Grantee Research Project Results
Evaluation and Control of Emissions from MSW landfills: Direct Measurement and Modeling
EPA Grant Number: R840625Title: Evaluation and Control of Emissions from MSW landfills: Direct Measurement and Modeling
Investigators: Imhoff, Paul T. , Chow, Fotini K , Yazdani, Ramin
Institution: University of Delaware , University of California - Berkeley , University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Barrow, Flora
Project Period: September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2026
Project Amount: $999,831
RFA: Understanding and Control of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Air Emissions Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Land and Waste Management , Landfill Emissions , Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention , Air Toxics , Air
Description:
The measurement of CH4 emissions from landfills is rapidly evolving with new technologies (e.g., drone) applied at numerous sites. Several limitations affect all methods: (1) uncertainty in measurement accuracy, (2) uncertainty in the representativeness of measurements at selected times on emissions during unmeasured periods, and (3) how to combine measurements to select cost-effective management practices that reduce emissions. These limitations are addressed by evaluating CH4 emission measurements from stationary, mobile, aerial, and remote sensing techniques at two landfills. A unique feature is applying an atmospheric dispersion model, the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), which includes land-atmosphere flux to understand the relationships between atmospheric conditions, CH4 emissions, and measurement uncertainty. WRF will quantify errors in the measurement technologies, guide technology application (e.g., optimal sensor placement), predict emissions for unmeasured periods, and evaluate landfill management practices. Atmospheric modeling is a cost-effective approach to assess a range of factors affecting emissions and emissions measurements that would be enormously expensive if attempted solely with field tests.
Objective:
Currently, there is limited knowledge on what measurement technologies are best for landfill management questions, e.g., estimating annual emissions or modifying landfill practices to reduce emissions, nor how to combine technologies to maximum benefit. This project will address both issues and guide estimation of landfill emissions during unmeasured periods.
Approach:
Stationary, mobile, aerial, and remote sensing technologies will be applied at two representative landfills to characterize CH4 emissions. Stationary eddy covariance (EC) towers will sample different landfill cover types and provide continuous CH4 emission measurements at one landfill. Once validated with EC and fixed-point data, WRF will predict spatially and temporally variable CH4 emissions at the two landfills. The model will assess the accuracy of several current or emerging measurement technologies that rely on wind to generate the downwind plume. Model predictions will be compared with state-of-the-art field measurements conducted by five private and public scientific partners.
Expected Results:
At dramatically less cost than field testing alone, this project will improve uncertainty estimates for CH4 emissions from different measurement technologies and indicate how to extrapolate measurements to unmeasured periods. The utility of landfill cover design and automated control of gas collection (LoCI Controls) to reduce emissions will be evaluated. Methods for estimating hazardous air pollutant emissions will be applied.
Supplemental Keywords:
greenhouse gas emissions, VOCs, HAPs, landfill managementThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.