Landfill Gas Monitoring
Landfill gas (LFG) is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material in landfills. LFG is composed of roughly 50 percent methane (the primary component of natural gas), 50 percent carbon dioxide (CO2) and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 28 to 36 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period.
Plexus Controls Gas Monitoring System
Plexus Controls perimeter ground probe is designed for landfill perimeter methane monitoring. Providing either 1, 2 or 3 probe inputs, the system draws a sample from each probe and tests for methane content. All readings are sent across the network and are time and date stamped and logged at the gateway hub.
While the system has been deployed for methane monitoring, it can also be used to track other gases, such as carbon dioxide and provide optional pressure and temperature measurements
Methane Emissions from Landfills
Landfill Gas Monitoring is a technique that involves using a portable methane meter near the landfill’s surface to measure concentrations while traversing the site.
The following diagram illustrates the changes in typical LFG composition after waste placement. Bacteria decompose landfill waste in four phases. Gas composition changes with each phase and waste in a landfill may be undergoing several phases of decomposition at once. The time after placement scale (total time and phase duration) varies with landfill conditions.
Methane Emissions from Landfills
Instead of escaping into the air,Landfill Gas can be captured, converted, and used as a renewable energy resource. Using Landfill Gas Monitoring helps to reduce odors and other hazards associated with Landfill Gas emissions, and prevents methane from migrating into the atmosphere and contributing to local smog and global climate change. In addition, LFG energy projects generate revenue and create jobs in the community and beyond.