Method for containing fluid or solid materials using a pressure barrier liner; methods for contructing and testing such a liner

Abstract

 A pressure barrier liner (38) has a plurality of low permeability membranes (42, 44) disposed one above the other. A region of relatively high permeability is encapsulated between each adjacent pair of membranes. Pressurizing means may be used to introduce (58) pressu­rized fluid such as air or water into a selected group of the high permeability regions (46) to pressurize them to a selected pressure or pressures, thereby ensuring that any flow through the membranes (42, 44) or through disruptions in the membranes will be from within the pressurized regions to the regions outside the membranes (42, 44) which encapsulate the pressurized regions, rather than from the fluid storage region above the membranes, through the membranes and into the region beneath the membranes which is to be protected by the liner. Alternatively, depressurizing means may be used to depressurize a selected group of the high permeability regions to a selected pressure or pressures thereby ensuring that any fluid flow through disruptions in the membranes (42, 44) is directed to and withdrawn by the depressurizing means, thus again preventing fluid escapement from the fluid containment region above the membranes, through the membranes and into the region beneath the membranes which is to be protected by the liner.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] This application pertains to pressure barrier liners for containment of valuable and/or hazardous and/or polluting fluid or solid waste materials. More particularly, the application pertains to pressure bar­rier liners having membranes which encapsulate regions of relatively high permeability such that the regions may be pressurized or depressurized to pressure levels sufficient to create a barrier which substantially pre­vents fluid escapement through the liner. Pressure bar­rier liners constructed in accordance with the invention may also be tested to assess their integrity, to deter­mine whether they are leaking, and to assess their capa­bility to retain fluids or prevent leakage in the ab­sence of such pressurization or depressurization.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Membrane or sheet liners are commonly used to line excavations or other containment facilities to pre­vent escapement therefrom of hazardous and/or polluting fluid wastes, solid waste leachates or valuable fluids. Such materials must be stored at the lowest possible cost on either a short term or a long term basis. Mem­brane liners consist of a number of membranes or flex­ ible sheets of liner material joined together at their edges and joined to bounding structures to yield a con­tinuous liner interposed between the fluid to be con­tained and the surroundings into which flow of the con­tained fluid is to be prevented.

[0003] Conventional membrane liners have a finite permeability and may suffer from a number of imperfec­tions including holes in the membrane or sheet material which are inadvertently produced during manufacture of the material; holes which are inadvertently caused dur­ing the process of construction of the liner from the sheet or membrane material or during the process of in­stalling the liner in the excavation or other contain­ment region; imperfections in the welds or seams used to join adjacent segments of membrane or sheet material to form the liner; and, holes which develop in the liner after it is installed, due to punching, shearing, set­tling, chemical attack and a variety of other causes.

[0004] Liners are conventionally subjected to fluid pressures from both sides of the liner. Ambient air pressure subjects both sides of the liner to a first fluid pressure. Since this pressure is normally equal on both sides of the liner it does not produce a signi­ficant pressure gradient across the liner and therefore does not induce significant flow through the liner. Fluids contained in the region above the liner exert a second fluid pressure on the upper surface of the liner. Ground water in the region beneath the liner exerts a third fluid pressure on the lower surface of the liner. Accordingly, liners are conventionally subjected to fluid pressure gradients caused by the differential be­tween the second and third fluid pressures. If the fluid pressure above the liner exceeds that beneath the liner, fluid will flow from the fluid containment region above the liner through any disruptions in the liner (i.e. holes, imperfect seams, etc.) and into the region beneath the liner, thus defeating the objective of the liner, which is to prevent such fluid escapement.

[0005] In practice, all liners have a finite perme­ability due to the inherent porosity of the material used to construct the liner. Accordingly, all liners leak at a small but finite rate. If holes are inadver­tently made in the liner, or if the seams which join adjacent segments of liner material are imperfect, then the rate of leakage may increase dramatically and it is such increased leakage which is desirably prevented. In the prior art, high security composite liners have been constructed with double or even triple layers of liner material. Drainage layers are typically established between layers of liner material. Fluid which escapes through the uppermost liner passes into the drainage layer beneath the uppermost liner and flows towards drainage collection points established in the drainage layer. However, if holes occur in the liner located immediately beneath the drainage layer then secondary leakage may occur through the lower liner. If the leak­age rate through the uppermost liner is sufficiently rapid then a localized fluid pressure may develop within the drainage layer and consequential high rates of leak­age can occur through the lower liner before the fluid escaping through the uppermost liner can be collected and removed by the drainage system.

[0006] In practice it is difficult to determine the rate of leakage through a field installed liner, parti­cularly if the leakage rate is relatively low and parti­cularly if a composite liner, comprised of multiple lay­ ers of liner material is involved. Large fluid losses may occur before the leakage is detected. If the stored fluid is valuable, or hazardous, or would produce a par­ticularly undesirable impact on the surrounding environ­ment, then such leakage should ideally be prevented. It is also desirable that the liner system be testable to determine whether the potential for leakage exists so that steps can be taken to prevent leakage.

[0007] The present invention provides a pressure bar­rier liner which significantly reduces the possibility of leakage through the liner, while facilitating testing of the liner to determine whether leakage could occur through the liner, even at relatively low leakage rates.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The invention provides a liner comprising a plurality of low permeability flexible membranes dis­posed one above the other. Separate regions of rela­tively high permeability are encapsulated between each adjacent pair of membranes. A pressurizing means may be used to pressurize a selected group of the high perme­ability regions to a selected pressure or pressures. A depressurizing means may also or may alternatively be used to depressurize a selected group of the high perme­ability regions to a selected pressure or pressures.

[0009] A relatively high permeability flexible mem­brane may be disposed outside the outermost of the low permeability membranes to encapsulate a region of rela­tively high permeability between the high permeability membrane and at least one outer surface of the liner. A depressurizing means may be provided for depressurizing the region between the high permeability membrane and the liner outer surface.

[0010] The encapsulated high permeability regions may contain a relatively high permeability core material which may be connected to the adjacent membranes which encapsulate the material to give the liner sufficient strength to resist tensile stresses which could cause the membranes to separate. As an alternative to core material, the membrane inner surfaces may be textured such that contact between the surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow within the encapsulated region. The textured surfaces may also be connected together to enable the liner to resist tensile stresses.

[0011] A drainage means may extend within a selected group of the high permeability regions for withdrawing liquids from within those regions. A layer of geotex­tile material may be disposed outside at least one of the outermost of the membranes to inhibit passage of particulate materials into the liner.

[0012] A composite liner may be constructed by pro­viding a first plurality of low permeability flexible membranes disposed one above the other with separate regions of relatively high permeability encapsulated between each adjacent pair of membranes. For each one of the first plurality of membranes, a second plurality of low permeability membranes is disposed beside said one membrane; and, separate regions of relatively high permeability are encapsulated between each vertically adjacent pair of the second plurality of membranes. The liner may be extended to attain any desired size and shape by similarly providing further pluralities of ver­ tically layered membranes beside the existing multiple membrane liner.

[0013] The invention also provides a connector means for sealingly connecting edges of liner membranes dis posed beside one another. The connector means further facilitates selective fluid communication between encap­sulated high permeability regions.

[0014] The pressurizing means may comprise a floating constant head apparatus for floating in fluid contained by the liner and for applying a constant low positive head pressure within a selected group of high permeabil­ity regions. The depressurizing means may comprise a vacuum pump for applying a low negative head pressure within a selected group of high permeability regions.

[0015] The invention also provides a method of testing for leakage of a liner during construction of the liner. The method comprises the steps of disposing first and second low permeability membranes one above the other to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability therebetween. The high permeability region is then pressurized or depressurized to a selected pres­sure (alternatively, a detectable fluid is injected into the high permeability region). The pressure within the region is then monitored (or the region is monitored for escape of detectable fluid therefrom). If the region maintains pressure (or contains the detectable fluid) then it may be determined that the membranes are not leaking. However, if the region fails to maintain the selected pressure (or fails to contain the detectable fluid) then the uppermost of the membranes is inspected to locate leaks therein which are then repaired. The pressurization and monitoring steps are then repeated.

[0016] If the region still fails to maintain the selected pres­sure (or to contain the detectable fluid) then the low­ermost membrane is inspected to locate leaks therein which are then repaired. A further low permeability membrane is then disposed above the uppermost membrane to encapsulate a further high permeability region be­tween the further and uppermost membranes. The pressur­ization, monitoring, inspecting and repair steps are then repeated with respect to the further high permea­bility region so established. Additional low permeabil­ity membranes are then added and tested as aforesaid until the liner comprises a selected plurality of low permeability membranes disposed one above the other with separate regions of relatively high permeability encap­sulated between each adjacent pair of membranes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] 

Figure l is a simplified cross-sectional side view of a typical prior art liner positioned within an excavation to contain fluid in a containment pond.

