Jason Leone

Abstract

The effects of atmospheric pressure changes on landfill gas collection efficiency and quality are relatively complex and also very important to the effective management of these systems not only for practical operation and maintenance of these systems, but to also minimize the impacts of these fluctuations on the system in general. This thesis examined three areas of collection and control systems that effectively manage landfill gas (LFG), which is generated by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in municipal solid waste and analyzed the effects of barometric pressure on those systems. The three areas of analysis included the effects of barometric pressure on (1) individual LFG well quality, (2) flare flow, and (3) power plant flow and LFG quality. The results were as follows: (1) no statistically significant correlation was found on the effects of barometric pressure on LFG quality in wells; (2) statistically significant correlations were found for flare flow in comparison to barometric pressure, however, in opposing directions therefore being inconclusive; (3) statistically significant correlations were found for power plant LFG quality (measured as nitrogen) in comparison to barometric pressure as expected: (4) statistically significant correlations were found for power plant flow in comparison to barometric pressure, however, in opposing directions therefore being inconclusive. The implications of this thesis are that additional research needs to be completed in this area to fully understand the affects of barometric pressure on individual gas collection wells, but also on LFG flare control systems as well. Power plants are more defined as they control the quantity and quality of the LFG that they consume based on energy needs and have better controls in place than flare systems or individual LFG monitoring wells.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Landfill gases--Measurement; Atmospheric pressure; Air quality management--Evaluation

Publication Date

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Environmental, Health and Safety Management (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety (CAST)

Advisor

Maureen Valentine

Advisor/Committee Member

John Morelli

Advisor/Committee Member

Jeff Kocian

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at TD885.5.L35 L46 2007

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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