One-dimensional Steady-state Model for Gas Pressure Distribution in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

Gas pressure distribution in landfills is of great importance to control hazards and improve recovery of landfill gas. An one-dimensional steady-state model and its solving approach are presented for gas pressure distribution in layered waste landfills. The model can be used to investigate the gas pressure distribution of the landfill with horizontal gas collection layers having specified pressure or flux. The influences of layered properties, horizontal permeable layer under final cover and horizontal gas collection layers and bottom leachate drainage systems dually serving as gas collection layers on gas pressure distribution are investigated. The results of parameter analyses using the presented model show that the assumption that homogenizations of gas generation rate and gas permeability through a landfill considerably overestimate gas pressure in landfill; horizontal permeable layer under final cover and horizontal gas collection layers can effectively reduce gas pressure in landfills; the bottom leachate drainage systems dually serving as gas collection layers can significantly reduce the gas pressure in the lower portion of landfills. The presented model provides a useful tool in the designing of landfill gas collection systems, such as, the positions and spacing of horizontal gas collection layers and pump section.