Equilibrium Partitioning Model Tutorial


  Table of Contents | Equilibrium Partitioning Model

Using the Model | (Re)Loading the Model | Printing the Model


The Equilibrium Partitioning Model used in this course is a Java translation of the "Fugacity" spreadsheet model originally developed by Brett Towler of the Montana State University Civil Engineering Department.  The model is used to solve equilibrium partitioning problems in a control volume of arbitrary fractions of soil, water, air, and NAPL phases. 

This version of the model is an web-based model and runs as a Java applet within the Equilibrium Partitioning Model web page.  Because the model was developed using the Java 2 Platform, there are several issues that must be addressed before the model can be used.  

See the Getting Started Tutorial for a discussion of these issues:

 

Important Note:  Do not attempt to print the Equilibrium Partitioning Model web page by pressing your browser's print button or by using the browser's Print menu.  Results from using the browser's print function to print a page holding a Java applet can vary from printing an "empty" applet, to printing garbage, to freezing the browser or freezing the computer itself.   See Printing the Model for instructions on using a "workaround" to successfully print the model.

 


Using the Equilibrium Partitioning Model

Once the above issues have been addressed, the model can be loaded and manipulated.  The purpose of this tutorial is to acquaint the user with the model and the use of its features.  At this point, it is not necessary to understand the underlying meaning of any of the data values or their corresponding calculations. 

The figure below shows the Equilibrium Partitioning Model as it appears when it is first loaded.  The model is initially populated with values from a default data sample and consists of the following components:

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model

 

Each of the three sections consists of tabbed areas allowing the user to view various types of information by clicking the appropriate tab.  Input values may be modified via the tables in the Inputs section.  The tables in this section work much like a spreadsheet in that the value cells shaded in blue may be modified by first clicking in the desired value cell, then typing in a new value, and finally pressing the "enter" key.  For example, to change the water saturation ratio (theta) value associated with the Soil Properties, follow the these steps:

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after selecting the Soil Properties tab, clicking in the Water Saturation Ratio value cell, and prior to changing the Water Saturation Ratio value.

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after completing the change to the Water Saturation Ratio value.

 

 

The Chemical Properties tab in the Inputs Section is used to define the various properties associated with the constituents in the model.  These values may be adjusted in the same way as shown in the Water Saturation Ratio value example shown above.  It is also possible to rename a constituent ... this will effectively replace a currently defined constituent with a different constituent to be considered.  For example, to eliminate Toluene in the default sample and replace it with a new constituent named "A new name", follow these steps:

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model before right clicking Toluene for rename.  The tooltip ("Right click constituent name to rename constituent") is shown when the mouse hovers over the name Toluene.

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after clicking Toluene for rename.  The Input dialog box has been presented and the user has typed in the name "A new name".

 

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after clicking the OK button in the Input dialog box.

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after clicking the NO button in the "Select an Option" dialog box and after clicking in the input Molecular weight value cell associated with the new constituent.

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model illustrating an Incomplete input condition.  Note that the chemical property values for the new constituent are not complete and, therefore, the Calculations tab in the Solution section shows that the input is incomplete.  Also, note that the constituent does not have an associated bar chart in the % Mol Fraction tab in the Charts section.

 

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The model's menu bar consists of two menus:

 


Loading the Model

The Load Model menu allows the user to reload the default data model sample.  Use the following steps to reload the default model:

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model as the Default sample model is being selected for loading.

 

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model after the Default sample model has been (re) loaded.

 

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Printing the Model

The applet's Print Model menu is a workaround for printing a Java applet.  Results from pressing the browser's print button (or using the browser's Print menu) can vary from printing an "empty" applet, to printing garbage, to freezing the browser or freezing the computer itself.   This workaround is intended to cause the least amount of trouble for the user.

Use the following steps to print a model:

Screenshot of the Equilibrium Partitioning Model as the Print menu is being selected

 

Screenshot of the first Print Window containing text information.

 

Screenshot of the second Print Window containing the % Mol Fraction chart.

 

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  Table of Contents | Equilibrium Partitioning Model