Simulation des transferts réactifs multi-constituants au sein des lits d’infiltration percolation – évaluation des capacités d’oxygénation

L’assainissement des eaux usées par infiltration percolation appartient à la filière de traitement des rejets polluants à cultures fixées. Dans un contexte géographique spécifique et pour une population avoisinant 500 à 1 000 équivalents habitants, elle paraît bien indiquée. Filière dite rustique, elle n’en est pas moins complexe. L’objectif de cette étude est de contribuer, à travers une simulation numérique, à la compréhension des phénomènes physiques et biochimiques qui s’établissent au sein d’un lit d’infiltration percolation. Les aspects essentiels à l’activité bactérienne que sont l’hydrodynamique du milieu poreux, le développement de la biomasse active, le transport, la consommation et les transferts d’oxygène y sont abordés. À travers des essais d’une vérification méthodique du modèle effectuée à partir des solutions analytiques, il ressort principalement que la dispersion hydrodynamique et le taux de dégradation ont des effets contraires sur le rendement d’abattement des charges polluantes. En outre, un résultat significatif obtenu est la comparaison qualitative et quantitative des apports convectifs et diffusifs en oxygène au sein des lits d’infiltration percolation qui sont à aération naturelle.Wastewater sanitation using infiltration/percolation is part of an approach that uses attached microorganisms to treat pollutant loads. It appears suitable for a specific geographical context, and for population equivalents of approximately 500-1000 people. The aim of this study was to improve, by means of a numerical simulation, the understanding of certain physical and biochemical phenomena observed within an infiltration/percolation bed. All the aspects essential to bacterial activity are examined, including: the hydrodynamics of the porous media; the development of an active biomass; transport; and oxygen transfer and consumption. The latter are of paramount importance in non-saturated porous media, where significant aeration can take place, whereas in saturated soils and aquifers containing nitrogenous and organic compounds, the oxygen in water is rapidly consumed.The model we have formulated includes seven equations, which describe macroscopic transport, and are coupled and non-linear. The terms “wells/sources” are functions of unknown variables. The resolution of the equations, obtained after discretization of the equations using Euler’s finite difference method, was performed using Thomas’ algorithm and Fortran 95 programming. We used an innovative approach: analytical solutions developed for saturated porous media were modified to take into account a heterogeneous flow field in a non-saturated porous medium. In a systematic approach, we tested two problems that are part of a gradual verification process: one-dimensional convection-dispersion solute without a kinetic reaction; one-dimensional solute with a first-order decay.The code we have developed insures a very good approximation of the solute transport within a non-saturated porous medium. For a given rate of flow and a given supply period, the greater the dispersion, the quicker the solute will become homogeneous. In other words, a very high dispersion will induce a very low residence time for the solute within the medium. In wastewater treatment within sand beds, the residence time or contact period between the pollutant matter transported by the effluent and the purifying biomass attached to the support is thus a parameter that is linked to the dispersion of the effluent within the medium. It also appears that the reduction in pollutant load is optimized within a biofilm with a high degradation rate, and for an effluent with a low dispersion coefficient. This result is coherent with the link between dispersion and residence time of the effluent in the system.We also examined the impact that the hydraulic load and the substrate content in the effluent have on the oxygenation capacities of a filtering mass. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the incoming oxygen flow was performed. Thus we show that, at the beginning of the supply period, convection is more influential than diffusion. We also present several results from the simulations of substrate reduction profiles, which were very closely linked to oxygen content profiles. Thus we observed a rapid decrease in oxygen content due to intensive bacterial activity in the upper part of sand filters, followed by an increase in oxygen towards the bottom of the filter due to the absence of substrate. The main conclusion of this part of the study was that in order to optimize the ability for oxygenation within infiltration/percolation beds, it would be preferable to connect them to the separate sewer networks, which yield more concentrated effluents than do combined sewer networks

Modélisation du transport de soluté en milieux poreux par la méthode d’éléments finis mixtes hybrides – développement d’un limiteur de flux