Figure 2 is a simplified diagram which illus­trates the potential escapement of fluids through holes or imperfect seams in the liner of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a simplified cross-sectional side view of a portion of a prior art liner having inner and outer membranes and having a drainage layer between the membranes.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a dual membrane pressurized liner.

Figure 5 is a somewhat enlarged cross-sec­tional side view of a portion of the liner of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a dual membrane depressurized liner.

Figures 7a through 7f illustrate alternative liner panel joints.

Figures 8a and 8c are, respectively, diagrama­tic top plan illustrations of a portion of a dual mem­brane liner incorporating alternative embodiments of a connecting strip for selective fluid communication be­tween regions within adjacent liner panels and for seal­ingly engaging the edges of the first and second mem­branes of adjacent liner panels.

Figure 8b is a cross-sectional view with re­spect to line A-A of Figure 8a.

Figure 8d is a cross-sectional view with re­spect to line B-B of Figure 8c.

Figures 9a through 9d are, respectively, cross-sectional end views of alternative connecting strips.

Figure l0a is a top plan view of a containment pond having a multiple cell dual membrane liner which has been shaped and sized to fit the containment pond excavation.

Figure l0b is a cross-sectional view taken with respect to line A-A of Figure l0a.

Figure ll illustrates the manner in which the inner surfaces of the membranes comprising a liner con­structed in accordance with the invention may be chan­nelled or otherwise textured such that contact between the membrane inner surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow between the membrane inner surfaces.

Figure l2 illustrates a "shingling" technique for constructing and progressively testing a liner in accordance with the invention.

Figure l3 illustrates a connector strip which is specially adapted to the construction of liners in accordance with the "shingling" technique of Figure l2.

Figure l4 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a triple membrane liner.

Figure l5 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a quadruple membrane liner.

Figure l6 is a cross-sectional side view of a connecting strip adapted to the construction of multiple membrane liners.

Figure l7 is similar to Figure ll, but illus­trates a multiple membrane liner.

Figures l8a and l8b illustrate two stages in the contruction of a multiple membrane liner.

Figure l9 illustrates the operation of a leaking dual membrane depressurized liner.

Figure 20 illustrates the operation of a leaking quadruple membrane liner having depressurized outer segments and a pressurized or non-pressurized in­ner segment.

Figure 2l illustrates operation of a leaking triple membrane liner in which both liner segments are depressurized; the degree of vacuum in the upper liner segment exceeding that in the lower liner segment.

Figure 22 illustrates operation of a leaking triple membrane liner in which both liner segments are pressurized; the pressure in the lower liner segment exceeding that in the upper liner segment.

Figure 23 illustrates operation of a leaking triple membrane liner in which the lower liner segment is pressurized and the upper liner segment is depres­surized.

Figure 24 illustrates the provision of a high permeability flexible membrane beneath the lowermost low permeability liner membrane to facilitate fluid drainage from beneath the liner.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0018] A background discussion will first be provided with reference to the prior art. Dual membrane pres­surized and depressurized liners will then be described, together with techniques for joining adjacent liner pan­els to construct liners of desired sizes and shapes. Techniques for liner leakage detection will then be described. A detailed description of connecting strips will then be provided in the context of dual membrane liners. A "shingling" technique for constructing dual membrane liners is then described. This is followed by a description of a dual membrane liner having multiple cells. Multiple membrane liners are then described, to­gether with connecting strips and leakage detection and liner construction techniques specifically adapted to multiple membrane liners.

Background and Prior Art

[0019] Figure l illustrates a prior art fluid con­tainment pond comprising excavation l0 which is sur­rounded by embankment l2 and lined with a liner l4 formed of material such as polyvinyl chloride, high or low density polyethylene, butyl rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, elasticized polyolefin, polyamide, chloro­sulphonated polyethylene, or other material suitable for potential long term containment of valuable, hazardous or pollutant fluid l6. Conventionally, liner l4 is formed by joining together several segments or sheets of liner material using heat welding, extrusion welding, solvent welding or bonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, electro-magnetic welding, or other known techniques for joining such materials to form a single composite liner. However, as illustrated in Figure 2, holes l8 may be inadvertently made in liner l4 during manufacture of the liner material, during for­mation of the liner, during installation of the liner, or after the liner has been installed; thereby allowing fluid l6 to leak through hole l8 into the region 20 be­neath liner l4, which is desirably avoided. Similarly, imperfections in the seams or welds used to join adja­cent sheets or segments of liner material together may result in flow channels or paths as illustrated by re­ference number 22 in Figure 2, enabling further leakage of fluid l6 through liner l4 and into region 20. If disruptions such as holes l8 or seam imperfections 22 exist in liner l4 then leakage will occur if the pres­sure component "P₁" exerted on the upper surface of liner l4 by fluid l6 exceeds the pressure component "P₂" exerted on the lower surface of liner l4 by fluid (i.e. ground water) in region 20.

[0020] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a prior art double liner having first and second liners 24, 26 between which a drainage layer 28 formed of material such as sand is established. Here again, holes 30, 32 and/or seam/weld imperfections 34, 36 can result in escapement of fluid l6 through liner 24 into drainage layer 28 and thence through liner 26 into region 20 if the pressure P₁ exerted on liner 24 by fluid l6 exceeds the pressure P₂ exerted on liner 26 by fluid in region 20. If a drainage system is in­stalled in drainage layer 28 then a reduced pressure "P₃" results in drainage layer 28. The value of P₃, while small, is always positive and may be increased where the geometry or the permeability of drainage layer 28 is such that increased pressure heads are required to achieve the flow rates necessary to drain fluids which enter drainage layer 28 through holes/imperfections 30, 34 in first liner 24. If P₁ is greater than P₃, and if P₃ is greater than P₂, then fluid l6 will flow through holes 30 and seam imperfections 34 into drainage layer 28; part of which flow will be drained away by the drainage system and part of which will escape through second liner 26 through holes 32 and seam imperfections 36 to region 20. In practice, P₂ is seldom greater than P₃ over the entire extent of second liner 26.

Dual Membrane Pressurized Liner

[0021] Figure 4 illustrates a dual membrane pressure barrier liner 38 comprising a plurality of liner panels 40a, 40b, 40c, etc. Each liner panel in turn com­prises dual (i.e. first and second) low permeability flexible membranes 42, 44 disposed one above the other. The term "above" is used in the relative sense. Mem­branes 42, 44 may for example be oriented one beside the other if liner 38 is placed against a vertical sidewall of a containment pond. As in the case of the prior art liners, membranes 42, 44 may be formed of any suitable material such as high or low density polyethylene, poly­vinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, elasticized polyolefin, polyamide, chlorosulphonated polyethylene, rubbers, Hypalon, butyl rubber, asphalt, concrete, soil cement or other suitable low permeability materials. In the context of the present invention the term "low per­meability" means a material having an overall permeabil­ity of less than l × l0⁻⁷ cm/sec. relative to the flow of water and may ideally be as low as l × l0⁻¹⁵ cm/sec.

[0022] A relatively high permeability core material 46 such as sand, geonet, geotextile, textured sheet, or other open-pore material having a permeability greater than approximately l × l0⁻³ cm/sec. relative to water is encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44. Opposed first and second surfaces of permeable core material 46 are preferably (but not necessarily) connected to the inner surfaces of first and second mem­branes 42, 44 respectively to resist the effective ten­sile and compressive stresses between membranes 42, 44. If the effective normal stress between membranes 42, 44 is negative, then the membranes will tend to separate. To resist potential bursting, the mechanical connection established by connecting core material 46 to membranes 42 and 44 must be capable of withstanding an average tensile stress which is equal to the effective normal tensile stress between the membranes. Alternatively, if the effective normal stress between membranes 42, 44 is compressive, then permeable core material 46 is sub­jected to compressive stress which it must be able to withstand without crushing to the extent that the perme­ability of core material 46 is reduced to the point that fluid pressure cannot be distributed throughout the re­gion between membranes 42 and 44.

[0023] A pressurizing means such as a pump (not shown) is used to introduce a pressurized fluid such as air, water, or other environmentally acceptable fluid into the region encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44. The highly permeable core material 46 allows the pressurized fluid to distribute throughout the region encapsulated between membranes 42, 44. To further facilitate distribution of pressurized fluid throughout the region between membranes 42, 44 fluid distribution conduits 58 may be placed within or adja­cent to core material 46. Conduits 58 may comprise slotted or perforated pipes, channels or other conduit material suitable for fluid transmission. If the pres­sure within the region between membranes 42, 44 is main­tained so that it exceeds both P₁ and P₂, then any leakage of fluid through disruptions caused by holes or weld/seam imperfections in either of membranes 42, 44 will consist of escapement of environmentally acceptable pressurizing fluid from the region between membranes 42, 44 into the region which contains fluid l6, or into re­gion 20. More particularly, leakage of fluid l6 into the region between membranes 42, 44 is prevented by maintaining the pressure within that region in excess of P₁, thereby preventing escapement of fluid l6 through liner 38.

