Part 3: Conventional andEm erging TechnologyApplications for UtilizingLandfill GasPresented by:
Linda Nutting
SCS Engineers
June 25, 2001
Training W orkshop
Sao Paulo, Brazil
22
Presentation Outline
Direct Gas Use/Sale
Electricity Generation
Pipeline Upgrades
Leachate Evaporation
M icro Turbines
Vehicle Fuel
Fuel Cells
Greenhouses
Other Technologies
Conclusions
33
W hy Use Landfill Gas?
Local, available fuel source
Easy to capture and use
Source of renewable energy
Constant supply, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Reliable technologies exist for using landfill gas
Uses a source of energy that otherwise wouldhave been wasted
Helps the environm ent by reducing uncontrolledem issions of landfill gas
44
Direct Gas Utilization
Gas piped to a nearbycustom er for use inboiler
118 projects in the US
Pipeline length rangefrom .6 - 5 kilom eters
less than 3km is m ostfeasible
G as used on-site
Cleaver Brooks 20,000 lb/hr Boiler
55
Advantages andDisadvantages
AdvantagesSim ple technology
M inim al processing requirem ents
M ost cost effective
DisadvantagesRequires locating a custom erwithin close proxim ity of the landfill
Right of way perm its
Local terrain not conducive topipeline installation
66
Costs
US$1.50 (3.57 Real) to $3.50(8.33 Real) per M M Btu,depending on:Pipeline length
Collection system in-place atlandfill
O ther costsBoiler retrofit
Operation and M aintenance
77
Electricity GenerationM ost prevalent in the US
In US, 900 M W from over 200operational projects
Electricity sold to utilityor nearby custom er
Average project size:500 kW - 50 M W
TechnologiesInternal Com bustion (IC)Engine, 1-3M W
Gas Turbine, 3-10M W 50 MW Steam Turbine, Peunta Hills LF, CA
88
Advantages, Disadvantagesand Costs: IC Engine
Advantageslow costHigh efficiencym ost com m on technology
DisadvantagesProblem s due toparticulate m atter buildup
Corrosion of engine partsand catalystsHigh NOx em issions
CostsUS$1,100-1,300 ($/kW )(2600 - 3100 Real per kW )
Caterpillar 3516 800 kW gensetCaterpillar 3516 800 kW genset
99
Advantages, Disadvantagesand Costs: Gas Turbine
AdvantagesCorrosion resistant
Low O&M costs
sm all physical size
Low NOx em issions
DisadvantagesInefficient at part load
High parasitic loads, due to high gascom pression requirem ents
CostsUS$1,200-1,700 ($/kW )
($2800 - 4000 Real per kW )
Solar 3 MW Gas TurbineSolar 3 MW Gas Turbine
1010
Pipeline Quality GasUpgrade
Gas is upgraded toa m edium or highquality gas product
Injected into anatural gaspipeline
Generally atlandfills withgreater gas flows
11 operationalprojects in the US 0.2 Million m3/day Selexol Plant
1111
Advantages,Disadvantages and Costs
AdvantagesAll gas recovered from the landfill is usedCost effective for landfills with high volum es of gasBeneficial in areas where natural gas prices are high
DisadvantagesExtensive treatm ent of landfill gas
Additional quality control requirem entsHigher capital costsHigher com pression of gas is required
CostsUS$3.60 to $4.15 per M M Btu ($8.60 to 9.90 Real perM M Btu)
1212
Leachate Evaporation
Utilize LFG totreat leachate
Com m erciallyavailabletechnology
Units operatingin the US andinternationally
1313
Advantages andDisadvantagesAdvantages
Applicable to landfills thathave lim ited leachatetreatm ent options and highleachate disposal costsProven technologyM eets local air qualityrequirem ents
DisadvantagesM ore expensive thantraditional landfill leachatetreatm ent optionsGenerally applicable tolarger landfill sites
1414
CostsCapital Cost
10,000 gpd facility:US$295,000 (702,100Real)
20,000 gpd facility:US$485,000 (1,154,000Real)
O&M Cost
10,000 gpd facility:US$70,000 (166,600 Real)
20,000 gpd facility:US$95,000 (226,100 Real)
1515
Vehicle Fuel
Com pressedlandfill gas (CNG)
Liquefied landfillgas (LNG) -CryoFuels®
Early stages ofcom m ercialdevelopm ent
1616
Advantages andDisadvantagesAdvantages
LNG/CNG price lowerthan diesel fuel costReduction in use offossil fuels
Reduce local ozonepollution
DisadvantagesVery sm all percentage ofalternative-fuel vehiclesVehicle conversion costsLim ited track record ofperform ance
1717
CostsRetrofit vehicles= $3,500 to$4,000 (8,300 to9500 Real) pervehicle
Fueling station =$1,000,000(2,380,000 Real)
Fuel price = $.48to $1.26 (1.15 to3.50 Real) pergallon
1818
M icro Turbines
A high speed turbo-charged generatorthat producesstationary power
Has been used inaviation for som etim e
Available in sizesranging between25kW to 75 kW
Allied Signal Parallon 75
1919
Advantages andDisadvantages
AdvantagesLow em issionsM ultiple fuel capabilityLight weight/sm all sizeDoes not require any pretreatm ent of the fuelLower m aintenance costs
DisadvantagesLow efficiencies
Has been tested m ostly for natural gasapplications
Lim ited track record of perform ance
2020
Costs
Capital Cost$700 to $1200 (1660 to 3350Real) per kW
Cost is expected to reduceto half in the next five years
O &M Cost< $0.01 (0.02 Real) per kW h
2121
Fuel Cells
Chem icallyconvert gas toelectricity
Dem onstrationphasetechnology
Northeast Utilities 200 kW Fuel Cell
2222
Advantages
AdvantagesLow em issions
Reduction in use of fossil fuels
DisadvantagesHigh cost
Lim ited track record of perform ance
2323
Costs
Approxim ately $3,000 (7140 Real)per kW
200 kW dem onstration unit atCalifornia landfill = US$1.5 m illion(3,500,000 Real)
2525
Advantages andDisadvantages
AdvantagesM eets energy needs of greenhouse
Increasing com petition and shrinking profitm argins shifts focus to energy efficiency
Cost effective production of warm weathercrops in otherwise cost-prohibitive growingseasons
DisadvantagesRequires locating a greenhouse in closeproxim ity of a landfill
Seasonal variability
2626
Costs
A project in the U.S. estim ated thatit costs US$4.80 (11.40 Real) perM M Btu
Lim ited cost inform ation isavailable
2727
Technologies of the Future
Therm al HybridElectric (THE)Sun Dish
Dual “fuel”Stirling-cycleengineCom bines solarand LFG powerResearch anddevelopm entscale technology
2828
Advantages andDisadvantages
AdvantagesHigh-efficiency solar system
Low em issions
Reduction in use of fossil fuels
DisadvantagesHigh cost
Lim ited track record ofperform ance
Only suitable for certain locations
Sm all output capacity
3030
Sum m ary
M any ways to beneficially utilize LFG
Available niche technologies range fromresearch and developm ent stage units tocom m ercially available system s
Technologies exist for low and highvolum es of LFG production
Selection of technology is projectspecific
Top Related