Lecture 7 Landfill Gas and Operations PDF

CHE 191-1: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
LECTURE 7:
Landfill Gas and Operations
LECTURE 7: LANDFILL GAS AND OPERATIONS
Landfill Gas
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the importance of capturing landfill gas, and describe

the methods for controlling gaseous emissions
2. Discuss the various methods of capturing and utilizing landfill

gas
Predicting Gas Production
 It is essential to estimate the volume and composition of gas

produced from an operating or closed landfill.
 The following are the parameters needed to estimate gas

production:
 Gas yield per unit weight of waste
 Lag time prior to gas production
 Shape of the gas production curve
 Duration of gas production
Ball park estimates
 In theory, biological decomposition of 1 ton of MSW produces

442 m3 of landfill gas containing 55% CH4 and a heat value of
19,730 kJ/m3.
 Because of the non-biodegradable fraction of the waste, the

actual average methane yield is 100 m3/MT.
Gas control
 Landfill gas may vent naturally or be directed to the

atmosphere by engineered controls which may be categorized
as either:
 Passive systems
 Active systems
Passive gas control systems
 Rely on natural pressure and convection to vent landfill gas
 May be:
 High permeability
 Low permeability techniques
Passive high permeability systems
 Incorporate pathways such as trenches, vent walls, or

perforated pipe vents surrounded by coarse material to vent
landfill gas to the surface.
Passive low permeability systems
 Low permeability systems block lateral migration via barriers

such as synthetic membranes and clayey soils.
Active systems
 Active gas control systems employ some mechanical means to

remove landfill gas and consist of either
 Positive pressure (air injection)
 Negative pressure (extraction)

Potential problems in as recovery systems
1. The extraction must be completed in a difficult environment

(differential settlement, pipe failure thru sag development, failure
at the condensate outlets)
2. Condensate blockage in header pipes.
3. The extraction system must balance where the gas is being

pumped from, in accordance with the spatial variability in the
gas generation rates.
4. Existence of substantial water makes extraction very

difficult.
5. Air can intrude because of suction pressures thru the landfill

surface.
6. Breaks in collection lines allow air intrusion, causing

deterioration
Landfill gas pre-processing
1. Condensate removal
2. Particulate removal
3. Dehydration of the gas
4. Carbon dioxide removal
5. Hydrogen sulfide removal
6. Nitrogen removal
Options for landfill gas utilization
1. Incineration – combustion as-extracted
2. Low BTU gas – process removes only free moisture,

unrefined or raw
3. Medium BTU gas – compression, removal of moisture and

heavy-end HCs
Options for landfill gas utilization
4. High BTU gas – requires removal of all moisture, trace

gases and CO2.
5. High BTU gas/ CO2 recovery – Same as high BTU gas but
incorporates CO2 recovery.
6. Chemical products – cleanup processes involve conversion

of landfill gas (LFG) into chemical fractions such as methanol.
Incineration
 Incineration of landfill gas is a control measure intended to

limit the gas migration from a landfill site and to mitigate
landfill gas odors that are a result of emissions to the
atmosphere.
 Active gas collection system is used without energy

recovery
Low BTU gas
 Use as a heating fuel
 Uses for a steam boiler to generate electricity
 For cement kilns or other heat-demanding industries

Medium BTU gas
 Has half the heating content of natural gas
 Sale to industry/utility
 Steam production
 Power generation
 Internal combustion engines
 Gas turbines
High BTU gas
 Sale to natural gas pipelines
 Possible use in vehicles
 CO2 recovery
Landfill gas conversion to power
1. Reciprocating engine (0.7-3 MW per unit)
2. Gas turbines (0.7-3 MW per unit)
3. Steam turbines
4. Combined cycle
Reciprocating engines
 Experience has shown that contaminants in landfill gas can

produce rapid engine wear sufficient to cause engine failure
for operating times as little as 10 to 30 days.
 Engine corrosion can be reduced by dehydrating the gas

with a refrigerated dryer.
Gas turbines
 Inherently more resistant to corrosive effects from landfill gas

because of the high temperature alloys used.
 Lower emissions
 Has a dual oil system to prevent shutdown
 Simpler to operate
 Higher operating cost

 Lower energy efficiency (15-25%)
Steam turbines
 Large-scale, long term power generation project
 Generation capacity in excess of 10 MW
 Fuel to power conversion efficiency of 24%

