Devices and techniques relating to landfill gas extraction
First Claim
1. A method for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system, the method comprising:
- measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill;
using at least one computing device to perform;
computing, based at least in part on the measured plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill;
determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system;
causing the one or more control devices to control extraction of the landfill gas based, at least in part, one the one or more respective control parameters at least in part by applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control devices of the gas extraction system;
determining an actual state of the landfill; and
adapting the model of the landfill based, at least in part, on the predicted future state of the landfill and the determined actual state of the landfill.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
80 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system, the method comprising:
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measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; using at least one computing device to perform; computing, based at least in part on the measured plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; causing the one or more control devices to control extraction of the landfill gas based, at least in part, one the one or more respective control parameters at least in part by applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control devices of the gas extraction system; determining an actual state of the landfill; and adapting the model of the landfill based, at least in part, on the predicted future state of the landfill and the determined actual state of the landfill. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas extracted from the landfill; at least one flow control mechanism configured to control a flow rate of the landfill gas extracted from the landfill; one or more processors located remotely from the at least one flow control mechanism and configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one flow control mechanism; and at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform a method including; determining, using at least one measurement obtained using the at least one sensor, concentration of a first gas in the landfill gas extracted from the landfill; determining whether the concentration of the first gas is different from a target concentration of the first gas; and when it is determined that the concentration of the first gas is different from the target concentration of the first gas, controlling the at least one flow control mechanism to change concentration of the first gas in the landfill gas being extracted from the landfill. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gas extraction system for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas extracted from the landfill; one or more control devices disposed in well piping and configured to control flow rates of the landfill gas through the well piping; and one or more processors located remotely from the one or more control devices and configured to wirelessly communicate with the one or more control devices, the one or more processors further configured to; determine, using at least one measurement obtained by the at least one sensor, a flow rate of extracted landfill gas through the one or more control devices and a concentration of methane in the extracted landfill gas; determine a measure of energy content of the extracted landfill gas based at least on the measured flow rate and the measured concentration of methane in the extracted landfill gas; determine whether the measured energy content is different from a target energy content; and when it is determined that the measured energy content is different from the target energy content, control the one or more control devices to change energy content of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification