Remediation Systems

Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Systems

Fliteway designs and fabricates custom soil vapor extraction systems for removing volatile organic compounds from contaminated subsurface soils. With 88 SVE projects completed, our engineering team delivers site-specific solutions from pilot testing through full-scale remediation and system closure.

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What Is Soil Vapor Extraction?

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a proven in-situ remediation technology that removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and certain semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) from contaminated soils in the unsaturated (vadose) zone. The process works by applying a vacuum to extraction wells screened in the contaminated soil interval, creating a pressure gradient that induces airflow through the soil matrix. As air moves through contaminated soil pores, it volatilizes and carries contaminants to the surface for treatment and discharge.

SVE is one of the most widely applied remediation technologies in the United States and is recognized by the EPA as a presumptive remedy for VOC-contaminated soils at Superfund sites. The technology is cost-effective, can treat large soil volumes without excavation, and is adaptable to a wide range of site conditions and contaminant types.

Fliteway has been designing and building SVE systems since the early days of the environmental remediation industry. Our 88 completed SVE projects span small source-area treatments to large-scale plume remediations, across soil types from sandy fills to fractured bedrock. Each system is engineered for the specific soil permeability, contaminant profile, extraction rates, and regulatory discharge requirements of the project site.

SVE System Components

Every Fliteway SVE system is built from high-quality industrial components selected and sized for the specific project requirements. Our standard system components include:

Vacuum Blowers

The vacuum blower is the heart of every SVE system, generating the negative pressure that drives airflow through the contaminated soil. Blower selection depends on the required airflow rate, vacuum level, and operating conditions.

•Regenerative blowers: Low vacuum (up to 80 inches of water column), high airflow applications. Quiet operation, low maintenance. Ideal for permeable soils and shallow extraction.
•Positive displacement blowers: Medium to high vacuum (up to 15 inches Hg), moderate airflow. Rotary lobe and rotary claw designs. The workhorse for most SVE applications.
•Liquid ring pumps: High vacuum (up to 25 inches Hg) with inherent moisture tolerance. Used for dual-phase extraction (DPE) and high-moisture applications.

Vapor Treatment

Extracted soil vapors contain contaminants that must be treated before atmospheric discharge. Treatment technology selection is driven by contaminant type, concentration, and air discharge permit limits.

•Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption: Cost-effective for low to moderate VOC concentrations. Vessels configured in series (lead-lag) for continuous operation during carbon changeouts.
•Catalytic oxidizers: Destroy VOCs at lower temperatures (500-900 degrees F) using a catalyst bed. Lower fuel cost than thermal oxidizers. Effective for chlorinated compounds.
•Thermal oxidizers: High-temperature destruction (1,400-2,000 degrees F) of concentrated VOC streams. Achieve 99%+ destruction efficiency. Regenerative designs recover heat.

Ancillary Components

A complete SVE system requires supporting equipment for moisture management, flow control, monitoring, and safe operation.

•Moisture separators / knock-out pots: Remove entrained water from the vapor stream before it reaches the blower and treatment equipment.
•Piping and manifolds: Schedule 80 PVC or HDPE header piping with individual well valves for flow balancing across the extraction well network.
•Control panels: PLC-based or relay-logic control panels with motor starters, VFDs, emergency shutoffs, and remote monitoring capability.
•Instrumentation: Vacuum gauges, flow meters, PID/FID ports, pressure transducers, and temperature sensors for performance monitoring.

System Configurations

Fliteway builds SVE systems in multiple configurations to match your site access, space constraints, and project duration.

Skid-Mounted Systems

All components mounted on a structural steel skid for forklift or crane placement. The most common configuration for permanent installations. Skids are pre-wired and pre-plumbed in our Cudahy, Wisconsin fabrication facility for rapid field installation. Standard skid sizes accommodate systems from 5 HP to 100+ HP.

Containerized (CONEX) Systems

Complete SVE systems enclosed in modified shipping containers (8-foot, 20-foot, or 40-foot) for weather protection, security, noise attenuation, and easy transport. Containerized systems are ideal for sites with limited space, cold-climate operation, or projects that require relocation. CONEX systems include lighting, ventilation, heat trace (where required), and lockable access doors.

