Pressure Cell for Measuring Capillary Pressure Relationships of Contaminated Sands
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 125, Issue 4
Abstract
A conventional pressure cell may be inadequate for making the multiple capillary pressure–saturation relationships necessary to characterize waste sites because of its materials of construction and poor dynamic response. This paper outlines the design of a pressure cell apparatus that is constructed of chemically resistant materials and is capable of generating drainage and imbibition capillary relationships at both positive and negative capillary pressures for sandy porous media containing organic liquids and surface-active solutes over a range of pH values. Its rapid response is caused primarily by a highly conductive capillary barrier and the continuous visual display of degree of saturation. Because of the high conductivity of the capillary barrier, bubbles form under it, limiting the cell to 40 h of use at a capillary pressure head of 150 cm H2O or 10 h at 200 cm H2O. This range is sufficient, however, to allow the generation of the five capillary pressure relationships necessary to characterize wettability for many waste-site systems.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 125 • Issue 4 • April 1999
Pages: 385 - 388
History
Published online: Apr 1, 1999
Published in print: Apr 1999
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