[0024] The pressurizing means may alternatively be a floating constant head apparatus (not shown) capable of applying a constant low positive head fluid pressure within the region between membranes 42, 44. Such appar­atus could be allowed to float on the surface of fluid l6 to maintain a small differential overpressure (less than 2 psi.) within the region between membranes 42, 44 independent of the level of fluid l6 above liner 38. This slight overpressure would require only a small cov­erload to be maintained on upper membrane 42 (for exam­ple, by placing a shallow layer of soil or gravel on top of upper membrane 42) sufficient to prevent membranes 42, 44 from separating, in which case the cost and la­bour involved in establishing a mechanical connection between core material 46 and membranes 42, 44 may be avoided.

[0025] In many cases, the pressurized fluid intro­duced into the region between membranes 42, 44 will pre­ferably be a gas such as air so as to ensure uniform pressurization throughout the encapsulated region. Gas pressurization is particularly well suited to situations where a drainage layer such as a leachate collection system of the sort typically employed at land fill sites is installed above the uppermost liner membrane. In such situations, the contained fluid exerts only a low pressure head P₁ on the upper liner surface which can easily be offset by a higher gas pressure within the liner. Gas pressurization is also preferred in situa­tions where introduction of additional fluids of any sort into fluid l6 cannot be permitted; or where intro­ duction of fluid of any sort into region 20 is undesir­able.

[0026] Core material 46 is not essential. One need only ensure that a region of relatively high permeabil­ity is encapsulated between membranes 42, 44. For exam­ple, as an alternative to the provision of core material 46, the inner surfaces of membranes 42, 44 may be chan­nelled as shown in Figure ll. Ridges 90 which separate channels 92 in each of membranes 42, 44 contact one another and hold the membranes away from channels 92, thereby ensuring that contact between the membrane inner surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow within channels 92. It is expected that channelled membrane material may be easily and inexpensively fabricated in large quantities and that liners may be easily and inexpen­sively constructed of such material due to the elimina­tion of the core material. It is also expected that the inner surfaces of channelled membrane material may be more easily and inexpensively connected together to re­sist bursting of the pressurized liner than would be the case if core material were disposed between the mem­branes, since both sides of the core material must be connected to the inner membrane surfaces. Instead of channelling the membrane material as shown in Figure ll, it may be striated, stippled, rippled, or otherwise man­ufactured with a randomly textured surface such that the inner surfaces of adjacent textured membranes are sup­ported away from one another to prevent obstruction of fluid flow within the region encapsulated by the mem­branes.

[0027] A further alternative liner fabrication tech­nique would be to pass a sheet of relatively high per­meability material between a pair of heated rollers to seal the outer surfaces of the material against fluid permeability and then seal the material around its outer edges to encapsulate the high permeability material. Surface sealants or other methods of developing low per­meability characteristics in the outer surfaces could be used instead of passage between heated rollers. In the context of this application the term "low permeability membrane" includes a material surface in which low per­meability characteristics have been developed as afore­said. An advantage of this technique is that it elimin­ates entirely the difficult process of connecting a dis­crete encapsulated high permeability core material to the membrane inner surfaces, or connection of textured membrane inner surfaces to each other.

Techniques for Joining Liner Panels

[0028] Figure 5 provides a more detailed cross-sec­tional side view of a portion of a dual membrane pres­sure barrier liner 38 employing encapsulated core mater­ial 46. Adjacent liner panels 48a, 48b, etc. each com­prise first and second membranes 42, 44 as in the embod­iment of Figure 4. A relatively high permeability core material 46 is encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44 and has first and second surfaces which are preferably (but not necessarily) connected to first and second membranes 42, 44 to resist the effective ten­sile and compressive stresses aforesaid. Adjacent liner panels 48a and 48b are joined together by overlapping and sealing together adjacent edges of the first mem­branes 42 of each of panels 48a and 48b and by overlap­ping and sealing together adjacent edges of the second membranes 44 of each of panels 48a, 48b. This method of joining panels 48a, 48b facilitates fluid communication between the regions between first and second membranes 42, 44 of each of panels 48a, 48b. Such fluid communi­cation enables distribution of pressurized fluid between adjacent liner panels, thereby reducing the need for separate conduits for distributing pressurized fluid throughout the liner. Membranes 42, 44 of the outermost liner panels are sealed together around their outer edges 76 to prevent loss of pressurized fluid and to en­capsulate core material 46.

[0029] Figures 7a through 7f illustrate a variety of alternative techniques by means of which adjacent liner panels 48a, 48b may be joined together. For example, Figure 7b shows a lap joint in which the outer edges of membranes 42, 44 of each panel 48a, 48b are joined to­gether along their inside surfaces before the two panels are joined together by joining the lower surface of the lower membrane 44 of panel 48b to the upper surface of the upper membrane 42, of panel 48a. By injecting pres­surized fluid into the encapsulated region between mem­branes 42, 44 of each of panels 48a, 48b the seal and potential leakage from each panel can be checked and leakage through each panel can be prevented as described above. However, a flow path 22, could exist through the joint between the two panels, through which leakage of fluid l6 into region 20 could occur which would not be prevented or detected by injection of pressurized fluid into the region encapsulated between membranes 42, 44. Accordingly, joints of the type shown in Figure 7b should be avoided in preference to joints of the type shown in Figure 7a and 7c-7f.

[0030] Figures 7c and 7d illustrate the manner in which high permeability material 46 within each of pan­els 48a, 48b may be inwardly recessed to leave a gap 50 between the overlapped, sealed panel edges. The gap serves as a flow conduit for distribution of pressurized fluid throughout the liner. As shown in Figure 7d, gap 50 may be filled with an insert 52 formed of the same high permeability material disposed between the mem­branes comprising each of liner panels 48a, 48b to pro­vide continuity of core material 46. Alternatively, gap 50 may receive a conduit insert which serves as a means for fluid communication between the regions within adja­cent liner panels, as hereinafter explained with refer­ence to Figure 8.

[0031] Figures 7e and 7f illustrate lap joints which may in some situations be preferred to the butt joints illustrated in Figures 7a and 7c through 7d. More par­ticularly, Figure 7e shows how the first membrane 42 of each of liner panels 48a, 48b may comprise a single con­tinuous membrane. The second membranes 44 of each of liner panels 48a, 48b may each then comprise discrete membranes which are overlapped in the manner shown in Figure 7e. The joint shown in Figure 7e isolates and facilitates separate pressurization and testing of the region encapsulated within liner panels 48a and 48b res­pectively. If pressure testing of both encapsulated re­gions (conducted in the manner hereinafter explained) indicates that there are no leaks from either encapsu­lated region, then fluid l6 cannot leak through the liner to region 20. The joint of Figure 7e is therefore advantageous for the prevention and detection of leaks, as compared with the lap joint in Figure 7b and may be used to establish isolated sections (cells) in the liner.

[0032] Figure 7f illustrates a lap joint in which the outer edges of membranes 42, 44 of each of panels 48a and 48b are joined together along their inside surfaces before the two panels are overlapped to produce a third high permeability material filled space 56 between pan­els 48a and 48b. The edges of space 56 are sealed by joining the under surface of the lower membrane 44 of panel 48b to the upper surface of the upper membrane 42 of panel 48a at the outer edges of panel 48b and by joining the upper surface of the upper membrane 42 of panel 48a to the lower surface of the lower membrane 44 of panel 48b at the outer edges of panel 48a as shown at 64. The regions encapsulated within each of panels 48a, 48b and region 56 may each be pressurized to prevent leakage of fluid l6 into region 20 and to facilitate detection (as hereinafter described) of such leakage.

Dual Membrane Depressurized Liner

[0033] Figure 6 illustrates a dual membrane liner which is generally similar to the liner described above with reference to Figures 4 and 5, except that the pres­surizing means is replaced with a depressurizing means such as a vacuum pump (not shown) for depressurizing the region encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44 to pressures below ambient air pressure, and ex­cept that high permeability core material 46, if used, need not be connected to membranes 42, 44 as it prefer­ably (though not necessarily) is if the liner is pres­surized. In the depressurized liner of Figure 6, fluid distribution conduits 58 (which are preferably, although not necessarily provided) function as a liquid drainage means and extend throughout the region between first and second membranes 42, 44. The depressurizing means is coupled to liquid drainage conduit 58 and is operated to maintain the region encapsulated between first and se­cond membranes 42, 44 at a pressure which is less than both P₁ and P₂. Accordingly, any liquids which pass through disruptions caused by holes or seam/weld imper­fections in membranes 42 or 44 are drawn toward drainage conduit 58 and eventually pass into conduit 58, through which they are ultimately removed and/or returned to the containment pond.

