Methane emission estimates using chamber and tracer release experiments for a municipal waste water treatment plant

摘要

This study presents two methods for estimating methane emissions froma waste water treatment plant (WWTP) along with results from a measurementcampaign at a WWTP in Valence, France. These methods, chamber measurementsand tracer release, rely on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopyand cavity ring-down spectroscopy instruments. We show that the tracerrelease method is suitable for quantifying facility- and some process-scaleemissions, while the chamber measurements provide insight into individualprocess emissions. Uncertainties for the two methods are described anddiscussed. Applying the methods to CH emissions of the WWTP, we confirmthat the open basins are not a major source of CH on the WWTP (about10 % of the total emissions), but that the pretreatment and sludgetreatment are the main emitters. Overall, the waste water treatment plant is representative of an average French WWTP.