Section A13
Paper 6014
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
Of Pittsburgh Swanson School Of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on
publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any
purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at
the University Of Pittsburgh Swanson School Of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
THE USE OF LANDFILL GAS AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE
Kelsey Prem, (krp93@pitt.edu), Mahboobin 4:00, Emily Bonk, (erb90@pitt.edu), Bursic 2:00
Revised Proposal — Landfill gas collection consists of
separating methane gas and carbon dioxide while also
removing impurities, so that the usable methane gas can be
captured [1]. The separation process involves using a
methane purifier and a cryogenic distillation column. The
methane purifier collects the usable methane while the
distillation column helps remove impurities [2]. After being
collected the methane gas is burned as a source of heat. The
main advantage, besides using the methane gas as an
alternative energy source, is that the process uses both
methane and carbon dioxide, both of which are greenhouse
gases, and therefore are not released into the atmosphere. A
major problem that the world faces today is greenhouse
gases changing our climate and affecting the planet in more
ways than we can imagine. The release of greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere destroys the ozone layer and is a major
contributing factor to global warming. Landfill gas can
replace nonrenewable resources such as coal, oil, and
natural gas [1]. It can also be used for pipeline gas, steam,
thermal energy, and electricity production. It is used most
for electricity because the energy can be used to run the
extraction system, and also sold to other customers.
In the collection process there are specific guidelines that
must be followed at all times during the monitoring of
landfill gas extraction. An example of the terrible
consequences that come without monitoring and following
all codes established for the technology is the gases will be
released into the atmosphere if the gas sampling valve is not
closed, therefore contributing to the ongoing greenhouse gas
issue [3]. If the guidelines are not strictly followed as set
forth by the piping and technology patent, it can have
detrimental consequences. The flow rates of the gas being
collected in the wells must be monitored to ensure that the
necessary amount of landfill gas is concentrated in the
solution. If the gas is too highly concentrated, the wells can
explode and catch fire, as proven by extensive research done
by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease [4]. The
atmospheric pressure must be closely monitored because if it
rises too much, it can also lead to an explosion. Workers
are expected to follow the guidelines provided by the
manufacturers of the equipment to ensure the safety of
everyone involved in the extraction of landfill gas.
The extraction of landfill gas is relevant to everyone’s
lives because it is a renewable resource that can be used to
power homes and buildings worldwide. Landfill gas is an
extremely useful form of alternative energy that should be
taken advantage of for personal, company, and national use.
REFERENCES
[1] “Waste-To-Energy Landfill Gas to Energy”. Energy
Systems
Group.
(2015).
(Online
article).
http://www.energysystemsgroup.com/landfills.asp
[2] J. O’Brien, A. Holmes, R. Hopewell. “Process for the
Separation of Landfill Gas”. Google Patents. (28 September
1999).
(Online
patent).
https://www.google.com/patents/US4681612#legal-events
[3] Rajaram, Vasudevan, Siddiqui, et al. From Landfill Gas
to Energy: Technologies and Challenges. CRC Press.
(December
2011).
(Online
book).
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pitt/reader.action?docID=10535464
[4] “Landfill Gas Safety and Health Issues”. Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. (2001). (Online article).
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/PDFs/Landfill_2001
_ch3.pdf
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
S. Ahmed, A. Johari, H. Hashim et al. “Optimal Landfill Gas
Utilization for Renewable Energy Production”.
Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy. (January
2015). (Research Journal).
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ep.11964/abstract
This peer reviewed research journal discusses methods to
make landfill gas extraction more efficient by using less
therefore stretching the supply of energy. The journal
details the research done by chemical engineers and
discusses the optimization process for the use of landfill
methane gas. This source will be used to display that
although the technology is on the forefront of renewable
energy it still can be improved upon.
R. Bove. “Electric Power Generation from Landfill Gas
Using Traditional and Innovative Technologies.” Energy
Conservation and Management. (July 2006). (Online
article).
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S01968904
05002153
This peer reviewed article, written by a professor at the
University of Perugia, Italy, details the uses of energy
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University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering
2016-01-29
Kelsey Prem
Emily Bonk
gathered from extraction. The source details the faults in
using nonrenewable fossil fuels, advocating for the use of
alternative sources. Additionally, it shows that the
innovative phenomenon of turning a harmful gas to a source
of energy is being taken advantage of worldwide and this
will be discussed throughout the paper.
by the gas emissions. Landfill gas is not only an alternative
energy source, but it also helps to use the greenhouse gases
in a more productive and safe outlet by collecting and using
these specific gases.
“Landfill Gas Safety and Health Issues”. Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. (2001). (Online article).
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/PDFs/Landfill_2001
_ch3.pdf
The source is a peer reviewed online research publication
that details the safety and health issues present in landfill gas
extraction. The article also introduces possible
consequences to not following the safety guidelines set forth
by the government, including disease and injury. The source
will be used to show how the technology is advanced, yet
also still has a ways to go.
T. Frankiewicz, S. Ganguli, C. Godlove, V. Ludwig. “An
Overview of Landfill Gas Energy in the United States”.
Landfill Methane Outreach Program. (July 2013).
(Conference Notes.)
http://www3.epa.gov/lmop/documents/pdfs/overview.pdf
This online source of presentation exhibits the advantages
of landfill gas extraction in effect as well as detailing the
uses of the collected energy. The source also presents
research of the positive effects of removing landfill gas
instead of allowing the gas to evaporate into the atmosphere.
The source will be used to discuss the advantages of the
technology and its positive effects.
“Waste-To-Energy Landfill Gas to Energy”. Energy Systems
Group. (2015). (Online article).
http://www.energysystemsgroup.com/landfills.asp
This online source offers not only the uses of landfill gas
after its extraction, but also details many current cases in
nationwide of the extraction technology being used. These
current cases will be used to further explain the technology’s
precise use as well as discuss what is done with the gas after
its extraction and how the energy creates a sustainable
source worldwide.
J. O’Brien, A. Holmes, R. Hopewell. “Process for the
Separation of Landfill Gas”. Google Patents. (28 September
1999). (Online patent).
https://www.google.com/patents/US4681612#legal-events
This online source presents the patent for the landfill gas
extraction technology and process. It also introduces a new
purification column that will be added in the future to the
technology that will reuse the previously unusable carbon
dioxide as an additional alternative power source. The
source will be used not only to describe the different
processes and technologies involved in the extraction, but
also present the new innovation
Rajaram, Vasudevan, Siddiqui, et al. “From Landfill Gas to
Energy: Technologies and Challenges”. CRC Press.
(December 2011). (Online book).
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/pitt/reader.action?docID=10535464
This published research report discusses the challenges
faced with both the technology and the safety issues that
must be dealt with during landfill gas extraction. The source
also outlines many statistics of the effectiveness of the
technology as well as how it can become more efficient.
The source will be used to expand upon the extraction
technology as well as detail the future improvement that is to
come.
“Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data”. United States
Environmental Protection Agency. (11 December 2015).
(Online article).
http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.ht
ml
The online source written by the Environment Protection
Agency details the problems caused by greenhouse gases.
The source offers data of nationwide greenhouse gas
emission rates in addition to addressing the problems caused
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University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering
2016-01-29