Combined cycle
 Utilizes both steam and gas turbines
 Conversion efficiency of over 35% can be achieved by

recovering waste heat
High BTU and CO2 recovery
 Production alternatives:
 Physical processes where CO2 is removed by dissolution in

water
 Chemical removal by bonding between solvent and CO2
 Adsorption of a thin layer of molecules to the surface of solids

such as activated carbon
 Membrane removal
Complete conversion of biodegradable organic waste
1 1 1
𝐶𝐻𝑎 𝑂𝑏 𝑁𝑐 + 4 − 𝑎 − 2𝑏 + 3𝑐 𝐻2 𝑂 → 4 − 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 3𝑐 𝐶𝑂2 + 4 + 𝑎 − 2𝑏 − 3𝑐 𝐶𝐻4 + 𝑐𝑁𝐻3
4 8 8
Problem Set: Gas Potential
 Calculate the gas potential in m3/ton of waste received for a

waste having the following chemical formula. Assume that the
waste is 79.5% organic and 50% of the organic mass is
biodegradable.
 MSW Chemical Composition 𝐶60 𝐻94 𝑂38 𝑁1

1. Normalize mole H, O and N to C
𝐶60𝐻94𝑂38𝑁 → 𝐶𝐻1.56𝑂0.633𝑁0.0167
2. Each mole of degradable MSW produces:
1 1
4 + 𝑎 − 2𝑏 − 3𝑐 𝐶𝐻4 = 4 + 1.56 − 2(0.63) − 3(0.0166 𝐶𝐻4 = 0.53
8 8
3. 1 ton =1000 kg
Assume MSW is 79.5% organic, 50% of which degrades:
1 𝑘𝑔 𝑀𝑆𝑊 0.795 𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐 0.5 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

1000𝑥 𝑥 = 397.5
1 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝑘𝑔 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊

𝑔
4. MW of MSW = 23.9
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑔
387,500
𝑡𝑜𝑛 = 16,631 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑀𝑆𝑊
𝑔 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊
23.9
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝐻4 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝐻4
5. 16,631 𝑥 0.531 = 8,831
𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊
𝐿
6. At STP, 22.4
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑠
𝐿 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝐻4 𝒎𝟑
22.4 𝑥 8,831 = 𝟏𝟗𝟕, 𝟗𝟏𝟓 𝑳 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟗𝟖
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑆𝑊 𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝑺𝑾
Landfill Operation
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the importance of proper filling sequences and cover

application
2.Identify alternative cover materials for landfills
3.Describe the use of daily cover, intermediate cover and final cover
4.Identify practices for vector control in landfill operations
5.Identify the advantages and disadvantages of biological control
6.Give example of biological control applicable to landfill operations
7.Discuss the dangers posed by landfill gas.
8.Identify the potentially harmful landfill gasses
Filling Sequences
 After weighing waste is brought to working face of the

landfill
 Waste is deposited in a cell and covered with soil or

similar material (e.g. compost and shredded tires)
 Filling sequence is established at the time of landfill

design and permitting
Compaction and Covering
 It is the cornerstones of a sanitary landfill operations, and

assist in reducing short-term environmental and social
impacts of the landfill sites
Benefits of Compaction
1. Windblown litter is reduced, as loose materials are contained

2. Access to the waste by vermin, flies and birds is reduced if
the waste body is sufficiently dense
3. Increased in air space
4. A compact waste body encourages runoff rather than the
infiltration of incident rainwater, minimizing leachate generation
5. Spontaneous combustion is minimized, through reduction in
available oxygen
6. The waste body is trafficable by waste transport vehicles and
site plant.
Advantages of covering the waste body at the end of each day
1. Windblown litter is reduced, as loose materials are covered.
2. Access to the waste by vermin, flies and birds is minimized.
3. A surface is provided for on-site traffic.
4. Compacted cover material encourages runoff rather than the

infiltration of incident rainwater, minimizing leachate generation.
5. The spread of site fires can be minimized, if any, as the waste

body is not continuous.
Landfilling Techniques/Method
1. Face Tipping Method

 In this method the wastes are tipped out and then
compacted into a bench
2. Onion skin method

 Has similarities to face tipping, but with toe of the face
extending at a much shallower gradient
Cover materials
 “Traditional” Cover
 Are typically composed of subsoils and other excavation

wastes or construction industry wastes such as bricks and
crushed broken concrete
Cover materials
 Alternatives to “Traditional” Cover Materials
 Heavy duty, reusable plastic sheets

