The Landfill Gas Design Suite application can be used to estimate emission rates of total landfill gas, methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nonmethane organic compounds (NMOC's), and individual air pollutants from municipal solid waste landfills. This web based model incorporates the Landfill Gas Emission Model version 3.02 (LandGEM v3.02) developed by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Next image is a screenshot of the Landfill Gas Design Suite web application user interface:
Model is based on a first-order decomposition rate equation for quantifying emissions from the decomposition of landfilled waste in MSW landfills. The model provides a relatively simple approach to estimating landfill gas emissions. Model defaults are based on empirical data from U.S. landfills. Field test data can also be used in place of model defaults when available. Further guidance on EPA test methods, CAA regulations, and other guidance regarding landfill gas emissions and control technology requirements can be found here.
Application is considered a screening tool - the better the input data, the better the estimates. Often, there are limitations with the available data regarding waste quantity and composition, variation in design and operating practices over time, and changes occurring over time that impact the emissions potential. Changes to landfill operation, such as operating under wet conditions through leachate recirculation or other liquid additions, will result in generating more gas at a faster rate. Application includes default values provided by EPA for the model parameters, in order to assist the estimation process for landfills operating under various conditions.
LandGEM relies on several model parameters to estimate landfill emissions.
- Methane generation rate (k),
- Potential methane generation capacity (Lo),
- NMOC concentration, and
- Methane content.
Tool provides default values for each parameter. When using LandGEM to determine whether a landfill is subject to the control requirements of the NSPS/EG or NESHAP, CAA defaults must be chosen for all four model parameters.
Additional Information
The purpose of this Technical Reference is to provide the basic understanding of the LandGEM v3.02 which is incorporated in the web based landfill gas emission model.Thus, the main source for this text is Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) Version 3.02 User's Guide which is suggested to the user for further reading. You may also be interested in...