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Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices vs. Future Possibilities

Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices vs. Future Possibilities. Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices.

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Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices vs. Future Possibilities

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  1. Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices vs. Future Possibilities

  2. Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices • Today’s primary use of capture Methane from a landfill or digester is Electrical Power Generation by internal combustion engine (turbine or reciprocating) typical installation consist of the following major components: • Gas compression equipment for gas field extraction and compression to 2-3 psig • Internal Combustion Engine is usually a reciprocating engine that manufactured for numerous other commercial applications with some enhancements to run on landfill or digester gas. • Engine is coupled to synchronous generator. • Electrical power controlled and connected to the grid via common electrical switchgear with some additional controls for load control. • Electrical substation consisting of station transformer (stepping up to utility distribution voltage and well as utility tie breaker (at distribution voltage.

  3. Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices • Why is electrical power generation the preferred choice? • Financially feasible in most areas of the country. • Proven technology that is relatively simple with a system that is comprised of common everyday components. • Operation fits in well with day to day operation of a landfill. • Low risk compared to alternatives • Other common current practices: • Direct fired heating examples: leachate evaporation, asphalt plant, space heating • Steam production for various commercial and industrial processes.

  4. Methane Capture and Use: Current Practices • Current state of landfill methane to energy development • Market is mature; almost all large landfills have projects or are committed to projects. • Most opportunities today involve landfills with 1000 SCFM or less of gas. • In cases where there is REC market and or high electrical energy cost smaller power plants once thought to be unfeasible are now feasible. • Changing landscape of the energy market opens new possibilities for methane use.

  5. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Conversion of LFG to pipe line quality gas • Different technologies used: • membrane separation process • pressure swing adsorption • absorption process using a liquid solvent • Benefits • Delivery of renewable energy to anyone within the natural gas transmission and distribution network. • Eliminates some emissions issues associated with conventional combustion and power generations. • Extraction and isolation H2S is possible with pressure swing adsorption. • Extraction of CO2 for commercial sale

  6. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Conversion of LFG to pipe line quality gas • Challenges: • High capital cost for equipment • Financial Feasibility is limited to large scale projects • Very limited number current operating applications; technology still developing • Location has to be in close proximity to natural gas pipeline • Uncertainity natural gas market • High parasitic for conversion and compression • CO2 is only suitable for industrial application not food market due impurities and stigma associated with LFG

  7. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Conversion of LFG to CNG for use in vehicular applications • Technologies similar to LFG to pipeline quality with additional compression equipment and storage • Benefits • More commercial vehicles available with CNG option • A small landfill with 250 SCFM of 50% could displace over a 1000 gallons of # 2 diesel fuel. • Cleaner fuel for commercial vehicles. • Extraction and isolation H2S is possible with pressure swing adsorption. • Extraction of CO2 for commercial sale

  8. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Conversion of LFG to CNG for use in vehicular applications • Challenges: • High capital cost for equipment • Financial Feasibility is limited to large scale projects • No current commercial operating applications; technology still very early in developing • Storage • Vehicles available. • Regulatory issues exist in many states • High parasitic for conversion and compression • CO2 is only suitable for industrial application not food market due impurities and stigma associated with LFG

  9. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Combine Heat and Power • Technologies are similar to straight power generation with heat recovery for heating and cooling. • Benefits • With net metering small CHP projects 500 kW or less make very good financial sense. • Inexpensive energy source for electricity, heating and cooling for industrial or commercial real estate development in close proximity to a landfill. • Total thermal efficiency approaching 85% are possible. • Small scale possibilities • Challenges • Net metering • Electrical interconnect. • Island operation • Location must have loads (electrical and heat) in close proximity of landfill.

  10. Methane Capture and Use: Future Possibilities • Other Possibilities • Conversion to methanol or ethanol • Fuel Cells • Hydrogen Production

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