 Non-reusable plastic films
 Geotextiles
 Fiber matting
 Foams
 Shredded wood/green waste
 Composted waste
Cover materials
 Alternatives to “Traditional” Cover Materials
 Fly ash and bottom ash from utilities and municipal waste
incinerators
 Sewage sludge
 Foundry sands
 Yard waste (lawn clippings, leaves and tree branches)
 Construction and demolition debris
 Shredded automobile tires
 Slurry products
Cover materials
1. Daily Cover
 Serves as an essential function on all landfills accepting

municipal and other biodegradable wastes.
 Improves the appearance of working areas and decreases the

possibility of windblown debris
 It also reduces the access to the waste by birds, insects and

vermin and diminishes odors and fire rick
Cover materials
2. Intermediate Cover
 Used when filled surfaces are likely to be left for a period of

weeks or months before additional lifts to waste are to be
added
 Reduces rainfall infiltration while binds the deposited wastes

down and hence reduces litter.
Cover materials
3. Pre-Final Cover (Temporary Capping)
 Low permeability materials over the filled area
 To avoid long term effects of settlement due to decomposition

of a proportion of the landfilled materials into landfill gas and
leachate
Cover materials
4. Final Cover (Final Capping)
 Final landform until significant settlement has ceased
 It should not have slopes to cause heavy and rapid run-off that
may cause erosion and affects the integrity of the covering in
the long run.
Disease Vector Control

1. Reducing the area of the working face
2. Increasing the thickness of the daily cover
3. Changing cover type, i.e. the material less permeable to air and
water
4. Application of repellants, insecticides, and rodenticides
5.Composting of organic wastes prior to disposal
6.Use of predators for control of insects, birds, and animal populations

Disease Vector Control

7. Frequently placing an adequate quantity of compacted soil over
the wastes or by chemical means
8. Maintaining the smallest possible working face
9. Prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the site
10. Properly grading the surface, by filling depressions and

placing cover soils over waste materials
11. Regular inspection of burrows, droppings and other signs of

the presence of rats, mice and birds
Biological Control of Pests

1. Parasitoids such as wasp and parasitic chalcid provide
continuous controls the population of house flies and blown
flies
2. Flies does not developed resistance unlike in chemical
3. Cost of biological were fraction of what they would have been

for chemical control
4. Reduced used pf insecticides allowed populations of naturally

occurring parasites and predators to build up
Control of Explosive Gases

1. Contributes to local smog
2. Cause unpleasant odors
3. Will trigger complaints to neighbors
4. Methane is highly combustible
5. Accumulation of methane may results in fire and explosions

Lecture 7 Landfill Gas and Operations PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Lecture 7 Landfill Gas and Operations PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 7 Landfill Gas and Operations PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHE 191-1: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. Explain the importance of capturing landfill gas, and describe

2. Discuss the various methods of capturing and utilizing landfill

Predicting Gas Production

 It is essential to estimate the volume and composition of gas

 The following are the parameters needed to estimate gas

Ball park estimates

 In theory, biological decomposition of 1 ton of MSW produces

 Because of the non-biodegradable fraction of the waste, the

 Landfill gas may vent naturally or be directed to the

Passive gas control systems

 Rely on natural pressure and convection to vent landfill gas

Passive high permeability systems

 Incorporate pathways such as trenches, vent walls, or

Passive low permeability systems

 Low permeability systems block lateral migration via barriers

 Active gas control systems employ some mechanical means to

 Positive pressure (air injection)

 Negative pressure (extraction)

Potential problems in as recovery systems

1. The extraction must be completed in a difficult environment

Potential problems in as recovery systems

2. Condensate blockage in header pipes.

3. The extraction system must balance where the gas is being

4. Existence of substantial water makes extraction very

Potential problems in as recovery systems

5. Air can intrude because of suction pressures thru the landfill

6. Breaks in collection lines allow air intrusion, causing

Landfill gas pre-processing

3. Dehydration of the gas

4. Carbon dioxide removal

5. Hydrogen sulfide removal

Options for landfill gas utilization

1. Incineration – combustion as-extracted

2. Low BTU gas – process removes only free moisture,

3. Medium BTU gas – compression, removal of moisture and

Options for landfill gas utilization

4. High BTU gas – requires removal of all moisture, trace

6. Chemical products – cleanup processes involve conversion

 Incineration of landfill gas is a control measure intended to

 Active gas collection system is used without energy

Low BTU gas

 Use as a heating fuel

 Uses for a steam boiler to generate electricity

 For cement kilns or other heat-demanding industries

Medium BTU gas

 Has half the heating content of natural gas

 Internal combustion engines

High BTU gas

 Sale to natural gas pipelines

 Possible use in vehicles

Landfill gas conversion to power

1. Reciprocating engine (0.7-3 MW per unit)

2. Gas turbines (0.7-3 MW per unit)

 Experience has shown that contaminants in landfill gas can

 Engine corrosion can be reduced by dehydrating the gas

 Inherently more resistant to corrosive effects from landfill gas