Une méthode d’éléments finis mixte hybride est appliquée pour l’approximation de l’écoulement associé au transport en milieu poreux non saturé. Le développement de ce modèle s’effectue dans le cadre du projet européen ARWET, lequel a pour objectif l’étude de nouvelles potentialités de dissipation des pesticides dans les zones humides. La formulation du modèle bidimensionnel est fondée sur les propriétés de l’espace de Raviart-Thomas. L’écueil numérique que posent les problèmes à convection dominante est surmonté par l’introduction d’un limiteur de flux alors qu’un limiteur de pente est généralement utilisé dans la littérature. Le limiteur suggéré est inconditionnellement stable et permet de conserver la précision des résultats à nombre de Peclet élevé.A mixed hybrid finite element method was applied to obtain a numerical approximation of the flow and associated transport equations in unsaturated media. The model was developed under the framework of the European Life Environment project ARTWET, which aims to study new treatment potentials for the mitigation of non-point source pesticide pollution in a constructed wetland. The model formulation used is based on Raviart-Thomas space properties, considering a two-dimensional domain divided into triangular elements. In order to control for the difficulties when convection is the dominant process, a flux limiting tool was introduced, although a slope limiter is generally used in the literature. The suggested flux limiting tool makes it possible to preserve precision and unconditional stability at low and very high Peclet numbers

Etude des mécanismes de transfert et évaluation des capacités d'oxygénation et de traitement des dispositifs de traitement par cultures fixées sur supports granulaires fins alimentés en discontinu-développement d'un modèle de biodégradation

L'"étude des mécanismes de transfert et évaluation des capacités d'oxygénation et de traitement des dispositifs de traitement par cultures fixées sur matériaux granulaires fins alimentés en discontinu. Développement d'un modèle de biodégradation" est l'objet du travail mené visant une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes majeurs s'établissant au sein des lits d'infiltration percolation et permettant au moyen de certains choix opérationnels, une pérennisation de la filière.Tout d'abord, dans une première partie, nous exposons l'état d'avancement de la recherche dans ce domaine. Après des généralités sur les filières de traitement des eaux usées, il est fait cas de l'infiltration percolation sur sable; de ses spécificités, des contraintes qu'elle impose et des attentes au niveau de la recherche. La problématique du choix de type de sable qui constitue le matériau de garnissage ou support de la biomasse en relation avec les capacités d'oxygénation du milieu poreux et les risques de colmatage demeure un souci permanent.L'intérêt de la seconde partie essentiellement expérimentale porte sur la caractérisation physique et hydrodynamique des sables roulés et concassés constituant les massifs filtrants en milieux non colonisés. L'hydrodynamique des massifs filtrants a permis une analyse comparative des distributions de temps de séjour du fluide percolateur en milieu vierge et en régime continu puis discontinu. Indépendamment des supports étudiés, les temps de résidence du traceur sont d'autant plus élevés que l'alimentation se fait à fréquences espacées et à volume par bâchée considérable. En revanche, pour chacune des fréquences d'alimentation testées, la récupération du traceur s'est effectuée plus rapidement au sein de la colonne constitué des sables alluvionnaires.Le second volet de l'étude hydrodynamique est effectué en milieu colonisé. L'efficacité du traitement biologique du carbone est supérieure pour un sable d'origine alluvionnaire comparativement à un sable concassé;la tendance s'inversant significativement lorsqu'il s'agit de l'abattement de l'azote. Cet efficacité est directement corrélée à l'oxygénation du massif filtrant autrement dit au renouvellement de la phase gazeuse du milieu poreux.Exploitant une technologie de fluorescence nous permettant de détecter aussi bien l'oxygène gazeux que dissous, nous parvenons à déterminer les différents ordres de grandeur des phénomènes de convection et de diffusion ainsi que leur importance relative dans la ré-oxygénation d'un massif filtrant.Le développement d'un modèle numérique simulant l'infiltration et le traitement des eaux usées à travers un milieu poreux colonisé constitue l'épilogue de ce travail. Deux approches de résolution sont utilisées: une approche globale qui résout simultanément à l'aide d'un unique schéma les parties transport et chimie de chaque équation et une approche par séparation d'opérateurs qui résout séparément et successivement les parties convection, dispersion et cinétique.Aim of this work is to enhance understanding of the main phenomena occurring during infiltration of wastewater within vertical flow sand filter. We also introduce some operating possibilities which may improve efficiency and keep seepage beds in good working order.In the first part we document state of art in this research topic. Following some general remarks about different wastewater treatment techniques, more precise description of seepage beds is made with particular interest on its constraints and needs of further research. A central issue is the choice of porous media. It should be adapted to allow good oxygen feeding for bacteria growing on it and avoid biological clogging.Second part, mainly experimental, is focused on physical and hydraulic characterization of un-colonized crushed and stream sand. We carried out a residence time distribution (RTD) comparison of these two sands under steady and unsteady flow. Apart from characteristics of porous media and with a constant daily loading rate, decreased frequencies involve longer residence times. On the other hand, output recovery of the mass of injected tracer always occurs faster with stream sand.Continuation of hydrodynamic study is made with colonised porous media. Efficiency of biological removing of carbonaceous pollution is higher within stream sand. Opposite trend is observed with nitrogenous pollution. Removing of both nitrogenous and carbonaceous pollutions is linked to oxygenation. In other words it is linked to renewal of gaseous phase in porous medium.We highlight convection and diffusion of oxygen in porous media by using a fluorescence technology, which allows us to detect both gaseous and dissolved oxygen. We compare participation of convection and diffusion phenomena to renewal of oxygen.Achievement of this work consists on the development of a numerical code which simulates flow and pollution degradation through a colonized porous medium. Two different numerical methods have been used. In the first model, also called global approach, chemical and transport parts of each equation are solved by a single numerical scheme. A second model introduces a splitting operator method which solves separately and successively convective, dispersive and kinetic parts of each equation.STRASBOURG-Sc. et Techniques (674822102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Time-dependent solution for natural convection in a porous enclosure using the Darcy-Lapwood-Brinkman model

