Correlations for mass transfer coefficients applicable to NAPL pool dissolution in subsurface formations

In this paper, we develop correlations describing the rate of interface mass transfer from single component nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) pools in saturated, homogeneous porous media. A three-dimensional contaminant transport model is employed to obtain overall mass transfer coefficients computed from concentration gradients at the NAPL-water interface. It is assumed that pool dissolution at the pool-water interface is fast enough so the dissolved concentration is only mass transfer limited, and the liquid phase concentration along the interface is constant and equal to the saturation concentration. Power-law correlations relate the overall Sherwood number to the appropriate overall Peclet numbers. The proposed relationships are fitted to numerically determined mass transfer coefficients and the correlation coefficients are determined by nonlinear least squares regression.