Systems and methods for recovering landfill gas
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorJihad Shana'a
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A landfill gas recovery system includes a waste layer disposed in a landfill and a capping layer overlying the waste layer. The capping layer includes a cured sealing layer and a loose fill layer between the waste layer and the cured sealing layer. The loose fill layer includes a granular fill material. The cured sealing layer includes a composite of the granular fill material and a cured water soluble polymer. The cured sealing layer is substantially impermeable to landfill gases formed within the waste layer.
Claims20
A landfill gas recovery system comprising:
- a waste layer disposed in a landfill;
- a capping layer overlying the waste layer, the capping layer comprising a cured sealing layer and a loose fill layer between the waste layer and the cured sealing layer;
- and
- a landfill gas collection apparatus positioned at least partially under the cured sealing layer and in fluidic communication with a landfill gas wellhead outside the landfill,
- wherein:
- the loose fill layer comprises a granular fill material;
- the cured sealing layer comprises a composite of the granular fill material and a cured water soluble polymer;
- the cured sealing layer is substantially impermeable to landfill gases formed within the waste layer;
- and
- the cured sealing layer has a thickness from 5 cm to 15 cm.
A method for sealing a landfill for recovery of a landfill gas from the landfill, the method comprising:
- applying an aqueous solution comprising a water soluble polymer onto a landfill cover overlying a waste layer of a landfill, the landfill cover comprising a loose fill layer comprising a granular fill material;
- continuing to apply the aqueous solution until at least a portion of the granular fill material is saturated with the aqueous solution to a predetermined depth of the granular fill material;
- and
- allowing the aqueous solution to cure to form a capping layer over the landfill, the capping layer comprising a cured sealing layer and an uncured portion of the loose fill layer between the waste layer and the cured sealing layer,
- wherein:
- the cured sealing layer comprises a composite of the granular fill material and a cured product of the water soluble polymer;
- the cured sealing layer is substantially impermeable to landfill gases formed within the waste layer;
- and
- the predetermined depth of the granular fill material is from 5 cm to 15 cm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.