Design Charts for Selecting Minimum Setback Distance from Side Slope to Horizontal Trench System in Bioreactor Landfills

The primary objective of bioreactor landfill is to achieve adequate and rapid distribution of moisture in landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) to accelerate the anaerobic biodegradation of the organic fraction within MSW. A horizontal trench system (HT) is commonly adopted for leachate distribution in MSW under pressurized conditions. However, this approach should be implemented carefully due to the potential instability of landfill slopes that comes from the generation and distribution of excessive pore fluid pressures. In this study, HT design charts are presented that determine the optimal location of horizontal trench systems from the side slope (i.e., minimum lateral setback distance) under continuous leachate addition with maximum applied injection pressures, for which the landfill slopes remain stable [factor of safety (FOS) where FOS ≥ 1.5]. Use of any higher injection pressure and/or shorter lateral setback distance of HT than the one presented in the design charts would result in an unacceptable design of the bioreactor side slope (FOS < 1.5). The design chart was developed based on a parametric study that used a numerical two-phase flow model that involved different slope configurations and landfill waste depths. MSW heterogeneity and anisotropy, as well as unsaturated hydraulic properties, were taken into consideration in these simulations. Transient changes in pore water and gas pressures due to leachate recirculation were accounted for dually in the slope stability computations. The importance of these design charts is illustrated using a practical example. Site-specific conditions and the expertise and prior experience of a designer or operator must also be adequately considered and utilized with the design charts presented here for the safe design of a horizontal trench system in a bioreactor landfill.     

Horizontal trench system effects on leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills

Horizontal trenches (HTs) are constructed during the waste filling for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills. Leachate distribution depends on HT configuration (i.e., spacing between successive HTs), leachate injection rate, modes of injection, and hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity. Presently, the effects of these variables on the moisture distribution have not been studied systematically. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the effect of the HTs variables on the moisture distribution and pore fluid pressures. A two-phase flow model is used to model a bioreactor landfill having an HT leachate injection system. It quantifies the effects of the unsaturated hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity, trench configuration, leachate injection flux, and mode of injection on hydraulic behaviour. The results show that unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and MSW heterogeneity significantly shape the zone of influence and excess pore pressures. Under heterogeneous-anisotropic conditions, the leachate migrates more laterally and the developed pore-pressures are lower than for homogeneous MSW. A closely-spaced, multi-level, staggered HT system is found to provide uniform and adequate moisture distribution in MSW. An intermittent mode of injection that alternates between the shallow and deep trenches with a higher leachate injection flow rate is found to be effective to control the excess pore pressures.     

Permeability of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfill with Degradation

Bioreactor landfills are operated for rapid stabilization of waste, increased landfill gas generation for cost-effective energy recovery, gain in landfill space, enhanced leachate treatment, and reduced post closure maintenance period. The fundamental process of waste stabilization in bioreactor landfill is recirculation of generated leachate back into the landfills. This creates a favorable environment for rapid microbial decomposition of the biodegradable solid waste. In order to better estimate the generated leachate and design of leachate recirculation system, clear understanding of the permeability of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with degradation and the factors influencing the permeability is necessary. The objective of the paper is to determine the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition. Four small-scale bioreactor landfills were built in laboratory and samples were prepared to represent each phase of decomposition. Then, the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition were determined. A series of constant head permeability tests were performed on the samples generated in laboratory scale bioreactor landfills to determine variation of permeability of MSW with degradation. The test results indicated that the permeability of MSW in bioreactor landfills decreases with decomposition. Based on the test results, the permeability of MSW at the first phase of degradation was estimated as 0.0088 cm/s at density 700 kg/m³. However, with degradation, permeability decreased to 0.0013 cm/s at the same density, for MSW at Phase IV.     