[0034] In the absence of water or other liquid fluid pressures on either side of the liner there will still be ambient air pressure acting on the outer surfaces of membranes 42, 44. Depressurization of the region encap­sulated between membranes 42, 44 results in an inflow of air at holes 66 in the membranes, or at seam/weld im­perfections 68, thus preventing or reducing the poten­tial for outflow of liquids. More particularly, fluid l6 cannot escape through the liner into region 20 be­cause the pressure gradient established by the depres­surizing means ensures that any fluid flow through dis­ruptions in the liner will be from the region outside the liner to the region within the liner and ultimately out of that region via drainage conduit 58. Drainage conduit 58 may comprise geotextile, geonet, slotted pipe, "egg crate waffle" molded conduits or channels, sand, gravel, or other suitable known drainage ducts or materials.

[0035] The dual membrane depressurized liner of Fig­ure 6 (and possibly also the dual membrane pressurized liner of Figures 4 and 5) may incorporate first and second layers of geotextile material (not shown) dis­posed above and below the liner to inhibit passage of particulate matter toward the liner which might clog the region encapsulated between the membranes, drainage con­duit 58, the vacuum pump, or otherwise interfere with proper operation of the liner.

Liner Leakage Detection

[0036] Significantly, even very small leakage rates may be detected with the aid of the dual membrane liners of Figures 4-6. For example, in the pressurized liner of Figures 4 and 5, the rate at which pressurizing fluid must be injected into the region encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44 to maintain the pres­sure in that region constantly above P₁ and P₂ is a measure of the rate at which fluid is escaping by leak­age through either of first or second membranes 42, 44. If this leakage rate is sufficiently low then it may not be necessary to operate the pressurizing means continu­ously (although it may in some cases be desirable to couple a liquid drainage means to conduits 58 in order to remove liquids which may accumulate within the liner during periods when the pressurizing means is not oper­ated). Similarly, with regard to the depressurized lin­er of Figure 6, the rate at which the depressurizing means must be operated to maintain the pressure in the region encapsulated between first and second membranes 42, 44 at a constant level which is below P₁ and P₂ is a measure of the rate at which fluid is leaking through either of first or second membranes 42, 44. Here again, if the measured leakage rate is sufficiently low then it will not be necessary to continually operate the depressurizing means to maintain a reduced pressure (i.e. suction) between first and second membranes 42, 44. Suitable pressure sensing means and/or fluid flow rate sensing means may be employed to sense the fluid pressure in to or out of the region between membranes 42, 44 or to sense the rate of fluid flow within that region, thereby providing an indication of the leakage rate. Moreover, fluid flow rate sensing means for sensing fluid flow rates within the encapsulated region may be employed to measure the flow direction and/or velocity of fluid flow within the encapsulated region and thereby pinpoint leaks. A plurality of pressure sensing means may be employed to detect pressure gradi­ents within the encapsulated region as a further leak location technique. A still further leak detection technique would be to pressurize the liner with a de­tectable gas or liquid, and then inspect the liner, or the material above the liner, either visually, or with apparatus specially adapted to detect low concentrations of that gas or liquid, thus assisting in pinpointing leaks. This technique facilitates detection of leakage in liners which are either uncovered or which are cov­ered by liquids or by permeable solids (i.e. the tech­nique may be employed to detect leakage in liners which have been placed in service)

[0037] Dual membrane liners which are ultimately in­tended to operate as either pressurized or depressurized liners may be tested before they are placed in service by pressurizing the encapsulated region (or regions in the case of liners having a plurality of liner panels) and then monitoring the pressurized liner as above to detect leakage therefrom. Upon detection of such leak­age a sealant may be injected into the encapsulated re­gion. The leakage of pressurizing fluid through holes or weld/seam imperfections will carry the sealant to the leakage sites and into the holes or weld/seam imperfec­tions, thereby effectively plugging them. It may be necessary to provide sealant injection points and vents at multiple locations on the liner so that sealant can be applied uniformly throughout the liner.

Connecting Strip

[0038] Figures 8a and 8b illustrate a "conduit means" or connecting strip 60 which may be formed of suitable rigid or semi-rigid material and to which first and second membranes 42, 44 of adjacent liner panels 48a, 48b may be sealed with the aid of suitable mechanical connectors, heat welding, solvent welding, adhesive bonding or other known joining techniques. Connecting strip 60 may include a major aperture 70 which extends longitudinally through conduit 60 and a plurality of branch apertures 72 which extend at an angle to aperture 70. When connecting strip 60 is sealed in place between adjacent liner panels 48a, 48b apertures 70, 72 facili­tate fluid communication between the encapsulated re­gions within each of liner panels 48a, 48b. If aper­tures 70 and 72 are omitted from connecting strip 60 then connecting strip 60 serves as a barrier to flow between the encapsulated regions within each of liner panels 48a, 48b. By joining adjacent liner panels using connecting strips with or without apertures 70, 72 the overall liner can be selectively separated into cells in which the encapsulated regions within particular liner panels are in fluid communication with or, alterna­tively, are isolated from fluid communication with the encapsulated regions within adjacent panels.

[0039] Connecting strip 60 facilitates rapid con­struction of liners and also eases the ordinarily diffi­cult task of joining segments of liner material toge­ther, thus minimizing the occurrence of liner disrup­tions due to imperfect welds and/or seams. Connecting strip 60 may be utilized in either pressurized or de­pressurized liners. That is, pressurizing fluid may be injected through apertures 70, 72 to pressurize liner panels sealed along either side of connecting strip 60. Alternatively, a depressurizing means may be used to depressurize the liner panels by withdrawing fluid from within the liner panels through apertures 70, 72.

[0040] Apertures 72 may in some cases be omitted from either or both sides of connecting strip 60 to prevent fluid communication from aperture 70 to either or both of the liner panels sealed along each side of strip 60. This facilitates isolation of selected liner panels as aforesaid for the establishment of liner cells of dif­ferent pressures, or, if desired, establishment of sep­arate pressurized and depressurized cells within the same liner and even facilitates the use of different pressurizing and/or depressurizing fluids within the same liner. Similarly, as shown in Figure 9a, con­necting strip 60 may be provided with a second longitu­dinal aperture 82 parallel to aperture 70. Aperture 70 may be connected to a series of apertures 72 along one side of strip 60, while aperture 82 is connected to an opposed series of apertures 72 along the opposite side of strip 60. This also facilitates isolation of liner panels sealed along the opposed sides of strip 60 which may then be independently pressurized or depressurized as above.

[0041] Although Figures 8a and 8b show sealing of liner panels 48a, 48b to connecting strip 60 by over­lapping membranes 42, 44 on strip 60 it may in some cases be convenient to seal the edges of liner panels 48a, 48b within grooves provided along opposed sides of an alternative strip 60ʹ as shown in Figures 8c and 8d. For example, if permeable core material 46 extends to the outermost edges of liner panels 48a, 48b then the liner panel edges will be relatively rigid and easily insertable into the grooves for subsequent sealing therein. To add mechanical strength, strips 80 (Figures 9a and 9b) of plastic or other rigid material may be laid over the edges of connecting strips 60 and secured by bolting or riveting through strips 60 and 80. It will also be understood that a plurality of connecting strips 60 may be sealed together in end to end fashion or may be connected or fabricated in "T" or other con­venient shapes so as to facilitate construction of lin­ers of any desired size or shape. Figures l0a and l0b illustrate a liner formed by sealing a plurality of lin­er panels together with connecting strips so as to pro­vided a "custom" liner of a shape and size which will fit a particular containment pond excavation.

[0042] A particular advantage of the invention, as compared with prior art liners employing drainage lay­ers, is that such prior art liners necessitate the pro­vision of a containment pond excavation having a floor which slopes uniformly toward a sump located at the low point of the floor. The cost of constructing such facilities can be high and it is thus expected that con­siderable time, labour and cost may be saved in terms of construction and floor preparation through exploitation of the invention, which does not require a uniformly sloped excavation floor or sump.

[0043] Figure 9c illustrates a connecting strip 60 having grooves along opposed sides thereof for receiving liner panels 48a, 48b in the manner explained above, and also having thin metallic conductor strips 84 which ex­tend along the opposed inner surfaces of each groove to contact membranes 42, 44 of each liner panel. In a pro­cess known as electro-magnetic welding, a short duration pulse of high voltage current is applied to conductor strips 84 to heat them and melt the adjacent portions of membranes 42, 44 which, as they cool, are effectively welded within the connector strip grooves, thereby sim­plifying the time, cost and labour required to secure liner panels 48a, 48b to connector strip 60.

[0044] Figure 9d illustrates a connector strip 60 having staggered lips 6la, 6lb, 63a, 63b along opposite sides of one surface thereof. Lips 6la and 6lb are for sealingly engaging membranes 44 of adjacent liner panels and lips 63a, 63b are for sealingly engaging membranes 42 of the panels. The advantage of this configuration is that the operation of sealing each of membranes 42, 44 to connector strip 60 may be carried out from above the strip - it is not necessary to turn the strip or the partially completed liner over to complete the sealing operation. Strip 60 of Figure 9d is thus very conven­ient to use and assists in minimization of leakage at the juncture of the liner panels and connector strips.

