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

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).

NOMOGRAMA of a Landfill (msw)—Setting <i>m</i>Parameter Values

MSW wastes depositing on a landfill in accordance with the national environment protection legislation means a (msw) waste conglomerate which generates greenhouse effect gas, especially CH4 on an active lifetime of the deposit, but, in the same time, after the waste depositing quit too. As a consequence it is absolutely necessary to estimate gas emission quantities, mainly CH4 annually. This thing can be done by quantitative waste degraded estimation, annually also. This paper describes the adequate technique to be used for the -m- parameters values establishing having in mind that -m- represents the number of months when a certain quantity of msw is degraded, annually, during the lifetime of the msw deposit (landfill). Nevertheless the establishing of the -m- values means, in fact, set up of the msw landfill NOMOGRAMA itself. The wastes agglomeration on a landfill can be expressed through a mathematical equation, whose analyze lead to the -m- values establishing. The waste (msw) will be degraded in time under the specific environmental factors of every region.

A New Approach Method of CH₄Emission Estimation from Landfills Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

The CH4 is one of the six Greenhouse Effect Gases (GEG) that is mentioned in the Kyoto Protocol. The GEG is generated by the anthropic activities which are conducive to climate changes if their management is not conducted in a proper way. The main purpose of the environment policy is the reduction of the GEG emission. It is well-known that the CH4 gas emission from municipal solid waste MSW landfills is responsible for 4 ÷ 5% of the total Greenhouse Effect. It is necessary to have a practical method to calculate the quantitative CH4 gas emission, in order to apply an efficient management of the CH4 gas emission from MSW landfills, conforming or non-conforming. This method has to be transparent, credible, coherent, and applicable both for conforming and non-conforming MSW deposits. This paper proposes a new estimation calculation method of the CH4 gas emission from all MSW deposits in Romania. The IPCC group of experts has made recommendations related to the estimation of CH4 but the European Union (EU) admits that the environmental conditions are not the same in every Member State. The annual evolution of CO2 for the CH4 gas emission at every MSW location is valuable information for the Environment Authority with a view to realistic environmental planning and for an efficient policy to be applied in order to reduce the greenhouse effect of MSW landfills.