Testing of Fuel Cells to Recover Energy from Landfill Gas; Groton Landfill

摘要

The report summarizes the results of follow-on tests, following a four-phase EPA211u001eprogram. The environmental impact of widespread use of this concept would be a 211u001esignificant reduction of global warming gas emissions (methane and carbon 211u001edioxide). The folow-on testing, conducted by Northeast Utilities at the Groton, 211u001eCT, landfill, indicated the suitability of the landfill-gas-to-energy conversion 211u001eequipment to operate on a wide range of landfill gas compositions. Significant 211u001etest results include successful transportability of the landfill-gas-to-energy 211u001eequipment, and operation of the gas pretreatment unit (GPU) for an additional 211u001e4168 hours (total of 6413 hours) while continuing to remove halides and sulfur 211u001ecompounds to much less than the specified <3 ppmV. The fuel cell operated for an 211u001eadditional 3313 hours (total of 4020 hours), and reflected 38.1% efficiency at 211u001e140 kW with a maximum output of 165 kW. Fuel cell adjusted availability was 211u001e96.5%, with one forced outage in the entire 4020 hours of operation on landfill 211u001egas.