Mathematical Modeling of Landfill Gas (MSW)—Production of Gas with Methane Gas Content from Landfills (MSW)

Abstract

The municipal solid waste (msw) is a source of landfill gas (msw)—with methane gas content. Preoccupations for landfill gas (msw) management date back since 1976 when, at a landfill (msw) in California (USA), it turned out practically that the landfill gas (msw) with methane gas content contains a gas with high caloric value that can be collected and used for economic purposes. The landfill gas (msw) contains methane gas (30% - 60% volume), carbon dioxide (45% - 50% volume), hydrogen sulfide and other gases. Methane gas, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other gases are listed in Kyoto Protocol as high greenhouse gases. Their ecological-rational management is both a national and global preoccupation. In terms of greenhouse gases, especially methane gas, the landfill (msw) is held responsible for 3.5% - 5% of the total global greenhouse gases. Practically, the quantitative estimation of the methane gas in a municipal solid waste landfill can be done by measuring the landfill gas (msw) flow in an extraction-collection well. In Romania, a quantitative estimation relationship of methane gas from deposits (msw) was made, approaching the problem in a different way. This paper presents the calculation formula, the working algorithm, the municipal waste landfill equation and the NOMOGRAMA of a municipal solid waste landfill (msw). The NOMOGRAMA allows us to define the values for parameter -m- (number of months needed for an amount of municipal solid waste (msw) to degrade, starting with the year from which the landfill gas (msw) emission with methane gas content is calculated). Taking into account the environmental conditions for each location of municipal solid waste landfill, the calculation uses various indexes and approximations, while the fundamental parameter remains -m- defined by the NOMOGRAMA of the municipal solid waste landfill (msw). A municipal solid waste landfill (msw) is a conglomerate of waste with various biodegradation periods between 2 - 3 years and 5 - 10 - 30 years. Degradation of waste (msw) in to dissolved organic carbon will take place in a number of months defined -m- starting with the year from which the methane gas emission with the NOMOGRAMA of the municipal solid waste landfill (msw) is calculated. The -m- values for the year of the quantitative emission of methane gas can be also done analytically, which requires good experience in the ecologic-rational management of the municipal solid waste (msw).