Design of drainage blankets for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills using two-phase flow modeling

Drainage blankets (DB) are used for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills and consist of highly permeable material placed over a large area of the landfill with the leachate injection pipe embedded in the material at specified locations. DBs are generally installed at different depth levels during the waste filling operations. Very limited information is reported on performance of DBs, and that which exists is based on a small number of field monitoring and modeling studies. A rational method for the design of landfills using DBs has not been developed. This study performs a parametric analysis based on a validated two-phase flow model and presents design charts to guide the design of DBs for given hydraulic properties of MSW, the leachate injection rate and the dimensions and locations of the DB as measured from the leachate collection and recirculation system (LCRS) located at the bottom of the landfill cell. Numerical simulations were performed for the two established MSW conditions: homogeneous–isotropic and heterogeneous–anisotropic waste. The optimal levels of leachate saturation, wetted width, wetted area and developed pore water and pore gas pressures were determined, and design charts using the normalized parameters were developed. An example is presented on the use of design charts for typical field application.     

Leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills considering the effect of MSW settlement on hydraulic properties

During leachate recirculation, a bioreactor landfill will experience more rapid and complete settlement, which is mainly attributed to the weight of municipal solid waste (MSW) and its biodegradation. The settlement of MSW may cause the decrease of void ratio of MSW, which will influence the permeability of MSW and the leachate quantity that can be held in bioreactor landfills. In this study, a new one-dimensional model of leachate recirculation using infiltration pond is developed. The new method is not only capable of describing leachate flow considering the effect of MSW settlement, but also accounting separately leachate flow in saturated and unsaturated zones. Moreover, the effects of operating parameters are evaluated with a parametric study. The analyzing results show that the influence depth of leachate recirculation considering the effect of MSW settlement is smaller than the value without considering the effect. The influence depth and leachate recirculation volume increase with the increase of infiltration pond pressure head and MSW void ratio. This indicates that the field compaction of MSW has a great influence on the leachate recirculation.     

Dynamic Properties of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfills with Degradation

Bioreactor landfills are operated to enhance refuse decomposition, gas production, and waste stabilization. The major aspect of bioreactor landfill operation is the recirculation of collected leachate back through the refuse mass. Due to the presence of additional leachate and accelerated decomposition, the characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in bioreactor landfills are expected to change. About 50% of the continental United States comes under the designated seismic impact zone. The federal regulations have focused increase attention on seismic design of solid waste fills, and have mandated that the solid waste landfills located in the seismic impact zones should be designed to resist the earthquake. Accordingly, assessment of dynamic properties of landfills is one of the major geotechnical tasks in landfill engineering. In order to understand the changes in dynamic properties of bioreactor waste mass with time and decomposition, four small scale bioreactor landfills were simulated in laboratory and samples were prepared to represent each phase of decomposition. The state of decomposition was quantified by methane yield, pH, and volatile organic content (VOC). A number of Resonant Column (RC) tests were performed to evaluate the dynamic properties (stiffness and damping) of MSW. The test results indicated that the normalized shear modulus reduction and damping curves are significantly affected by the degree of decomposition. The shear modulus increased from 2.11 MPa in Phase I to 12.56 MPa in Phase IV. The increase was attributed to the breakdown of fibrous nature of solid waste particles as it degrades. Therefore, considering MSW properties to be uniform throughout the bioreactor landfill is not a reasonable assumption and the shear modulus reduction curves should be evaluated based on the degree of MSW decomposition, rather than the sample composition itself.     

Shear strength characterization of municipal solid waste at the Suzhou landfill, China

The current practice of slope stability analysis for a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill usually overlooks the dependence of waste properties on the fill age or embedment depth. Changes in shear strength of MSW as a function of fill age were investigated by performing field and laboratory studies on the Suzhou landfill in China. The field study included sampling from five boreholes advanced to the bottom of the landfill, cone penetration tests and monitoring of pore fluid pressures. Twenty-six borehole samples representative of different fill ages (0 to 13 years) were used to perform drained triaxial compression tests. The field and laboratory study showed that the waste body in the landfill can be sub-divided into several strata corresponding to different ranges of fill age. Each of the waste strata has individual composition and shear strength characteristics. The triaxial test results showed that the MSW samples exhibited a strain-hardening and contractive behavior. As the fill age of the waste increased from 1.7 years to 11 years, the cohesion mobilized at a strain level of 10% was found to decrease from 23.3 kPa to 0 kPa, and the mobilized friction angle at the same strain level increasing from 9.9° to 26°. For a confinement stress level greater than 50 kPa, the shear strength of the recently-placed MSW seemed to be lower than that of the older MSW. This behavior was consistent with the cone penetration test results. The field measurement of pore pressures revealed a perched leachate mound above an intermediate cover of soils and a substantial leachate mound near the bottom of the landfill. The measurements of shear strength properties and pore pressures were utilized to assess the slope stability of the Suzhou landfill.     

