Evaluating Aeration Configurations in Aerobic Landfills

Operation of waste cells in aerobic mode could be a viable option to control the production of waste associated greenhouse gases. Due to the lack of data in literature, this study focuses on evaluating three different landfill active aeration methods: aeration using a vertical piping system, aeration using a horizontal piping system, and aeration through the leachate collection system. Evaluation of these configurations at bench scale is conducted using scaled-down experiments based on air dynamics similitude. A theoretical analysis is used to determine the similitude parameters of the system. Based on the similitude analysis, a two-stage lab-scale lysimeter experiment was conducted to identify the gas migration patterns and to assess the impact on biodegradation. The air delivery system with vertical piping showed better gas migration and waste degradation characteristics than others. Aeration using a leachate collection system leads to channeling effects. The horizontal distribution system resulted in localized anaerobic regions.