
• Dispersion is due to variations in flow velocity.
• Remember, we have only considered steady-
state flow.
• Transport is a transient process occurring within a
steady groundwater flow system.
548
Advection-Dispersion Equation (ADE)
• We suggest reading Freeze and Cherry (p. 549 – 553) for
more details on the derivation of the ADE.
• By applying the Law of Mass Conservation, we can
derive the ADE for an elementary volume.
Loss or Net rate of
Mass Mass gain of change
flux in
– flux out solute = of solute
mass mass
the 3rd term allows us to account for
reactions or attachment/detachment of
solutes to soil particles
549
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• Let’s write the mass conservation equation for a one-
dimensional system (x-direction)
z
Assume flow is in
Dy the x-direction only
q
Dz
Dx
x
x x+Δx
y
550
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• Mass entering element at x:
• Mass leaving element at x + Dx:
• Net rate of change of mass in element with time:
• Mass produced or consumed in the element:
where G =
551
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• Now substitute into the mass conservation equation and
divide through by ΔxΔyΔz:
Because n
is constant:
• Remember our earlier flux equations:
552
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• We can now substitute Jx into the equation:
• If it is saturated, and n is constant, divide both sides by n:
553
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• In homogeneous medium where v and DL are uniform in
space:
1-D Advection
Dispersion Equation
• If we keep flow parallel to the x-axis:
2-D Advection
Dispersion Equation
554
Advection-Dispersion Equation
• Assumptions implicit in the equations as written:
o saturated porous medium
o groundwater velocity is uniform and steady
o flow is aligned with x-direction
o dilute solution (no density effects)
• For an ideal, non-reactive tracer (e.g., Cl-): G = 0
555