Landfill Gas Venting for Hazardous Waste Landfill

[sab75]

I am currently designing a RCRA cover (GCL, Membrane, Drainage Layer, Frost Layer, Vegetation) for a hazardous waste landfill. We conducted a landfill gas investigation and found that there is no methane. However, the landfill is emitting small quantities of acetone, benzene, TCE, and other VOCs.

I am trying to find information on the design of passive gas venting systems for non-methane generating landfills. It is my understanding that since I do not have methane and therefore gas generation is minimal, a passive gas venting system is probably not warranted.

However, I do not want to cause any sort of slope failure or membrane bubbling due to lack of a venting system. At the same time, I need to justify the cost of putting such a system in.

I have found a lot of information for landfills that generate methane. However, no information for landfills that do not generate methane.

 

[mbeychok]

sab75:

I have two comments that you might find useful:

(1) Assuming that your landfill is located in the USA, you should contact your local or state environmental regulatory agency and ascertain whether or not they have any requirements regarding the venting of your landfill gas to the atmosphere (which is what I presume you mean by "passive" venting).

(2) If you decide to install a gas venting system in order to protect your cover, then you could route the vented gas to an elevated flare assuming that is okay with your regulatory agency. If the heating value of your vented gas is less than about 200 to 300 Btu per standard cubic foot, then you may need to use some natural gas to sustain combustion.

[Note: By standard cubic foot, I mean a cubic foot of gas measured at 60 degrees F and at 1 atmosphere pressure]

Milton Beychok
(Contact me at www.air-dispersion.com)
.