Natural convection (NC) in high permeable porous media is usually investigated using the Darcy–Lapwood–Brinkman model (DLB). The problem of the porous squared cavity is widely used as a common benchmark case for NC in porous media. The solutions to this problem with the DLB model are limited to steady-state conditions. In this paper, we developed a time-dependent high accurate solution based on the Fourier–Galerkin method (FG). The solution is derived considering two configurations dealing with unsteady and transient modes. The governing equations are reformulated using the stream function. The Temperature and the stream functions are expended as unknowns in space using Fourier series which are appropriately substituted in the equations. The equations are then projected to the spectral space using Fourier trigonometric trial functions. The obtained developed equations form a nonlinear differential algebraic system of equations. An appropriate technique is used to integrate the spectral system in time and to ensure high accuracy. The results of the FG method are compared to a finite element solution for different Rayleigh and Darcy numbers values. The transient and unsteady solutions are obtained with a feasible and low computational cost. The paper provides high accurate time-dependent solutions useful for benchmarking numerical models dealing with NC in porous media. The results of the developed solutions are efficient to gain physical insight into the time-dependent NC processes

Contribution to Numerical Modeling of Water Flow in Variably Saturated, Heterogeneous Porous Media

Solutions to the Richards equation for water flow in variably saturated porous media are the focus of this paper. Working with field conditions, the extreme variability and complexity of soil, initial and boundary conditions can make the flow problem difficult to solve. This paper proposes to improve the computational efficiency of the mixed hybrid finite element (MHFE) method coupled with the variables transformation. The transform variables were introduced in order to simulate problems with convergence difficulty attributed to the presence of sharp wetting fronts. Furthermore, for better convergence behaviour, a technique that switches between the mixed-form and the pressure-head based form of the Richard’s equation was applied. Special attention was given to the top boundary conditions dealing with ponding or evaporation problems. In order to avoid non-physical oscillation problems, a mass condensation scheme was implemented in the model. Performance indicators in time and error of different options of the numerical model are defined, analyzed and classified. Thus, for each test case, a suitable numerical method that identifies which form of the Richards equation is best suited, the relevance of the switching technique as well as the utility of the transformation of the primary variable is possible. The results for the 1D Numerical test cases that have been performed matched those from the literature results. For evaporation and infiltration problem’s, the number of iterations needed to get the solution decrease when using the method of transformed pressure. Finally, knowing the soil heterogeneity, initial and boundary conditions, an agglomerative hierarchical clustering allows to analyze the need or not to transform variables and to use other options.Cet article est une contribution à la résolution numérique des écoulements en milieux poreux variablement saturés. La grande variabilité et la complexité des caractéristiques des sols, des conditions initiales et des conditions aux limites rendent les problèmes d’écoulements en milieu poreux difficiles à résoudre dans les limites acceptables de précision et de temps de calcul numérique. De nombreux efforts ont été consacrés dans la littérature récente sur le développement de solutions numériques. Ce papier propose d’améliorer l’efficacité de calcul de la méthode des éléments finis mixtes hybrides couplée à la transformation des variables. La transformation de variables est introduite dans le but de résoudre les difficultés de