environmental industries sector unit importance of landfill gas measurement and leachate control...

Environmental Industries Sector Unit

Importance of Landfill Gas Measurement and Leachate Control

Tony TrocianInternational Sales Manager

EISU Seminar Mission: South Korea


Topics

• Geotechnical Instruments• What is Landfill Gas? • Why Measure?• What is Leachate and why control?


• In business for over 25 years• Based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire• Market leaders in Portable landfill gas

monitoring• Involved in Leachate level monitoring

and pumping• Operate in Biogas and Composting

market sectors• Significant commitment to product

development.


What is Landfill Gas?

• Biodegradable Material ‘Dumped’– Wood, paper, animal and vegetable

matter• Micro-organisms decompose this material

– Anaerobic process• Gases Produced

– CH4 can be high 60% plus– CO2 can be high 30% plus– Lots of other constituent gases


Why Measure?• Landfill Gas is potentially dangerous

– CO2 is an asphyxiant – 0.5% 8hr – CH4 is flammable – 5% LEL– Toxic and odorous gases – VOC’s and

hydrogen sulphide

• Damage to the Environment– Methane GWP is 21 times that of CO2 – Uncontrolled toxic gas release


Why Measure?• Landfill Gas Utilisation

– Is the CH4 level high enough? – How much gas is available– Maximising usage of engines– Carbon credits

• Remediation – gas levels low

• Legislation– Local Regulations enforced by EPA– Methane to Markets Initiative


EU/EPA Requirement – Summary- appropriate measures must be taken in order to control the accumulation and migration of LFG – monitor of perimeter to show CH4 level below 1.25% or 1%

- LFG must be collected from all landfills receiving biodegradable waste and the LFG must be treated and, to the extent possible, used

-the collection, treatment and use of LFG to be carried out in a manner which minimises damage to or deterioration of the environment and risk to human health

-LFG which cannot be used to produce energy must be flared


Methane to Markets Initiative• US EPA International Partnership to reduce emissions of

methane

• 16 partner countries that include Australia and UK

• Targeting 3 main sources of methane – landfills, coal mines and natural gas/oil systems

• Methane contributes 20% of gas for global warming c.f. 60% for Carbon Dioxide

• By 2015 aim to reduce emissions by 500 billion metric tons – equivalent to fifty 500MW coal fired power stations


Leachate

• Liquid – mostly water• Anaerobic conditions - Acidic pH, metals,

soluble degradable organic compounds, Ammonium compounds

• Aerobic conditions – cease to be hazardous


Leachate – Why control?

• Prevent escape from site• Pollution of local water courses• Prevention of gas production• Re-circulation can aid in gas production


Ideal Engineered Landfill Site


Older Style Landfill Site


Perimeter Monitoring• Compliance – prove no gas is migrating off of site.• Gas detection systems in buildings


Gas Extraction Measurements• Quality and flow of gas to Flare or Engine set• Sizing of engines


Fixed System – Alarm systems, Web reporting


Surface Emissions

Minimise surface emissions to the atmosphere.


Leachate Removal• Pneumatic Pumps

– Timed cycle– Auto-controlling

• Features/Issues – Intrinsically safe - ATEX approved– No specialist maintenance skills required– Regular check by site staff normally sufficient for effective operation– High ‘Up-time’ more easily achieved– Easily moved around site– Comparitively expensive unit cost– Long life time


Leachate

Level MonitoringPump Installation

Leachate Sampling


Topics

• Geotechnical Instruments• What is Landfill Gas? • Why Measure?• What is Leachate and why control?


Importance of Landfill Gas Measurement and Leachate Control

Tony TrocianInternational Sales Manager

Thank You – Any Questions?

environmental industries sector unit importance of landfill gas measurement and leachate control...

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