Method and system for estimating gas production by a landfill or other subsurface source
First Claim
1. A method of estimating the LFG generation rate of a landfill located at a landfill site, comprising the steps ofa. obtaining a time history record of atmospheric pressure that is representative of atmospheric pressure at a surface boundary of the landfill, b. measuring gas pressure at a selected subsurface location at the landfill site over a time period that is included in the time history record of step a, and c. using the atmospheric pressure of step a and the measured gas pressure of step b to estimate the LFG generation rate of a portion of the landfill.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new and useful method and system for estimating LFG generation and gas permeability in a landfill or other subsurface-gas producing body of material is provided. The gas generation rate in a portion of a landfill or other subsurface-gas producing body of material is estimated by obtaining a time history record of atmospheric pressure that is representative of atmospheric pressure at a surface boundary of the portion of the landfill or the subsurface gas producing body of material, measuring the gas pressure at least at one selected location at the landfill (or subsurface body of material) site over a time period that is included in the time history record, and using the atmospheric pressure and the measured gas pressure over the time period to estimate LFG generation rate and gas permeability of the portion of the landfill or the subsurface gas producing body of material. In a preferred embodiment, gas pressure is measured at a plurality of selected locations within the refuse portion of a landfill, and in the case of an unlined landfill in the supporting soil below the landfill, and the measured pressures are used to estimate LFG generation rate and gas permeability of the landfill.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of estimating the LFG generation rate of a landfill located at a landfill site, comprising the steps of
a. obtaining a time history record of atmospheric pressure that is representative of atmospheric pressure at a surface boundary of the landfill, b. measuring gas pressure at a selected subsurface location at the landfill site over a time period that is included in the time history record of step a, and c. using the atmospheric pressure of step a and the measured gas pressure of step b to estimate the LFG generation rate of a portion of the landfill.
-
10. A method of estimating the gas generation rate in a subsurface body of material located at a site, comprising the steps of
a. obtaining a time history record of atmospheric pressure that is representative of atmospheric pressure at a surface boundary of the subsurface body of material, b. measuring gas pressure at a selected subsurface location at the site of the subsurface body of material over a time period that is included in the time history record of step a, and c. using the atmospheric pressure of step a and the measured gas pressure of step b to estimate the gas generation rate of a portion of the subsurface body of material.
-
16. A method of estimating the landfill gas permeability of a portion of a gas generating landfill, comprising the steps of
a. obtaining a time history record of atmospheric pressure that is representative of atmospheric pressure at a surface boundary of the landfill, b. measuring gas pressure at a selected subsurface location in the landfill over a time period that is included in the time history record of step a, and c. using the atmospheric pressure of step a and the measured gas pressure of step b to estimate the gas permeability of a portion of the gas generating landfill.
Specification