Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Landfill Biogas
Municipal solid waste,
other organic waste,
moisture
Bacterial
digestion in
a landfill
Particulate matter,
odor, liquid waste
Gas collection system
Separator
Liquid waste
Blower, compressor
Dryer
Sulfur, carbon
dioxide, solid wastes
Filters and scrubbers
Biogas
Air
Gaseous
emissions
Combustion
Engine or gas
turbine and
generator
Gaseous
emissions
Boiler
Mechanical energy,
heat, electricity
Heat, steam
FIGURE 5.12
Landfill biogas system flow diagram.
operation of the biomass energy facility, power generation, biofuel production, and
associated maintenance activities. Many of the environmental impacts resulting
from these activities are discussed in the following text.
B
iomass
e
nergy
c
onstruction
i
mpacts
*
During the biomass energy facility construction phase, typical construction activities
include ground clearing (removal of vegetative cover), grading, excavation, blasting,
trenching, drilling, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and construction and installa-
tion of facilities. Biomass power plants and some biogas plants that produce more
electricity than required to operate the facility need transformers and transmission
lines to deliver electricity to the power grid. Landfill gas production would require
the drilling of wells for extraction of the gas and might require pipeline construction
*
Adapted from Tribal Energy and Environmental Information Clearinghouse,
http://teeic.anl.gov/er/