Trailer-Mounted Systems

SVE systems built on DOT-compliant trailers for maximum mobility. Trailer-mounted systems are designed for pilot testing, short-term remediation, emergency response, and multi-site programs where equipment moves between locations. All connections are designed for quick hookup with cam-lock fittings and quick-disconnect electrical connections.

Site-Specific Engineering Approach

Every Fliteway SVE system begins with a thorough review of site conditions and project requirements. Our engineering team evaluates the following design inputs to develop a system that will achieve your remediation objectives:

1
Soil Permeability and Geology
Soil type, permeability (hydraulic conductivity and air permeability), stratigraphy, and depth to groundwater determine the achievable airflow rates, vacuum requirements, and radius of influence for each extraction well. Pilot test data (step tests and constant-rate tests) provide the empirical basis for full-scale system design.
2
Contaminant Type and Concentration
The specific contaminants present (chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, or mixed waste), their concentrations, and their physical properties (vapor pressure, Henry's Law constant, solubility) guide the selection of blower type, vapor treatment technology, and materials of construction.
3
Extraction Rate and Well Network
Required total airflow capacity, number of extraction wells, well spacing, and manifold design. The extraction well network is designed to ensure adequate coverage of the contaminated soil volume with appropriate overlap of influence radii.
4
Regulatory Requirements
Air discharge permit limits, remediation action levels, monitoring and reporting requirements, and applicable federal and state regulations (RCRA, CERCLA, state voluntary cleanup programs). These requirements determine vapor treatment performance specifications and system monitoring instrumentation.

Related Remediation Technologies

SVE is often combined with complementary technologies to address complex site conditions. Fliteway designs integrated systems that combine multiple treatment approaches on a single platform.

Dual-Phase Extraction (DPE)

Simultaneous extraction of soil vapor and groundwater for sites with shallow water tables or free-phase product. DPE systems use high-vacuum blowers or liquid ring pumps to extract both vapor and liquid phases from a single well point.

Air Sparging

Injection of clean air below the water table to volatilize dissolved VOCs in groundwater. Air sparging is commonly paired with SVE to capture the volatilized contaminants as they migrate upward through the vadose zone.

Groundwater Treatment

When SVE or DPE systems produce extracted groundwater, a treatment system is required before discharge. Fliteway integrates groundwater treatment (oil-water separation, GAC, air stripping) with SVE systems for complete site remediation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contaminants can soil vapor extraction remove?

Soil vapor extraction is effective at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the unsaturated zone of contaminated soils. Common target contaminants include chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride, as well as petroleum hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). SVE is most effective for compounds with a high vapor pressure and Henry's Law constant, making it ideal for gasoline, jet fuel, and degreasing solvent releases.

What is dual-phase extraction and how does it differ from SVE?

Dual-phase extraction (DPE), also called multi-phase extraction (MPE), simultaneously extracts both soil vapor and groundwater or free-phase liquid product from a single well. While standard SVE applies vacuum only to the vadose (unsaturated) zone, DPE extends the extraction to the saturated zone and capillary fringe. This makes DPE well suited for sites with shallow water tables or where light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) is present. Fliteway designs integrated DPE systems that combine vacuum blowers, liquid-ring pumps, and oil-water-vapor separation equipment on a single skid or in a containerized enclosure.

How long does an SVE remediation project typically take?

SVE project duration depends on several factors including the extent and concentration of contamination, soil permeability, moisture content, and regulatory cleanup targets. Pilot tests typically run two to four weeks to establish design parameters such as radius of influence and extraction rates. Full-scale remediation timeframes range from six months for smaller releases to five or more years for large plumes in low-permeability soils. Fliteway provides both permanent systems for long-term operation and rental systems for shorter-duration projects or pilot testing.

What size SVE system do I need for my site?

SVE system sizing is driven by the required airflow rate, vacuum levels, and vapor treatment capacity for your specific site conditions. Key design inputs include soil permeability testing (slug tests or pilot studies), contaminant type and concentration, extraction well spacing, and applicable air quality discharge limits. Fliteway systems range from small 5 HP blower units for localized source areas to large 100+ HP systems for extensive contaminant plumes. Our engineering team performs site-specific design calculations to determine the right system configuration for your project.

Discuss Your SVE Project

Whether you need a pilot-scale SVE system for site characterization or a full-scale remediation system, our engineering team is ready to develop a custom solution for your project. Contact us to discuss your site conditions and project requirements.

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