Stability Analyses of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills with Decomposition

A bioreactor landfill is operated to enhance refuse decomposition, gas production, and waste stabilization. Some of the potential advantages of bioreactor include rapid stabilization of waste, increased landfill gas generation, gain in landfill space, enhanced leachate treatment, and reduced post closure maintenance period. Due to the accelerated decomposition and settlement of solid waste, bioreactor landfills are gaining popularity as an alternative to the conventional Subtitle D landfills. However, the addition of leachate to accelerate the decomposition changes the physical and engineering characteristic of waste and therefore affects the geotechnical characteristics of waste mass. The changes in the physical and mechanical characteristics of solid waste with time and decomposition are expected to affect the shear strength of waste mass. The objective of this paper is to analyze the stability of solid waste slopes within the bioreactor landfills, as a function of time and decomposition. The finite element program PLAXIS is used for numerical modeling of bioreactor landfills. Stability analysis of bioreactor landfills was also performed using limit equilibrium program STABL. Finally the results from finite element program PLAXIS and limit equilibrium program STABL are compared. GSTABL predicted a factor of safety of more than 1 in all the cases analyzed, whereas PLAXIS predicted a factor of safety of less than 1 at advanced stages for a slope of 2:1. However, the interface failures between solid waste and landfill liners have not been considered in this paper.     

不同降雨模式下山谷型垃圾填埋场水分运移及其稳定性研究

近10年的运营经验表明,国内南方地区第1批建造的山谷型垃圾填埋场中的渗滤液水位一般较高。同时,现有研究表明,降雨入渗引起渗滤液水位过高是垃圾填埋场失稳的主要诱因之一。因此,研究强降雨条件下山谷型垃圾填埋场的水分运移规律及其稳定性,具有重要的现实意义。基于七子山填埋场浅层、中层和深层垃圾土的土-水特征曲线和Brooks-Corey公式,利用非线性拟合技术得到垃圾土的渗透性函数;运用饱和-非饱和渗流理论,对递减型、中心型、增强型和平均型4种降雨模式下七子山填埋场的水分运移进行了数值计算;利用极限平衡理论,对不同降雨模式下七子山填埋场的稳定性进行了分析。结果表明,降雨模式对山谷型垃圾填埋场内的水分运移规律和填埋场的稳定性有显著的影响,递减型降雨模式下填埋场内孔隙水压的变化最大,同时填埋场稳定系数也下降最为明显,为最不利降雨模式;经历7 d 746 mm的极端强降雨后,七子山填埋场具有极大的失稳隐患。     

污泥掺入生活垃圾后的力学特性试验研究

填埋是污泥消化处置的方法之一,由于污泥的工程特性较特殊,填埋会引发很多环境岩土工程问题。考虑到填埋工程会进行分层碾压铺填,在标准击实试验的击实功下制备试样,通过污泥与垃圾土混合后的直接剪切试验、渗透特性试验,考虑淋滤液和降解产气压力共同影响,进行边坡稳定分析。结果表明：污泥和垃圾混合后的强度比垃圾土的强度低,比污泥的强度高,改善了污泥的强度特性;污泥掺入垃圾后的渗透系数与垃圾土的渗透系数相当,没有劣化垃圾土的渗透特性,但比污泥的渗透系数有显著提高;随着污泥掺量的增加,边坡安全系数会先提高后降低,因此,应结合试验和稳定计算结果,确定实际工程的污泥掺入比;考虑降解产气对边坡稳定的影响,安全系数会降低约15%～20%。     

