Category: POLLUTE Examples
Posts
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 1: Modeling a U.S. RCRA Subtitle D Landfill
This example is a classic scenario used to simulate contaminant transport from a U.S. RCRA Subtitle D landfill with a composite liner system. We’ll break down the setup, key assumptions, model inputs, and interpret the results using graphs and downloadable PDF-style output suitable for reporting. Overview of the Scenario The example models a landfill with:…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 2: Pure Diffusion in a Soil Layer (No Sorption)
This example is a fundamental case used to demonstrate pure diffusion of a conservative contaminant through soil. Unlike more complex landfill scenarios, this example isolates diffusion-only transport, making it ideal for understanding baseline contaminant migration behavior. Overview of the Scenario In this example, contaminant transport occurs through: Key simplifications: Conceptual Model The system represents a…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 3: Advection + Diffusion with Aquifer Mixing
This example builds directly on Example 2 by introducing advective transport and a permeable aquifer boundary. This scenario is much closer to real-world landfill hydrogeology, where both diffusion and groundwater flow control contaminant migration. Overview of the Scenario In this example, the system consists of: Key Enhancements from Example 2: Conceptual Model The transport system…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 4: Finite Mass Source with Leachate Collection System
Introduction This example builds directly on the conceptual and numerical framework established in Case 3, introducing a more realistic landfill condition: a finite mass contaminant source combined with an active leachate collection system. This scenario better reflects modern engineered landfills, where contaminant release is limited by waste mass and partially controlled through collection infrastructure. The…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 5: Hydraulic Trap (Upward Flow into the Landfill)
Introduction Example 5 demonstrates a fundamentally different hydrogeological condition compared to previous cases: a hydraulic trap, where groundwater flow is directed upward into the landfill rather than downward into the aquifer. This scenario is critical in environmental modeling because it represents conditions where contaminant migration is naturally limited or even suppressed due to opposing hydraulic…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 6: Fractured Layer with Sorption and Reactive Transport
This example demonstrates the application of POLLUTEv10 for a more complex subsurface condition where fractured media and sorption processes both influence contaminant transport. It builds on previous cases by introducing a fractured till layer beneath a compacted clay liner and modeling a reactive contaminant species that sorbs to soil particles. Conceptual Model Overview The system…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 7: Lateral Migration of a Radioactive Contaminant in Fractured Rock
This example demonstrates how POLLUTEv10 can be used to simulate the lateral migration of a radioactive contaminant in a fractured porous rock system. It focuses on transport along a single set of parallel fractures, incorporating advection, dispersion, matrix diffusion, and radioactive decay. The scenario is particularly relevant for nuclear waste disposal assessments, deep geological repositories,…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 8: Laboratory Diffusion of Potassium in Clay
Laboratory diffusion testing is a cornerstone of contaminant transport analysis in low-permeability soils such as compacted clays. In POLLUTEv10 Example 8, the model is applied to simulate the diffusion of potassium (K⁺) through a clay specimen under controlled laboratory conditions. This example is based on well-established experimental work by R. Kerry Rowe and colleagues, including…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 9: Diffusion with Freundlich Non-Linear Sorption (Phenol in Clay)
In POLLUTEv10 Example 9, the model advances beyond linear sorption by incorporating Freundlich non-linear sorption to simulate the diffusion of phenol through a clay specimen. This example reflects more realistic contaminant behavior, particularly for organic compounds that do not follow simple linear partitioning. Problem Overview This example simulates a laboratory diffusion test with the following…
-
POLLUTEv10 Example 10: Time-Varying Advective–Dispersive Transport from a Landfill
Modeling Hydraulic Gradient Reversal with Variable Properties POLLUTEv10 Example 10 demonstrates one of the most powerful capabilities of the model: simulating time-varying transport conditions using the Variable Properties feature. This scenario captures a realistic landfill lifecycle where: Problem Overview This example models: Key Phases Conceptual Model The system includes: The most critical behavior is the…