Equipment

Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation (VEGAS)

Our laboratory is well equipped to perform contaminant and heat transport experiments. Our big sand tank is unique worldwide. We offer custom-built solutions for your experimentation needs via our experienced metal and electronics workshops. Please contact us – we are happy to discuss your needs and questions!

The VEGAS laboratory (length approx. 36m, width approx. 18m, height 11m) was built as an extension of the existing hydraulic laboratory of the Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems.

Abbildung Einrichtung Analytiklabor VEGAS

The VEGAS analytical laboratory is equipped for determining organic and inorganic contaminants in soil and groundwater. Currently, the equipment of the analytical laboratory includes for example: Combustion-IC, GC/MS, GC/ECD/FID, ASE, IC, HPLC, ICP-OES, TOC (liquid/solid) and UV/Vis - Photometer.

A variety of measuring devices to determine important parameters such as saturation, temperature, pH, pressure, concentration of contaminants or tracers, etc is available for both laboratory and field applications:

  • TDR, Time Domain Reflectrometry, for the determination of water and NAPL saturation in soils
  • System to monitor temperature distribution in the subsurface for both laboratory and field applications at a high resolution (remote process control and data acquisition)
  • Multi-channel fiberoptical Probes to determine the concentration of dissolved contaminants and tracers in the subsurface
  • Fiberoptical Probes to detect contaminants as a separate fluid (NAPL)
  • Gamma-System to determine water and/or contaminant saturations in small flumes
  • Cells to measure capillary pressure – saturation relationships for various fluids
  • Various tensiometers for the measurement of surface and interfacial tension
  • Different viscosimeters
  • Especially developed devices to take soil and water samples containing volatile components under anaerobic conditions.
  • Microsensors to measure the electrical conductivity
  • Various soil sampling devices (core drilling)
  • Mobile GC-PID, available as stand-alone and remote control system
  • Automated multi-channel water sampler

Different aggregates and soil remediation process equipment are available for both laboratory and field applications to solve problems in transportation, dosage, treatment, separation of liquids (water, chemicals) and gases (highly contaminated, explosive, etc.):

  • Submersible pumps from 2” to 6” diameter
  • Industrial peristaltic and Mohno-pumps
  • Side channel blowers (50 -500 m³/h), vacuum piston pumps (up to 1000 m³/h)
  • Activated carbon and sand filters (up to 5 m³/h water or 1000 m³/h air)
  • Steam generator (50 kW), spiral compressors (up to 60 m³/h)
  • High precision laboratory pumps
  • Controlled Temperature Room +4° C bis +30° C
  • Explosion Protected Room for experiments with critical contaminants
  • Storage facility for contaminated material
  • Shops (Electronics, Metal, Wood)
  • IT and miscellaneous technical infrastructure
  • Sewage treatment plant to treat water contaminated with
    • organics (e.g. CHC, BTEX),
    • inorganic components (heavy metals) and
    • biodegradable substances (e.g. alcohols).
  • High-performance air-filtration and air-cleaning system for the extractor hoods of the analytical laboratory and the research containers.
  • Special treatment and purification systems, such as vacuum distillation units, on a technical scale

Large Scale Experimental Flumes and Containers

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