skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Development of an empirical model of methane emissions from landfills. Final report Mar-Dec 91

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5463937

The report gives results of a field study of 21 U.S. landfills with gas recovery systems, to gather information that can be used to develop an empirical model of methane (CH4) emissions. Site-specific information includes average CH4 recovery rate, landfill size, tons of refuse (refuse mass), average age of the refuse, and climate. A correlation analysis showed that refuse mass was positively linearly correlated with landfill depth, volume, area, and well depth. Regression of the CH4 recovery rate on depth, refuse mass, and volume was significant, but depth was the best predictive variable (R2 = 0.53). Refuse mass was nearly as good (R2 = 0.50). None of the climate variables (precipitation, average temperature, dewpoint) were correlated with the CH4 recovery rate or with CH4 recovery per metric ton of refuse. Much of the variability in CH4 recovery remains unexplained, and is likely due to between-site differences in landfill construction, operation, and refuse composition. A model for global landfill emissions estimation is proposed.

Research Organization:
Radian Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
OSTI ID:
5463937
Report Number(s):
PB-92-152875/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-D9-0054
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB90-215112, PB91-136960, PB91-149534 and PB92-101351. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English