Estimating methane emissions from landfills based on rainfall, ambient temperature, and waste composition: The CLEEN model.
Accurately estimating landfill methane emissions is important for quantifying a landfill's greenhouse gas emissions and power generation potential. Current models, including LandGEM and IPCC, often greatly simplify treatment of factors like rainfall and ambient temperature, which can substantially impact gas production. The newly developed Capturing Landfill Emissions for Energy Needs (CLEEN) model aims to improve landfill methane generation estimates, but still require inputs that are fairly easy to obtain: waste composition, annual rainfall, and ambient temperature. To develop the model, methane generation was measured from 27 laboratory scale landfill reactors, with varying waste compositions (ranging from 0% to 100%); average rainfall rates of 2, 6, and 12 mm/day; and temperatures of 20, 30, and 37°C, according to a statistical experimental design. Refuse components considered were the major biodegradable wastes, food, paper, yard/wood, and textile, as well as inert inorganic waste. Based on the data collected, a multiple linear regression equation (R(2)=0.75) was developed to predict first-order methane generation rate constant values k as functions of waste composition, annual rainfall, and temperature. Because, laboratory methane generation rates exceed field rates, a second scale-up regression equation for k was developed using actual gas-recovery data from 11 landfills in high-income countries with conventional operation. The Capturing Landfill Emissions for Energy Needs (CLEEN) model was developed by incorporating both regression equations into the first-order decay based model for estimating methane generation rates from landfills. CLEEN model values were compared to actual field data from 6 US landfills, and to estimates from LandGEM and IPCC. For 4 of the 6 cases, CLEEN model estimates were the closest to actual.
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: richa.v.karanjekar@gmail.com.
Richa V
RV
Karanjekar
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: arpitab@uta.edu.
Arpita
A
Bhatt
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: said.altouqui@mavs.uta.edu.
Said
S
Altouqui
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States.
Neda
N
Jangikhatoonabad
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States.
Vennila
V
Durai
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: sattler@uta.edu.
Melanie L
ML
Sattler
Department of Civil Engineering, 416 Yates Street, Suite 425, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: hossain@uta.edu.
M D Sahadat
MD
Hossain
Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Box 19017, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, United States. Electronic address: vchen@uta.edu.
Victoria
V
Chen
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002980:Climate; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011891:Rain; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
D000393:Air Pollutants; D062611:Solid Waste; D008697:Methane
Emissions; Greenhouse gas; Landfill gas; Methane; Modeling; Municipal solid waste