METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING FUGITIVE METHANE EMISSIONS RATE USING SURFACE METHANE CONCENTRATION

摘要

This invention is a practical methodology to quantify fugitive methaneemissions from soilsurfaces including municipal solid waste landfills. Basis of this technique isstrongcorrelation between near-surface methane concentration (SMC) and methaneemissionrates (MER). SMC measurement is completed through a modified version of anexistingprotocol for qualitative assessment of emissions from landfills established bythe US EPA.SMC values are adjusted (to SMC a) accounting for effects of barometricpressure rate ofchange during sampling campaign. SMC a data are integrated for eachmeasurement zoneto calculate an average SMC a for each zone (SMC a-i), and SMC a-i values arethentranslated to quantitative MER a-i values based on a Correlation Factor (C f).This invention allows for very cost-effective assessments intended for (i)compliance andperformance review of active landfill gas management system, and (ii)quantification ofmethane ernissions from various surfaces including landfill surface (capped oropen), soilcover, biocover.