Shingling Construction Technique

[0045] Figure l2 illustrates a "shingling" technique for constructing and progressively testing a liner. This technique is expected to be extremely effective for construction of liners having minimal leakage character­istics. The technique uses overlapping joints to seal sections of membrane material together to form a contin­uous liner having a plurality of encapsulated high per­meability regions segregated from one another. Undesir­able lap joints like that shown in Figure 7b are avoided. A first low permeability membrane l50 is laid above a second low permeability membrane l52 placed upon the floor of the containment pond excavation which is to be lined. Membrane l52 has a larger surface area than membrane l50 (if need be, membrane l52 is constructed by overlappingly sealing, as at l53, two or more sheets of low permeability membrane material). Membrane l50 is joined around its edges to membrane l52 to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability between the two membranes. (If desired, high permeability core material may be placed in the encapsulated region, or the mem­branes may be textured as hereinbefore described. Also, depending upon the pressure to be maintained within the encapsulated region, the inner surfaces of the membranes may be connected together, or connected to any encap­sulated core material, before the membranes are joined around their edges). The encapsulated region is then pressurized and monitored to detect leakage therefrom. Any leaks detected are repaired; if need be by sep­arating the membranes or, if desired, by injecting seal­ant material into the encapsulated region to plug the leaks. Membrane l52 is then extended by sealing an edge thereof to a further section of low permeability mem­brane material as shown at l54. A further section of low permeability membrane material l56 is then sealed to membrane l50 with edge l58 of section l56 overlapping the joint of membranes l50, l52. The remaining edges of membrane l56 are then sealed to the extended lower mem­brane to encapsulate another high permeability region between membrane l56 and the extended lower membrane. The newly encapsulated region is then pressurized, moni­tored for leaks and repaired as required. The process is repeated by further extending the lower membrane and overlapping or "shingling" low permeability membrane sections thereabove until the liner attains its desired size and shape. A particular advantage of this tech­nique is that all membrane sealing operations may be conducted from above the liner, thereby simplifying con­struction. Moreover, if the rightmost edge (as viewed in Figure l2) of each of the upper membrane sections are only temporarily sealed to the lower membrane (i.e. with tape) then the membranes may easily be separated for re­pair if leaks are detected and then permanently re­sealed. However, such temporary sealing may entail problems which outweigh its theoretical advantage afore­said.

[0046] Figure l3 illustrates a connector strip l60 specially adapted to the construction of liners in ac­cordance with the shingling technique of Figure l2. The base of connector strip l60 is sealed directly to the upper surface of lower membrane l52 along the site of the desired joint. The upper surface of membrane l50 is then sealed to the undersurface of lip l62 which pro­jects to the left of strip l60 as viewed in Figure l3. Membrane l56 and any encapsulated core material 46 is then laid over the top of strip l60 and joint l58 is made by sealing the undersurface of membrane l56 to the upper surface of membrane l50.

Multiple Cell Dual Membrane Liner

[0047] Figures l0a and l0b show how the bottom of a containment pond may be lined with a low cost dual mem­brane liner l00 comprised of membranes which need not be mechanically connected to each other or to any high per­meability core material which may be encapsulated be­tween the membranes. Bottom liner l00 is joined, around its edges, to a plurality of liner panels or cells l02, l04, l06 and l08 laid against the sloping side walls of the containment pond (liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 are each "L" shaped as viewed in Figure l0a). Side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 preferably comprise dual membranes which are mechanically connected to each other or to any high permeability core material which may be encapsulated between the membranes. A low pres­sure coverload applied to pond bottom liner l00 by a thin covering layer of granular material ll0 prevents the opposed membranes comprising pond bottom liner l00 from separating. Moreover, if the density of the pres­surizing fluid within side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 is about the same as the density of the fluid to be contained by the liner (assuming pressuriza­tion of the side wall liner panels) then only a small positive differential pressure head need be maintained within the side wall liner panels and the mechanical connection between the membranes comprising the side wall liner panels or between those membranes and any high permeability core material within the side wall liner panels need only be capable of resisting relative­ly small tensile forces, which implies lower cost as well.

[0048] Note that the individual liner panels l00, l02, l04, l06 and l08 may be independently pressurized or depressurized. For example, a low pressure device such as floating low positive differential pressure head device ll2 may be used to pressurize pond bottom liner l00 via flexible hoses ll4 coupled to conduits within connecting strips ll6 which join together liner panels l00a, l00b, l00c and l00d which together comprise pond bottom liner l00; while a vacuum pump (not shown) is used to depressurize side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 via line ll8, conduit l20 which encircles the outer periphery of the containment pond and conduits l22, l24, l26 and l28 coupled, respectively, to conduits within connecting strips l30, l32, l34 and l36 which join together liner panels l02a, l02b; l04a, l04b; l06a, l06b; and, l08a, l08b which together comprise side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 respectively. Pond bottom liner l00 is joined around its outer periphery to each of side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 by connecting strip l38 which has no conduit therewithin, thereby ensuring that the bottom and side wall liners may be maintained at different pressures. Similarly, there is no need for conduits within connecting strips l39 used to join the outer edges of side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 together, since connecting strips l39 function primarily to provide a substantial outer border for the liner. Note however that con­necting strips l40 used to join adjacent edges of side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 to one another do contain conduits to facilitate pressure equalization throughout the side wall liner panels.

[0049] Water will be a preferred pressurizing fluid in many applications, due to its neutral environmental impact and due to the fact that its density will often approximate that of the fluid which is to be contained. However, portions of a water pressurized liner which are exposed above the surface of the fluid contained by the liner may freeze. To circumvent this problem a compo­site liner having a lower portion (i.e. that portion which will remain beneath the surface of the fluid to be contained by the liner) comprised of water pressurized liner panels and having an upper portion comprised of depressurized (i.e. non-liquid containing) or air pres­surized liner panels may be employed. For example, pond bottom liner l00 shown in Figures l0a and l0b may be pressurized with water supplied via device ll2, while side wall liner panels l02, l04, l06 and l08 are air pressurized or depressurized. The capability to divide the liner into discrete panels or cells which may be in­ dependently pressurized or depressurized is thus a sig­nificant advantage.

[0050] It is also expected that composite liners con­structed in accordance with the invention will be well suited to situations in which the fluid pressure upon the uppermost liner membrane is relatively small due to the incorporation of a fluid drainage/removal system above the liner. In such circumstances a low head air overpressure could be applied to prevent leakage through the liner. The advantage of using air as the liner pressurizing fluid in this case is that its low density results in an essentially uniform low pressure within the liner. If water were for example used as the liner pressurizing fluid then increased overpressures would result within the liner at lower elevations.

Multiple Membrane Liners

[0051] Dual membrane liners of the type hereinbefore described may be stacked one above the other to con­struct multiple membrane liners such that only a single common membrane separates the high permeability regions encapsulated by adjacent membranes. For example, Figure l4 illustrates a triple membrane liner 200 having first, second and third low permeability flexible membranes 202, 204 and 206 disposed one above the other. Mem­branes 202, 204 encapsulate a first high permeability region 208 and membranes 204, 206 encapsulate a second high permeability region 2l0. The shingling technique described above with reference to Figure l2 is used to extend the liner of Figure l4 by joining low permeabil­ity membranes 2l2, 2l4 and 2l6 to membranes 202, 204 and 206 respectively, thereby encapsulating high permeabil­ity regions 2l8 and 220 between membranes 2l2, 2l4 and 2l4, 2l6 respectively. Additional membranes are added as required until the liner attains its desired size and shape. The triple membrane liner of Figure l4 provides an added measure of security in comparison to the dual membrane liners hereinbefore described and also facili­tates leakage detection as hereinafter described.

[0052] Figure l5 shows how the triple liner of Figure l4 may be extended to yield a quadruple membrane liner 222 by employing the shingling technique hereinbefore described to join additional low permeability membranes 224 and 226 atop membranes 202, 204, 206 and 2l2, 2l4, 2l6 respectively, thus providing a further measure of security and further facilitating liner leakage detec­tion as hereinafter described.

[0053] It will thus be understood that a multiple membrane liner may be constructed by providing a first plurality of low permeability flexible membranes dis­posed one atop the other to encapsulate regions of rela­tively high permeability between each adjacent pair of membranes. Each one of the membranes in the first plur­ality can be extended horizontally as required by join­ing corresponding membranes of a second plurality of low permeability membranes beside that one membrane. The extended membranes lie atop one another to encapsulate further regions of relatively high permeability between each vertically adjacent pair of membranes. It will be understood that construction of a multiple membrane liner having "N" high permeability regions disposed one above the other requires "N+l" low permeability mem­branes.

