Clogging of leachate collection systems with coarse sand for different slopes and infiltration rates

Yan Yu, R. Kerry Rowe

In the proceedings of: GEO2011: 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Pan-American Conference on Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering

Session: Geoenvironmental Engineering

ABSTRACT: A numerical model has been developed to examine different leachate collection system designs. The model predicts the fate and transport of key constituents in leachate and simulates the mass accumulation in the porous media by the growth of biomass, sedimentation of suspended particles, and precipitation of minerals. The accumulated clog mass decreases the hydraulic conductivity of porous media and causes the leachate to build up within the leachate collection system. This paper examines the effect of different drainage layer slopes and infiltration rates on the rate of clogging and service life of leachate collection systems with a coarse uniform sand drainage layer. The numerical results show that an increase in the slope of drainage layer extends the service life of leachate collection system while an increase in infiltration rate accelerates the leachate mounding within leachate collection system if the mass loading is correspondingly increased.

RÉSUMÉ: Un modèle numérique a été développé avec succès dans le but d'examiner différentes conceptions de systèmes drainants de lixiviats. Le modèle prédit le devenir et le transport des constituants clés dans le lixiviat et simule l'accumulation de masse dans le milieu poreux par la croissance de la biomasse, la sédimentation de particules en suspension et la précipitation des minéraux. L'accumulation de la masse colmatée diminue la conductivité hydraulique du milieu poreux et induit l'augmentation de la charge hydraulique du lixiviat dans la couche drainante. Cet article examine l'effet de différentes pentes du drainage et du taux d'infiltration sur le taux de colmatage et la durée de vie des systèmes drainants comportant une couche drainante constituée de sable grossier. Les résultats du modèle numérique montrent qu'une augmentation de la pente de la couche drainante prolonge la durée de vie des systèmes drainants tandis qu'une augmentation du taux d'infiltration accélère l'augmentation de la charge hydraulique du lixiviat si la charge en masse est augmentée en conséquence.

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Cite this article:
Yan Yu; R. Kerry Rowe (2011) Clogging of leachate collection systems with coarse sand for different slopes and infiltration rates in GEO2011. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{GEO11Paper151,author = Yan Yu; R. Kerry Rowe ,title = Clogging of leachate collection systems with coarse sand for different slopes and infiltration rates,year = 2011}