See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Innovative Methods for Investigating Flow and Transport in Karst Systems I
Abstract:
In order to understand the circumstances under which multipeaked positively skewed breakthrough curves occur, physical experiments utilizing single- and multiple-flow channels were conducted. Simulation also included waterfalls, short-term solute detention in pools, and flow obstructions.
Results of the experiments demonstrated that breakthrough curve skewness always occurs but is magnified as immobile-flow regions are encountered. Multiple breakthrough curve peaks occurred when main channel blockages forced divergence of solute into auxiliary channels but also when waterfalls and detention in pools occurred. These results suggest that a greater degree of insight into the shape of breakthrough curves is necessary to better assess the type of mathematical model to apply. Various solute-transport models have been explored to see which best represents the data. These models mainly focused on double-porosity formulations with differing mass-transfer functions. A triple-porosity formulation is currently being investigated.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Innovative Methods for Investigating Flow and Transport in Karst Systems I