[0054] Figure l6 illustrates how the connecting strip hereinbefore described may be adapted to the construc­ tion of multiple membrane liners. More particularly, Figure l6 illustrates a connecting strip 228 having staggered lips 230, 232, 234 and 236 which may be af­fixed, respectively, to the upper surfaces of low perme­ability membranes 202, 204, 206 and 224 of low perme­ability membrane 222 shown in Figure l5. Such affixa­tion may be by means of welds as shown at 238 in Figure l6. Connecting strip 228 is provided with a series of major apertures 240, 242 and 244 each having branch ap­ertures 240a, 240b; 242a, 242b; and, 244a, 244b. When connecting strip 228 is sealed in place between adjacent panels of a quadruple membrane liner, apertures 240, 242 and 244 together with their respective branch apertures facilitate fluid communication between the high permea­bility regions encapsulated between each adjacent pair of low permeability membranes. This in turn facilitates selective pressurization, depressurization or non-pres­surization of the high permeability regions. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that con­necting strips like that illustrated in Figure l6 may be adapted to the construction of composite multiple mem­brane liners having groups of cells which may be selec­tively pressurized, depressurized or left non-pressur­ized to accomodate specific operating and leak detection objectives by isolating cell groups as aforesaid.

[0055] Figure. l7 illustrates how the inner membrane surfaces of the triple membrane liner 200 of Figure l4 may be channeled or otherwise textured as described above with reference to Figure ll to avoid obstruction of fluid flow between adjacent low permeability mem­branes.

[0056] Figures l8a and l8b show two stages in the construction of a triple membrane liner. More particu­ larly, Figure l8a shows how a dual membrane liner 246 is first constructed in accordance with the shingling tech­nique described above with reference to Figure l2. Be­fore construction proceeds further, each of the high permeability regions encapsulated within dual membrane liner 246 is pressurized to a selected pressure and the regions are then monitored to ensure that they each sus­tain that pressure. If any region fails to sustain the pressure then the two membranes which encapsulate the leaking region are carefully inspected for leaks which are repaired. The pressurization, leakage monitoring, inspection and repair steps are then repeated until all high permeability regions in the dual membrane liner will sustain the selected pressure. It is also advanta­geous to depressurize each of the high permeability re­gions encapsulated within dual membrane liner 246 to a selected pressure, monitor the regions to ensure that they maintain the selected pressure and inspect or re­pair any leaks until all high permeability regions can sustain the selected vacuum pressure. This over and under pressure construction testing technique has the advantage of applying a positive pressure differential to the liner membranes in both inwards and outwards directions. This may reveal leaks which may not be evi­dent under a single pressure differential. The testing verifies the integrity of both liner membranes and all perimeter and intermediate seams of the dual membrane liner. If any particular high permeability region does not maintain the selected test pressure then all of its perimeter welds are easily accessible and can be thor­oughly inspected and all leaks therein identified and repaired.

[0057] Once the dual membrane liner of Figure l8a has been successfully constructed and tested as aforesaid a third low permeability membrane 248 may be added atop dual membrane liner 246 as shown in Figure l8b. All seams used to weld membrane 248 to dual membrane liner 246 are readily accessible and may be thoroughly in­spected and tested by the over/under pressurization technique described above. Further low permeability membranes may then be added atop dual membrane liner 246 and adjacent membrane 248 to extend the liner as re­quired to yield a triple membrane liner of desired size and shape having very secure leakage prevention charac­teristics.

[0058] Those skilled in the art will understand that the same technique may be employed to add still further low permeability membranes atop the triple membrane liner just described to yield a high security multiple membrane liner having "N" high permeability regions en­capsulated one atop the other by "N+l" low permeability membranes.

[0059] One limitation of a dual membrane liner is that once leakage therefrom is detected (for example, by a need to introduce increased quantities of pressurizing fluid in order to maintain the pressure within the en­capsulated high permeability region at a selected level) there is no way of determining which of the upper or lower membranes (or both) are leaking. However, a mul­tiple membrane liner may be operated in a manner which facilitates detection of specific leaking membranes. For example, a detectable fluid may be injected into an encapsulated high permeability region which has failed to maintain a test pressure; and a partial vacuum may be applied to the vertically adjacent high permeability re­gion(s). If the detectable fluid is detected in the drainage from the region(s) to which partial vacuum is applied, then it can be concluded that the membrane be­tween the region into which the detectable fluid was in­jected and the region from which the detectable fluid was drained is leaking. If no detectable fluid is de­tected in the drainage from a particular adjacent region then it can be concluded that the membrane between that particular region and the region into which the detect­able fluid was injected is not leaking. A further dis­advantage of a dual membrane liner is illustrated with reference to Figure l9 which shows a dual membrane liner comprising upper and lower membranes 250, 252 which de­sirably prevents contained fluid 254 from passing into the region 256 beneath the liner. If the high permea­bility region encapsulated between membranes 250, 252 is depressurized and if leaks occur in both membranes then fluids may be drawn into the encapsulated high permea­bility region and mixed. Such mixing may be undesir­able. If the high permeability region encapsulated be­tween membranes 250, 252 is pressurized, then the pres­surizing fluid (either liquid or gas) will be forced out of the high permeability region through the membrane leaks and into the containment pond 254 or into the un­derlying region 256, or both, thus allowing pressurizing fluid to mix with fluid in pond 254 and to mix with ground water in region 256. In either case, such mixing may be undesirable.

[0060] Figure 20 shows how a quadruple membrane liner 258 may replace the liner of Figure l9 to prevent such undesirable fluid mixing. Quadruple membrane liner 258 encapsulates three separate high permeability regions 260, 262 and 264 respectively. The outer regions 260, 264 are depressurized. The inner region 262 is either pressurized or it may remain non-pressurized. Even if leaks occur in all four of the membranes comprising quadruple membrane liner 258 it is still possible to maintain complete segregation of contained fluid 254 and fluid from the region 256 beneath the liner. Speci­fically, with a partial vacuum applied to each of re­gions 260, 264 air is drawn from region 262 through the leaking membranes which encapsulate it, thus preventing flow of fluid 254 (which leaks through the uppermost membrane into region 264) or flow of fluids from region 256. (which leak into region 260 through disruptions in the lowermost liner membrane) into region 262. More­over, fluid 254 which leaks into region 264 may be drained therefrom and returned to the containment pond (or otherwise handled). Similarly, fluid which leaks into region 260 from region 256 may be drained from re­gion 260, analyzed to confirm that it is uncontaminated and then returned to region 256.

[0061] Figure 2l illustrates a triple membrane liner in which high permeability regions 268 and 270 are both depressurized with the degree of vacuum in region 270 exceeding that in region 268. Should leaks occur in all three low permeability membranes comprising liner 266 then fluid from region 256 is drawn into region 268 and some of that fluid may pass into region 270 as illus­trated at 272. However, fluid 254 can only pass into region 270 due to the pressure differential between re­gions 268 and 270. Analysis of the fluids drained from regions 268 and 270 facilitate confirmation that fluid 254 has not passed into region 268 and that there is ac­cordingly no potential for escapement of fluid 254 into region 256.

[0062] Figure 22 illustrates a triple membrane liner 274 having encapsulated high permeability regions 276 and 278 which are both pressurized; the pressure in re­ gion 276 exceeding that in region 278. The contained fluid 254 and fluids in region 256 are both prevented from flowing into regions 276 and 278 by the pressure differential (i.e. the pressures in region 276 and 278 are established such that they exceed the fluid pres­sures exerted on liner 274 by fluid 254 or fluids in re­gion 256). Moreover, fluid flow from region 278 into region 276 is prevented because the pressure in region 276 exceeds that in region 278. Thus there is a double measure of protection against leakage of fluid 254 into region 256. Fluid in region 278 may be sampled and tested for contamination by fluid 254. If no contamina­tion is detected then it may be concluded that fluid 254 is unable to escape through liner 274 into region 256. If contamination is found in region 278 then the fluid in region 276 may be sampled and tested. If it is found to be uncontaminated then there is still no potential of escapement of fluid 254 into region 256.

[0063] Figure 23 shows a triple membrane liner 280 which encapsulates high permeability regions 282 and 284 respectively. A pressurizing means is used to pressur­ize region 282 and a depressurizing means is used to de­pressurize region 284. Double protection against leak­age of fluid 254 into region 256 is thus again provided by the dual pressure differential created across the in­terior low permeability membrane 286. The fluid in re­gion 282 may be sampled and tested to confirm that there is no leakage of fluid 254 into region 282. All the ad­vantages of a pressurized liner may be obtained in re­gion 282 without leakage of the pressurizing fluid into the zone which contains fluid 254.

