Evaluation of landfill gas generation for exploitation energy (case study: landfill of shahinshahr)

The solid waste in landfill is transformed into landfill gas during a biochemical conversion process called bio-degradation. Landfill gas is a product of waste decomposition containing 40 to 60 percent of methane and various amounts of other gases. The present project aims to estimate the proportion of environmental gases of Landfill No. 1 in Shahin Shahr (total landfill gas, methane gas and carbon dioxide gas), compare gas emissions over a 30 year period, and assess the capacity of the landfill for energy extraction. Material and Methods: The field of research was Landfill No. 1 at Shahin Shahr Recycling Plant (Isfahan) located in Ja’farabad Mountains, whose capacity was completed in 2010 and landfill gas assessment was carried out. The total amount of produced gases including methane and carbon dioxide was calculated using the first-order degradation model over a 30 year period. The proportions of these gases in Landfill were calculated from 2013 to 2043. The results show that the amount of landfill gases production declined over the time. The maximum production of methane and carbon dioxide was about 350 and 950 thousand kilograms in 2013 and the minimum production of methane and carbon dioxide is estimated about 57 and 157 thousand kilograms, respectively, in 2043. The total volume of gases produced in this landfill has been estimated to be about 15 million cubic meters in 30 years, of which 27 percent is methane and 73 percent is carbon dioxide. The amount of methane and carbon dioxide gas is estimated to be about 5 million and 13 million kilograms in 30 years, respectivel. Generally, the landfill gases production declined over the time. It is recommended to use energy recovery technologies for controlling greenhouse gas emissions and generation of required energy for the ShahinShahr recycling plant in order to use this volume of gas.