Project 2.1: Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Project
Project Manager - CH2M Hill

Project Overview

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors project are to:

• Advance the state of knowledge for using bioreactors at landfills to increase landfill gas production and improve the characteristics of the waste to accelerate reclamation
• Work with environmental regulators to develop and implement and strategy for developing bioreactors while meeting applicable groundwater and other environmental standards
• Establish the economic and environmental benefits of the use of landfill bioreactors

The objectives of the of this project are to:

• Develop a conceptual design for two types of landfill bioreactors
• MSW or organic waste landfill bioreactor (First Bioreactor)
• MSW or organic waste landfill bioreactor supplemented by food or animal waste (Second Bioreactor)
• Develop environmental documentation to satisfy regulators
• Quantify greenhouse gas and pollution reduction benefits
• Develop two types of landfill bioreactors
• MSW or organic waste landfill bioreactor(First Bioreactor)
• MSW or organic waste landfill bioreactor supplemented by food or animal waste (Second Bioreactor)

Projected Outcomes

The outcome of this project will be the successful operation of two bioreactor pilot projects. One bioreactor will be designed to use municipal solid waste (MSW) and source-separated organic waste materials; the other will be designed to use MSW or source-separated organic waste materials along with animal waste. Performance metrics will include measurement of changes in methane production; estimation of direct reductions in CH₄ emissions and indirect reductions in other criteria air emissions associated with displaced conventional generation; and assessment of changes in lifecycle costs of generation from landfill gas. It is anticipated that the cumulative incremental gas production from both of these pilot reactors will be in the range of 1 to 5 MW. In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of developing these bioreactors, two reports will be developed. One report will summarize the regulatory issues that were addressed and satisfied in the course of developing this project. This report will include guidelines to be used on future projects and a methodology for calculating the economic value of environmental benefits of the project. The second report will summarize the engineering work done to design and install the reactor and present pertinent installation, operation, and maintenance costs. Project lifecycle costs will be presented incorporating engineering issues as well as the value of environmental benefits presented in the first report.

Publications, Reports and Other Deliverables for Project 2.1: Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Project

List of Publications, Reports and Other Deliverables

NOTE:  All finalized deliverables are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. To obtain a free copy of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®, please click here.

Task 2.1.1a:   Characterize MSW and Source Separated Organic Waste to Be Placed in Both Bioreactors

• Waste Characterization Report for the San Bernardino County Mid-Valley Landfill (PDF, 401 KB)

Task 2.1.1b:   Characterize Food or Animal Wastes to be Placed as Amendment in the Second Bioreactor

• Landfill Amendment Characterization Report

Task 2.1.2:   Identify Amendment Source Locations for the Second Bioreactor

• Amendment Source Location List

Task 2.1.3a:   Prepare Conceptual Design for the First Bioreactor

• Landfill Bioreactor Conceptual Design Report (PDF, 401 KB)
• Figure 2-1 to the Report: Flow Diagram - Energy and Materials Balance (PDF, 401 KB)
• Figure 4-1 to the Report: Process and Instrumentation Diagram (PDF, 66 KB)
• Figure 4-2 to the Report: Instrumentation and Control (PDF, 211 KB)
• Figure 5-1 to the Report: Bottom Grading Plan as Presently Permitted (PDF, 752 KB)
• Figure 5-2 to the Report: Final Grading Plan as Presently Permitted (PDF, 434 KB)
• Figure 5-3 to the Report: North South Cross Section Through Unit 3 (PDF, 221 KB)
• Figure 5-4 to the Report: East West Cross Section Through Unit 3 (PDF, 172 KB)
• Figure 5-5 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Fill Between March 2002 and July 2003 (PDF, 720 KB)
• Figure 5-6 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Fill Between July 2003 and November 2004 (PDF, 707 KB)
• Figure 5-7 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Lift No. 1 to 1,495 Elevation (PDF, 612 KB)
• Figure 5-8 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Lift No. 2 to 1,515 Elevation (PDF, 626 KB)
• Figure 5-9 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Lift No. 3 to 1,535 Elevation (PDF, 140 KB)
• Figure 5-10 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Lift No. 4 to 1,555 Elevation (PDF, 623 KB)
• Figure 5-11 to the Report: Biocell Phasing Plans Lift No. 5 to 1,575 Elevation (PDF, 598 KB)

Task 2.1.3b:   Prepare Test and Construction Plans for the First Bioreactor

• Recommended Test Measures and Plans for Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors (PDF, 3.07 MB)
• Appendix I: Bioreactor Demonstration Project (PDF, 13.5 MB)

Task 2.1.3c:   Prepare Conceptual Design for the Second Bioreactor

• Draft Conceptual Design Report for the Second Bioreactor
• Final Conceptual Design Report for the Second Bioreactor
• Groundwater Contamination Risk Report

Task 2.1.3d:   Prepare Test and Construction Plans for the Second Bioreactor

• Second Bioreactor Test Plan
• Final Construction Plan
• Liner Installation Plan

Task 2.1.4a:   Construct and Operate the First Bioreactor

• Notification Letter for completion of the Installing Liner
• Notification Letter for completion of the Leachate Collection System
• Notification Letter for completion of the Gas Collection System
• Notification Letter for completion of the Energy Recovery and Prime Mover Systems
• Notification Letter for completion of the Interconnection hardware
• Six Month Operations Report for the First Bioreactor

Task 2.1.4b:   Construct and Operate the Second Bioreactor

• Notification Letter for completion of the Installing Liner
• Notification Letter for completion of the Leachate Collection System
• Notification Letter for completion of the Gas Collection System
• Notification Letter for completion of the Energy Recovery and Prime Mover Systems
• Notification Letter for completion of the Interconnection hardware
• Six Month Operations Report for the Second Bioreactor

Task 2.1.5:   Prepare Final Report for Project 2.1

• Outline of the Final Report for Project 2.1
• Draft Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Report
• Final Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Report

Task 2.1.6:   Coordinate with Renewables Project Advisory Committees

• Coordination Activities: 2003-2004 (PDF, 1.66 MB)

Task 2.1.7:   Evaluate Project

• Draft Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Report
• Final Enhanced Landfill Gas Production Using Bioreactors Report