convergence dues à l’avancée d’un front raide de saturation en eau au sein du milieu poreux. Une attention particulière est portée aux conditions de saturation en eau proche de la surface du sol, telle la présence de flaques d’eau ou les phénomènes d’évaporation. Dans le but d’éviter des oscillations non physiques, un schéma de condensation de la masse a été implémenté, ainsi qu’une technique de basculement permettant de passer de la forme mixte de l’équation de Richards à la forme en pression uniquement. Des indicateurs de performances en temps et précision de calcul sont définis, analysés et classifiés. En conséquence, les options numériques optimales sont identifiées pour chaque cas testé. Par ailleurs, les résultats obtenus à l’aide des cas tests monodimensionnels tiennent très bien la comparaison avec ceux de la littérature. Connaissant l’hétérogénéité d’un sol, les conditions initiales et aux limites du domaine d’étude, une analyse par partitionnement des données propose de déterminer dans quels cas la transformée des variables ou les techniques de basculement entre les différentes formes de l’Equation de Richards sont adaptées

Temporal estimation of hydrodynamic parameter variability in stormwater constructed wetlands – The hysteresis effect during multi-rainfall events

International audienceConstructed wetland (CW) systems are increasingly implemented as rustic water treatment facilities, the efficiency of which varies with time due to possible malfunctions such as clogging related to excessive loads of suspended solids or inadequate CW sizing. A numerical flow modeling can be used to evaluate filtering performance and to improve the design of CWs. Such a modeling usually involves the so-called van Genuchten-Mualem (vGM) soil hydrodynamic parameters which are notoriously difficult to measure. The meticulous attention brought to the sensitivity of the model to the vGM parameters reveals a predominant influence of the shape parameters and the saturated conductivity of the filter on the piezometric heads, during feeding and drainage. We then discuss a simple, robust and low-cost inverse modeling approach, deterministic and stochastic, for the identification of the soil hydrodynamic properties from piezometric heads measured during successive storm events. The temporal variability of hydrodynamic parameters is assessed and analyzed with regards to modeling efficiency. Principal component analysis shows that the estimated hydrodynamic parameters from the feeding and drainage sub-periods are significantly different

Plant transpiration in constructed treatment wetland: Effects on water budget and management consequences

Plant transpiration is an important feature of wetlands with biological and hydraulic impacts. The global objective of this study was to question the influence of transpirational water losses on constructed treatment wetland water budget for a variety of wetland design and time of the year. Biomass and transpiration field measurements were carried out in constructed treatment wetlands (CTWs) submitted to oceanic climate and used for waste- or stormwater management. Measurements were carried out during spring, summer and fall. Biomass and transpiration rate were both significantly affected by season and site configuration, although the effect appears more sharply for season than for site. Transpiration can reach 26% of the incoming flow during the warmest part of the year for wastewater management CTW, when the effect on adjacent water courses is likely to be the most significant. The impact on multi-monthly water budget plummets to 2% of the incoming water volume. For stormwater CTW, transpiration can lead to strong water scarcity, virtually emptying all available water in these stochastically fed systems. As transpiration also plays a significant role in biogeochemical processes in wetlands, it seems important to design this type of ecological infrastructure in close relation with the pursued objectives, be it either the quality of outlet water (emphasis on treatment efficiency) or the quantity of outlet water (emphasis on flow regulation)