[Application of cowl in semi-aerobic landfill and its influence in initial stage]

Enhancement of semi-aerobic landfill performance through a cowl installed on the gas ventilation pipeline using a simulated landfill box with 2 m x 1 m x 2 m in size was investigated, aiming at the maximum methane emission reduction. Influence of cowl on semi-aerobic environment formation was explored, and variety of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations at different wind speeds and mechanism of cowl operation were identified to provide information on design and improvement of semi-aerobic landfill. The results show that the cowl speeds up the semi-aerobic environment to shape, from over 50 days down to approximately 40 days, and reduces methane emission by promoting methane transformation to carbon dioxide. When the cowl is taken off suddenly during the normal operation, carbon dioxide concentration falls to 15.88% from the initial 16.67% immediately, and methane concentration increases to 16.12% from 6.14%. However, the carbon dioxide and methane concentration becomes 19.18% and 10.05%, respectively, as the cowl is taken on again. Additionally, methane emissions in the exhaust gas were monitored at different wind speeds of 2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5, 8.0 m/s, and finds that the methane concentration reduces from the initial 15% to below 5% when the wind speed increases from 2 m/s to 8 m/s.