[0064] In certain situations it may be necessary or desirable to facilitate fluid drainage from beneath or above a multiple membrane liner, for example either to prevent uplift of the liner in the event of a rapid draw down of the liquid level in the containment zone, or to effect leachate collection from within the containment zone. Figure 24 illustrates a portion of a multiple membrane liner which provides a capability for under drainage. To construct a multiple membrane liner with an integral under drain, a high permeability membrane 288 is disposed beneath the lowermost low permeability membrane 290 of the multiple membrane liner. High per­meability membrane 288 may be formed of any membrane material which is structurally stable such that it will not migrate into the high permeability region 292 cre­ated between membranes 288 and 290. Application of a suction to region 292 will result in evacuation and drainage of that region, preventing uplift pressures on membrane 290 and on the multiple membrane liner in gen­eral. Similarly, a high permeability membrane may be disposed above the uppermost membrane of a multiple mem­brane liner to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability between the high permeability membrane and the uppermost low permeability membrane of the liner. The high permeability region so encapsulated may then serve as a dewatering layer. In some situations it may be desirable to provide high permeability membranes both above and below a multiple membrane liner.

Multiple Membrane Liner Leakage Detection

[0065] A technique for detecting leaks during con­struction of a multiple membrane liner is described above. A generalized technique for detecting leaks in an operating multiple membrane liner will now be described in the context of a quadruple membrane liner which encapsulates high permeability regions "l", "2" and "3".

[0066] The test begins by pressurizing (or depressur­izing) high permeability region l to a selected pressure or by injecting it with a detectable fluid. High perme­ability region l is then monitored to see if it will sustain the selected pressure or contain the detectable fluid. If the test is successful (i.e. if the pressure is sustained or the fluid contained) then it may be con­cluded that both the membranes which encapsulate high permeability region l and their interconnecting seams are sound. If the test fails then it may be concluded that either or both membranes, or one or more of their interconnecting seams are leaking.

[0067] High permeability region 2 is then tested in similar fashion. If the test is successful then it may be concluded that the low permeability membranes which encapsulate high permeability region 2 are both sound. Moreover, if the test of high permeability region 2 is successful but the test of high permeability region l fails then it may be concluded that the outermost mem­brane encapsulating high permeability region l (i.e. the membrane which is not also common to encapsulation of high permeability region 2) is leaking. If the test of high permeability region 2 is unsuccessful and if the test of high permeability region l succeeded then it may be concluded that the outermost membrane encapsulating high permeability region 2 (i.e. the membrane which is not common to encapsulation of high permeability region l) is leaking. If the tests of both regions l and 2 fail then it may be concluded that the common membrane, or two of the three membranes which together encapsulate regions l and 2 are leaking. The test then proceeds as follows.

[0068] High permeability regions l and 2 are tested together by pressurizing them to a selected pressure or by injecting them with a detectable fluid. If the test is successful (i.e. the regions together sustain the selected pressure or contain the detectable fluid) then it may be concluded that the outermost low permeability membranes are sound and that the innermost membrane (i.e. the membrane which is common to encapsulation of both regions) is leaking. If regions l and 2 together fail the test then testing proceeds on high permeability region 3.

[0069] High permeability region 3 is tested by pres­surizing it to a selected pressure or by injecting it with a detectable fluid. If the test is passed (i.e. if high permeability region 3 sustains the selected pressure or contains the detectable fluid) then it may be concluded that the two membranes which encapsulate high permeability region 3, and their interconnecting seams, are both sound. Moreover, if the test of region l was passed and the test of region 2 failed then it may be concluded that there is a leak in the perimeter seams of region 2. Alternatively, if the test of region 3 fails and if the test of region 2 passed then it may be concluded that the outermost low permeability membrane (i.e. the membrane which is not common to encapsulation of regions 2 and 3) is leaking. Furthermore, if the test of region 3 fails and if the tests of regions l and 2 also failed then it may be concluded that the membrane common to encapsulation of regions 2 and 3; or any three of the four low permeability membranes are leaking. Testing then proceeds as follows.

[0070] Regions l, 2 and 3 are tested together by pressurizing them to a selected pressure or by injecting them with a detectable fluid. If the test passes then it may be concluded that both of the interior membranes (i.e. the membranes common to encapsulation of regions l and 2 and encapsulation of regions 2 and 3 respectively) are leaking.

[0071] It will be noted that the foregoing procedure facilitates isolation of the leaking membrane(s) only if at least one high permeability region successfully passes the test. If all regions fail the test then it is not possible to determine whether all or all but one of the low permeability membranes are leaking. However, this condition is considered relatively unusual and suf­ficiently catastrophic that a major overhaul of the liner would be desirable in any event.

[0072] As an alternative testing procedure, one may inject a detectable gas or fluid into a particular high permeability region and then attempt to withdraw that gas or fluid from an adjacent high permeability region by applying a partial vacuum to the adjacent region. If no gas or fluid is withdrawn from the adjacent region then it can be concluded that the membrane separating the two regions is not leaking. Note that it is possi­ble that the membrane separating the two regions is not leaking even though either one of the two regions, or the two regions together, fail to maintain a test pres­sure; due to leakage of other membranes encapsulating the regions in question.

[0073] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the foregoing disclosure, many altera­tions and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance de­fined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A liner, comprising:

(a) a first plurality of low permeability flexible membranes disposed one above the other;

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each adjacent pair of said membranes; and,

(c) pressurizing means for pressurizing a selected group of said high permeability regions to a selected pressure or pressures.

2. A liner, comprising:

(a) a first plurality of low permeability flexible membranes disposed one above the other;

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each adjacent pair of said membranes; and,

(c) depressurizing means for depressurizing a selected group of said high permeability re­gions to a selected pressure or pressures.

3. A liner, comprising:

(a) a first plurality of low permeability flexible membranes disposed one above the other;

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each adjacent pair of said membranes;

(c) pressurizing means for pressurizing a first group of said high permeability regions to a selected pressure or pressures; and,

(d) depressurizing means for depressurizing a second group of said high permeability regions to a selected pressure or pressures.

4. A liner as defined in claim l, wherein said regions contain a relatively high permeability mater­ial.

5. A liner as defined in claim 2, wherein said regions contain a relatively high permeability material.

6. A liner as defined in claim 3, wherein said regions contain a relatively high permeability material.

7. A liner, as defined in claim l, further com­prising:

(a) a relatively high permeability flexible mem­brane disposed outside the outermost of said low permeability membranes to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability between said high permeability membrane and at least one outer surface of said liner;

(b) a relatively high permeability material within said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface;

(c) depressurizing means for depressurizing said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface; and,

(d) drainage means for withdrawing liquids from within said region between said high permea­bility membrane and said outer surface.

8. A liner, as defined in claim 2, further com­prising:

(a) a relatively high permeability flexible mem­brane disposed outside the outermost of said low permeability membranes to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability between said high permeability membrane and at least one outer surface of said liner;

(b) a relatively high permeability material within said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface;

(c) depressurizing means for depressurizing said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface; and,

(d) drainage means for withdrawing liquids from within said region between said high permea­bility membrane and said outer surface.

9. A liner, as defined in claim 3, further com­prising:

(a) a relatively high permeability flexible mem­brane disposed outside the outermost of said low permeability membranes to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability between said high permeability membrane and at least one outer surface of said liner;

(b) a relatively high permeability material within said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface;

(c) depressurizing means for depressurizing said region between said high permeability membrane and said outer surface; and,

(d) drainage means for withdrawing liquids from within said region between said high permea­bility membrane and said outer surface.

l0. A liner as defined in claim 4, wherein said high permeability material is connected to the adjacent membranes which encapsulate said material.

11. A liner as defined in claim 6, wherein said high permeability material is connected to the adjacent membranes which encapsulate said material.

12. A liner as defined in claim l, wherein said membrane surfaces are textured such that contact between said surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow within said regions.

13. A liner as defined in claim 2, wherein said membrane surfaces are textured such that contact between said surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow within said regions.

14. A liner as defined in claim 3, wherein said membrane surfaces are textured such that contact between said surfaces does not obstruct fluid flow within said regions.

15. A liner as defined in claim l2, wherein the adjacent surfaces of membranes which encapsulate said regions are connected together.

16. A liner as defined in claim l4, wherein the adjacent surfaces of membranes which encapsulate said regions are connected together.

17. A liner as defined in claim 2, further com­prising drainage means extending within a selected group of said regions, for withdrawing liquids from within said regions.

18. A liner as defined in claim 3, further com­prising drainage means extending within a selected group of said regions, for withdrawing liquids from within said regions.

19. A liner as defined in claim l, further com­prising:

(a) for each one of said first plurality of mem­branes, a corresponding membrane of a second plurality of low permeability membranes dis­posed beside said one membrane; and,

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each vertically adja­cent pair of said second plurality of mem­branes.

20. A liner as defined in claim 2, further com­prising:

(a) for each one of said first plurality of mem­branes, a corresponding membrane of a second plurality of low permeability membranes dis­posed beside said one membrane; and,

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each vertically adja­cent pair of said second plurality of mem­branes.

