Going Mobile - Mobile Systems for Air Sparging Applications
at NASA Sites
Rebecca Daprato. Ph.D., Jim Langenbach, P.E. - Geosyntec Consultants, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Introduction
Geosyntec was tasked to prepare two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Corrective Measures Designs (CMDs) for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). The CMDs include individual mobile air sparging (AS) systems for
two sites associated with this project: Supply Warehouse No. 3 (SW3) and Former
Development and Testing Laboratory (FDTL). The sites are located at Kennedy Space
Center (KSC) in Florida.
Air sparging was chosen as the remedial option for both sites because both SW3 and
FDTL have chlorinated volatile organic compound (CVOC) groundwater impacts and
generally favorable sandy, permeable aquifers (typical to Florida). Geosyntec was
contracted by NASA not only to design the AS systems, but to obtains bids and purchase
the mobile AS equipment trailers.
Focusing on flexibility and ease of use, the mobile AS equipment trailers were designed
to meet the requirements for the initial sites referenced above, but also with operational
flexibility and the ability to mobilize the units to additional locations in the future. The AS
equipment trailers can be potentially utilized for (i) air sparge pilot testing, (ii)
remediation of sites with limited, low-level VOC impacts, and (iii) treatment of VOC-
impacted groundwater plumes and source areas.
Going Mobile
Image 1: Typical mobile remediation system trailer.
Advantages of Mobile Equipment vs. Fixed Building Installations
•Mobility
− Can be transported by standard non-commercial size truck.
− Readily transported for utilization at a different site.
− Easily removed from site after remedy completion (for aesthetic reasons or for site
redevelopment purposes).
•Equipment placement
− Easier process compared with fixed equipment building.
− Less approval & permitting required.
− Less time on-site required for installation.
•Cost-effectiveness
− Trailer costs are very similar cost to a fixed equipment building.
Note: Mobile units designed for NASA KSC sites are likely less expensive due to building upgrade
requirements to meet hurricane wind load standards. The designed mobile trailer units are only
required to meet NASA KSC tie-down standards.
•Flexibility
− Short term air sparge pilot testing.
− Limited duration treatment of low-level VOC-impacted areas.
− Long term remedy for high-level VOC-impacted areas.
Note: Air sparge remediation systems are typically designed to operate for a shorter duration than
the useful life of the equipment; therefore, once the remedy has been completed, a mobile air
sparge configuration facilitates transport of the equipment to other sites for various uses.
Dean Pinson, P.E. – Geosyntec Consultants, Boca Raton, Florida
Going Mobile Design Details of Mobile AS Unit No.1 for SW3 Site
Control
Panel
Heat Exchanger/
After Cooler
Air Compressor
Image 2: Typical Mobile Trailer Interior Piping & Equipment Installation
Advantages Associated With The Purchase of Pre-plumbed, Pre-wired Remedial Mobile Systems
• Minimizing time on-site required for installation and start-up
− Major equipment components pre-tested by vendor (e.g. compressor,
heat exchanger/after cooler, solenoid valves).
− Bulk of equipment, wiring, and piping installations completed by vendor.
− Equipment integration tested by vendor prior to site delivery (e.g.
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) controls, timers, alarms, automatic
shutoffs, telemetry).
• Minimizing complexity of system connections required on-site
− Only main power electrical connection typically required.
− Minimal piping connections required to connect trailer equipment piping to
field piping.
Figure 2: Piping & Instrumentation Diagram for Mobile Air Sparge Unit No. 1 for NASA SW3 site.
− Possible telemetry connection required (unless cellular based).
• Equipment constructed/assembled by vendors that specialize in layout/ Additional Details of Mobile Air Sparge Unit No. 1:
assembly of remediation equipment
• System equipment designed for possible future capacity requirements:
− Vendors do this for a living and are good at it!
−Additional 3rd sparge leg (remedy of SW3 site only required control of two AS zones).
−PLC with additional inputs/outputs for future use.
Design Details of Mobile AS Unit No. 1 for SW3 Site
• Extra interior working height to 6.5-ft facilitates mobility of personnel during O&M activities.
Key Features of Mobile Air Sparge Unit No. 1:
• Minimization of interior piping and wiring runs within trailer due to limited space.
• 20 hp blower capable of 160 cfm against • Explosion-proof rated wiring was not required since air sparge equipment process involves supplying
23 psi. compressed air. Note that other remediation processes, including SVE and GW Pump & Treat
require explosion-proof wiring since contaminated media would flow through system equipment.
• Three sparge legs for connection to
separate air sparging zones.
• Solenoid-controlled sparge legs for
Economic Details
independent air sparging zone control.
• Individual bids for the two mobile units designed for the NASA sites ranged from $50,000 to
• Cellular based telemetry (NASA SW3 site $60,000 (including taxes, shipping, and start-up assistance). The primary reasons for the cost
lacked existing phone utility and difference between the two mobile AS units were the compressor sizes (20 hp vs. 25 hp) and
connection infeasible) number of air sparge legs (Mobile Air Sparge Unit No. 2 has six air sparge legs). Therefore,
smaller and less complex mobile units have the potential to cost significantly less.
Note: Mobile Air Sparge Unit No. 2 for FDTL
site has a similar design as Mobile Air • Overall project costs can be significantly less by having a vendor perform the bulk of the
Sparge Unit No. 1, except for a larger 25 interior installations and testing prior to delivery compared with the purchase of individual
hp compressor and a total of six air components and on-site assembly.
Figure 1: Typical trailer layout. sparge legs.