Landfill gas (LFG) is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic materials in landfills. LFG is composed of roughly half methane (the primary component of natural gas), half carbon dioxide (CO2), and a trace of non-methane organic compounds. Over a 100-year cycle, methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere 28 to 36 times more effectively than CO2.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane contamination in the United States, accounting for approximately 15.1% of total emissions in 2018.
LFG pollution and methane migration into the atmosphere leads to local smog and global climate change. Instead of escaping into the atmosphere, LFG can be collected, converted, and used as a renewable energy resource.
LFG is removed from landfills using a network of wells and a blower/flare (or vacuum) system. The gas's ultimate use depends on to practicality of how the extracted gas transports to a central location where it can be processed and treated and then be flared or used in an LFG energy project.
Many landfills install gas control controls due to regulatory requirements. The federal government enforces legislation that governs the use and maintenance of landfills. These regulations aid in controlling ozone precursors (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides), methane, NMOCs, and odorous compounds from landfill gas emissions, which harms human health and the atmosphere.
Thermal flow meter technology is perfect for these applications because of its low-pressure drop and ability to calculate very low flow volume. On the other hand, standard thermal flow meters generally do not perform well in condensing gas conditions, and applications such as landfill methane recovery systems cause problems with standard thermal flow meters.
The unpredictability of moisture levels caused by leachate, rain, temperature, and humidity exacerbates the accuracy issues associated with wet gas flow measurements. A solution is the Kurz WGF flow meter. It is perfect for use in wet gas applications. Kurz allows you to quantify gas flow precisely and provide real-time dry flow measurements for pollution reporting (federal, state, local regulations, greenhouse gases, and the Landfill Methane Rule).
For more information about Kurz Flow Meters in Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle, contact Hile Controls of Alabama. Call them at 800-536-0269 or visit their website at https://hilealabama.com.
