Method and apparatus for enhancing plant growth in greenhouses utilizing landfill gas
AssigneeWilliam C. Crutcher
InventorsRichard C. Schmitz, Cris Lombardi, Andre A. Simone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An environmentally controlled greenhouse is located near a landfill site and uses the landfill gas to both heat the greenhouse and furnish a clean carbon dioxide enriched product gas to enhance plant growth. The clean CO2 system product gas is used to regenerate adsorber beds which remove undesirable constituents from the landfill gas. A portion of the landfill gas may also power an extraction steam turbine which heats the greenhouse with extraction steam. The system is controlled to enhance plant growth by adjusting the temperature and CO2 levels.
Claims9
Method for enhancing the growth of plants in an environmentally controlled greenhouse located near a landfill site, comprising:
- collecting landfill gas (LFG) from the landfill site and transporting the landfill gas to a distribution point near the landfill site,
- separating the landfill gas into at least a first LFG portion and a second LFG portion,
- combusting said first LFG portion of the landfill gas and heating the greenhouse with the products of combustion,
- providing a CO2 system having adsorber beds,
- adsorbing the non-methane hydrocarbons (NMO) and reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) from said second portion of the LFG in the adsorber beds,
- combusting the second LFG portion so as to remove methane and any remaining NMO and generate a clean CO2 system product gas (CSPG),
- conducting the CSPG to the greenhouse to provide carbon dioxide to the plants therein, and
- selectively controlling the temperature and the carbon dioxide level in the greenhouse so as to enhance plant growth therein.
Method for enhancing the growth of plants in an environmentally controlled greenhouse located near a landfill site, comprising:
- providing a first combustion system located near the landfill site for heating the greenhouse,
- collecting landfill gas (LFG) from the landfill site and transporting the landfill gas to a distribution point near the landfill site,
- separating the landfill gas into at least a first LFG portion and a second LFG portion,
- distributing said first LFG portion of the landfill gas to the first combustion system,
- combusting the first LFG portion in the first combustion system and heating the greenhouse,
- providing a CO2 system having adsorber beds and a second combustion system,
- distributing said second LFG portion of the landfill gas to the CO2 system,
- adsorbing the non-methane hydrocarbons (NMO) and reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) from the second portion of the LFG in the adsorber beds,
- subjecting the second LFG portion to a controlled combustion in the second combustion system so as to remove methane and generate a clean CO2 system product gas (CSPG),
- conducting the CSPG to the greenhouse enclosure, and
- selectively controlling the temperature and the carbon dioxide level in the greenhouse so as to enhance plant growth therein.
Method for enhancing the growth of plants in an environmentally controlled greenhouse located near a landfill site, comprising:
- providing a power generation system located near the landfill site, having a first combustion system for supplying heat energy to the power generation system and waste heat collection means for heating the greenhouse with products of combustion from the first combustion system,
- collecting landfill gas (LFG) from the landfill site and transporting the landfill gas to a distribution point near the landfill site,
- separating the landfill gas into at least a first LFG portion and a second LFG portion,
- distributing said first LFG portion of the landfill gas to the first combustion system,
- combusting the first LFG portion in the first combustion system and heating the greenhouse with the waste products of combustion,
- providing a CO2 system having adsorber beds and a second combustion system,
- distributing said second LFG portion of the landfill gas to the CO2 system,
- adsorbing the non-methane hydrocarbons (NMO) and reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) from the second portion of the LFG in the adsorber beds,
- subjecting the second LFG portion to a controlled combustion in the second combustion system so as to remove methane and generate a clean CO2 system product gas (CSPG),
- conducting the CSPG to the greenhouse enclosure, and
- selectively controlling the temperature and the carbon dioxide level in the greenhouse so as to enhance plant growth therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.