Device for treating the soil in the vicinity of buried structures

Abstract

A device for treating the ground in the vicinity of buried structures, comprises a plurality of probes which are driven into the subsoil and are connected to a control unit provided with an air generating device for generating, within the ground, a flow of dry air. The probes are arranged so as to make the generated air flow lap all the surfaces of the buried structures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for treating the ground in the vicinity of buried structures, comprising: a plurality of probes which are driven into the ground at selected locations with respect to outer surfaces of said buried structures; a control unit provided with means for generating, within the ground, a flow of dry air, said probes being connected to said control unit and arranged so as to make the generated air flow lap all the outer surfaces of said buried structures, wherein said plurality of probes is divided into two sets: a first set of probes for injecting the air flow from one side of said buried structures and a second set of probes for extracting the injected air flow from another side of said buried structures, said second set of extraction probes being connected to said control unit with at least one line, said line comprising detecting means for detecting characteristics of the extracted air flow, in order to perform an in-line continuous and real time leak detection for the buried structures, in order to simultaneously perform soil pollution prevention, soil remediation and corrosion prevention, heating means being provided in order to heat atmospheric air adapted to reduce the relative humidity of the air.  
     
     
         2 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one line for connecting the control unit to the extraction probes comprises analyzing means for analyzing the composition of the air flow.  
     
     
         3 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one line for connecting the control unit to the extraction probes comprises detection means for detecting the temperature of the air flow.  
     
     
         4 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one line for connecting the control unit to the extraction probes comprises detection means for detecting humidity of the air flow, in order to maintain said humidity below the dewpoint.  
     
     
         5 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said first set of probes for injecting the air flow is connected to the control unit through at least one injection line, said injection line including injection means for introducing into the ground liquid and/or vapour substances, said substances being selectable from a group consisting of tracers and nutrient liquids.  
     
     
         6 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein the buried structure is a tank, and said injection probes are driven into the ground in a position that lies above or below said tank and said extraction probes for removing the injected air flow generated by the injection probes is driven into the ground in a position located below or above said tank.  
     
     
         7 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein each probe of said plurality of probes comprises: an outer tubular jacket, having a wall defining an inner surface thereof and provided with through holes therealong; a tubular core, which has a solid wall and is shorter than said outer jacket, said core being sliding fit with said inner surface of said outer jacket; and engagement means provided at said core for placing the core in any desired position within said outer jacket.  
     
     
         8 . The device of    claim 7   , wherein said tubular core of each of said probes is associated with the inner surface of the perforated jacket with a fit which allows tight-fit sliding following an action applied thereon at said engagement means.  
     
     
         9 . The device of    claim 7   , wherein a plug is provided for closing said tubular core of said probes at a lower end thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The device of    claim 5   , wherein each of said injection and extraction probes is provided with an valve adapted to connect/disconnect each of said injection probes to/from said at least one injection line and each of said extraction probes to said at least one line.