2l. A liner as defined in claim 3, further com­prising:

(a) for each one of said first plurality of mem­branes, a corresponding membrane of a second plurality of low permeability membranes dis­posed beside said one membrane; and,

(b) separate regions of relatively high permeabil­ity encapsulated between each vertically adja­cent pair of said second plurality of mem­branes.

22. A liner as defined in claim l9, further com­prising connector means for sealingly connecting edges of said membranes disposed beside one another.

23. A liner as defined in claim 22, wherein said connector means is further for selective fluid communi­cation between encapsulated high permeability regions.

24. A liner as defined in claim 20, further com­prising connector means for sealingly connecting edges of said membranes disposed beside one another.

25. A liner as defined in claim 24, wherein said connector means is further for selective fluid communi­cation between encapsulated high permeability regions.

26. A liner as defined in claim 2l, further com­prising connector means for sealingly connecting edges of said membranes disposed beside one another.

27. A liner as defined in claim 26, wherein said connector means is further for selective fluid communi­cation between encapsulated high permeability regions.

28. A liner as defined in claim l, wherein said pressurizing means comprises a floating constant head apparatus for floating in fluid contained by said liner and for applying a constant low positive differential pressure head within said selected group of high permea­bility regions.

29. A liner as defined in claim 2, wherein said depressurizing means comprises a vacuum pump.

30. A liner as defined in claim 3, wherein said pressurizing means comprises a floating constant head apparatus for floating in fluid contained by said liner and for applying a constant low positive differential pressure head within said first group of high permeabil­ity regions.

3l. A liner as defined in claim 3, wherein said depressurizing means comprises a vacuum pump.

32. A method of constructing a liner, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a first low permeability membrane above a second low permeability membrane;

(b) joining said first membrane around its edges to said second membrane to encapsulate a re­gion of relatively high permeability therebe­tween;

(c) extending said second membrane by overlap­pingly sealing an edge thereof to an edge of a further section of low permeability membrane material;

(d) placing another section of low permeability membrane material above said second membrane and overlapped with a joint or joints estab­lished during step (b) and/or step (c);

(e) joining said other section around its edges to membranes adjacent thereunder to encapsulate a further region of relatively high permeability between said other section and said membranes adjacent thereunder; and,

(f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until said liner attains its desired size and shape.

33. A method of testing for leakage of a liner during construction of said liner, said method com­prising the steps of:

(a) disposing first and second low permeability membranes one above the other to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability there­between;

(b) pressurizing or depressurizing said high per­meability region to a selected pressure;

(c) monitoring the pressure within said region;

(d) if said region sustains said selected pres­sure; thereby determining that said membranes are not leaking;

(e) if said region fails to sustain said selected pressure, then inspecting the uppermost of said membranes to locate leaks therein and re­pairing said leaks;

(f) repeating steps (b) through (d);

(g) if said region fails to maintain said selected pressure, then inspecting the lowermost of said membranes to locate leaks therein and repairing said leaks;

(h) disposing a further low permeability membrane above the uppermost of said membranes to en­capsulate a further high permeability region between said further and uppermost membranes;

(i) repeating steps (b) through (e) with respect to said further high permeability region; and,

(j) repeating steps (h) and (i) until said liner comprises a selected plurality of low permea­bility membranes disposed one above the other with separate regions of relatively high per­meability encapsulated between each adjacent pair of said membranes.

34. A method of testing for leakage of a liner during construction of said liner, said method com­prising the steps of:

(a) disposing first and second low permeability membranes one above the other to encapsulate a region of relatively high permeability there­between;

(b) injecting a detectable fluid into said high permeability region;

(c) monitoring said region for escape of said fluid therefrom;

(d) if said region contains said fluid, thereby determining that said membranes are not leaking;

(e) if said region fails to contain said fluid, then inspecting the uppermost of said mem­branes to locate leaks therein and repairing said leaks;

(f) repeating steps (b) through (d);

(g) if said region fails to contain said fluid, then inspecting the lowermost of said mem­branes to locate leaks therein and repairing said leaks;

(h) disposing a further low permeability membrane above the uppermost of said membranes to en­capsulate a further high permeability region between said further and uppermost membranes;

(i) repeating steps (b) through (e) with respect to said further high permeability region; and,

(j) repeating steps (h) and (i) until said liner comprises a selected plurality of low perme­ability membranes disposed one above the other with separate regions of relatively high per­meability encapsulated between each adjacent pair of said membranes.

35. A method of testing for leakage of a liner comprising "N+l" low permeability membranes disposed one above the other to encapsulate separate regions "l", "2", ..., "N" of relatively high permeability between each adjacent pair of said membranes, said method com­prising the steps of:
for "I" = l through "I" = "N":

(a) pressurizing or depressurizing the region "I" encapsulated by membranes "I" and "I+l" to a selected pressure;

(b) monitoring the pressure within said region "I";

(c) if said region "I" sustains said pressure, thereby determining that said membranes "I" and "I+l" are not leaking;

(d) if said region "I" sustains said pressure, and if the region "I-2" encapsulated by membranes "I-2" and "I-l" sustained said pressure, and if the region "I-l" encapsulated by membranes "I-l" and "I" failed to sustain said pressure, thereby determining that the perimeter seams of said membranes "I-l" and "I" are leaking;

(e) if said region "I" fails to sustain said pres­sure, and if said region "I-l" sustained said pressure, thereby determining that said mem­brane "I+l" is leaking;

(f) if said region "I" failed to sustain said pressure, and if said region "I-2" failed to sustain said pressure, and if said region "I-l" failed to sustain said pressure, thereby determining that two or more of said membranes "I-l", "I" or "I+l" are leaking;

(g) pressurizing together any group of adjacent regions which failed to sustain said pres­sure;

(h) if said adjacent regions together sustain said pressure, thereby determining that the outer­most two membranes of said group are not leaking, and that all membranes between said two membranes are leaking;

(i) if said adjacent regions together fail to sus­tain said pressure, incrementing "I" by one and repeating steps (a) through (h); and,

(j) if region "I+l" encapsulated by membranes "I+l" and "I+2" sustains said pressure, and if regions "I", "I-l", ..., "l" each failed to sustain said pressure, thereby determining that said membranes "I+l" and "I+2" are not leaking and that membranes "l", "2", ..., "I-l" and "I" are all leaking.

36. A method of testing for leakage of a liner comprising "N+l" low permeability membranes disposed one above the other to encapsulate separate regions "l", "2", ..., "N" of relatively high permeability between each adjacent pair of said membranes, said method com­prising the steps of:
for "I" = l through "I" = "N":

(a) injecting a detectable fluid into the region "I" encapsulated by membranes "I" and "I+l";

(b) monitoring said region "I" for escape of said fluid therefrom;

(c) if said region "I" contains said fluid, there­by determining that said membranes "I" and "I+l" are not leaking;

(d) if said region "I" contains said fluid, and if the region "I-2" encapsulated by membranes "I-2" and "I-l" contained said fluid, and if the region "I-l" encapsulated by membranes "I-l" and "I" failed to contain said fluid, thereby determining that the perimeter seams of said membranes "I-l" and "I" are leaking;

(e) if said region "I" fails to contain said fluid, and if said region "I-l" contained said fluid, thereby determining that said membrane "I+l" is leaking;

(f) if said region "I" fails to contain said fluid, and if said region "I-2" failed to con­tain said fluid, and if said region "I-l" failed to contain said fluid, thereby deter­mining that two or more of said membranes "I-l", "I" or "I+l" are leaking;

(g) injecting said detectable fluid into any group of adjacent regions which failed to contain said fluid;

(h) if said adjacent regions together contain said fluid, thereby determining that the outermost two membranes of said group are not leaking, and that all membranes between said two mem­branes are leaking;

(i) if said adjacent regions together fail to con­tain said fluid, incrementing "I" by one and repeating steps (a) through (h); and,

(j) if region "I+l" encapsulated by membranes "I+l" and "I+2" contains said fluid, and if regions "I", "I-l", ..., "l" each failed to contain said fluid, thereby determining that said membranes "I+l" and "I+2" are not leaking and that membranes "l", "2", ..., "I-l" and "I" are all leaking.

37. A method of testing for leakage of a liner comprising "N+l" low permeability membranes disposed one above the other to encapsulate separate regions "l", "2", ..., "N" of relatively high permeability between each adjacent pair of said membranes, said method com­prising the steps of:
for "I" = 2 through "I" = "N-l":

(a) injecting a detectable fluid into the region "I" encapsulated by membranes "I" and "I+l";

(b) depressurizing the region "I-l" encapsulated by membranes "I" and "I-l" to withdraw fluids therefrom;

(c) depressurizing the region "I+l" encapsulated by membranes "I+l" and "I+2" to withdraw fluids therefrom;

(d) if said detectable fluid is withdrawn from said region "I-l", thereby determining that said membrane "I" is leaking; and,

(e) if said detectable fluid is withdrawn from said region ʺI+lʺ, thereby determining that said membrane "I+l" is leaking.

Drawing