Modeling and optimization of controlled landfill gas performance using LandGEM

Abstract

Modeling with LandGEM offers a large field to quantify emissions from the decomposition of organic waste, consequently prediction of energy generated from gas emissions especially those of methane. Where, the simulation results makes it possible to define the reasons of malfunction concluded by comparing between the LandGEM simulation and the experimental methodology for estimation of methane gas emissions, whose offer a huge knowing, accuracy assessment, and detailed analysis to landfill site state in terms of the production of methane, the tightness, the progress of the anaerobic degradation, the existence of sulfur compound. This study accomplished in site the methane production at 80%, a tightness of 84% compared to the 100% given by LandGEM, and an hydrogen sulfide content which far exceed the recommended limit, cause of corrosion attacking especially the biogas compressor which provoke a complete shutdown to product the electrical energy. Unlike the LandGEM digital model, whose site must produce 3,145.107 m3 of methane with 100% site tightness, a hydrogen sulfide content equivalent to 40 ppm, for a production of electrical energy equivalent to 10,941.107kWh according to the year ‘2022’. To optimizing landfill gas performance, we forecast the installation of automatic analyzer sensors to anticipate of an alert for intervention, generated by accidental loss of methane in the air, infiltration of oxygen inside the lockers, disruption of the stability of the fermentation process, or existence of high sulfur contents in organic matter.