扩建城市垃圾填埋场的地震稳定性分析

结合现场剪切波速试验、室内常规及动三轴试验结果,给出了扩建城市垃圾填埋场地震稳定性的有限元分析方法,并分析了扩建垃圾填埋体沿填埋体内部圆弧滑动面、新老填埋体交界面及底部和背部衬垫系统的地震稳定性。当填埋场中渗滤液水头较低时,扩建填埋体最易发生沿新老填埋体交界面的滑动。与总应力法计算结果相比较发现,总应力法只适合分析输入地震动较小的情况,而当输入地震动较大时,由于它不能考虑动孔压上升所导致的MSW软化而使得其计算的扩建填埋体沿圆弧滑动面的安全系数偏保守。另外,采用Newmark法分析了不同输入地震动时不同横、竖向扩建方案的永久位移,分析表明：扩建填埋体沿新老填埋体交界面的地震永久位移的对数近似与屈服加速度同最大水平加速度的比值呈线性关系,并给出了其永久位移的拟合公式。     

考虑龄期分层的固体废弃物填埋场边坡稳定分析

固体废弃物填埋场长期使用过程中,垃圾土的强度参数随着龄期的变化而变化。在进行固体废弃物填埋场边坡稳定分析时考虑按龄期分层,基于极限分析上限理论,提出了转动-平动组合和多块体平动两种破坏机构。通过水平分层土坡算例的对比分析,验证两种破坏机构的合理性和有效性。进而对填埋场算例按龄期分层分析,结果表明,极限分析上限解的安全系数和破坏机制与强度折减有限单元法非常接近,多块体平动机构通过随机搜索所得的最危险滑裂面优于转动-平动组合机构。最后分析西班牙Coll Cardús固废填埋场,此填埋场是按龄期分层的典型复杂填埋场,运用两种破坏机构所得的安全系数和最危险滑裂面与有限单元法相符。算例分析表明,在不考虑水位的情况下,填埋体堆填时间越长越有利于填埋场的稳定。当填埋体按低、中、高龄期分层形成时,填埋场的整体稳定安全系数介于中龄期和高龄期的均质边坡之间。     

城市垃圾填埋场甲烷资源量与利用前景

垃圾填埋气的主要成分为CH4、CO2等气体,可严重污染大气、地下水和生态环境,并对全球气候变暖产生一定的影响;同时填埋气也是一种清洁可再生能源和资源,回收和利用垃圾填埋气可实现环境、安全、能源、资源、经济多重效益。目前,垃圾填埋气的利用主要为甲烷利用。本文介绍了填埋气中甲烷资源量的计算方法,采用一阶动力模型对国内城市垃圾填埋气中的甲烷排放量进行了计算和预测,获得了城市生活垃圾填埋气中甲烷的资源量的范围,并分析了国内垃圾填埋气排放的特点和趋势以及国内外对填埋气利用的途径、方法及效果。结合清洁发展机制（CDM）项目和国情分析了垃圾填埋气的利用前景,并提出了填埋气回收利用的主要问题和建议,为国内城市生活垃圾填埋气的利用提供了有益参考。     

填埋场粘土类防渗系统研究进展

作为防止污染物扩散的防渗系统是填埋场中最重要的部分之一。在总结国内外众多有关填埋场粘性土防渗系统研究成果的基础上,阐述了粘土类防渗系统的工作机理;从粘性土阻滞特性、污染物运移、改性与替代材料以及防渗系统设计等4个方面综述了粘土类防渗系统研究的最新进展;并据此认为,非饱和渗透特性、吸附效应及基于吸附－扩散效应的设计方法等将成为今后填埋场粘性土防渗系统研究的主要问题。     

Can stable isotopes be used to monitor landfill leachate impact on surface waters?

Bacterially mediated methanogenesis in municipal solid waste landfills has been shown to cause an enrichment of carbon stable isotope ratios of dissolved inorganic carbon and hydrogen stable isotope ratios of water in landfill leachate. In the present study, we investigate the universality of this enrichment in leachate obtained from four diverse landfill sites in New Zealand. At each site, surface water samples upstream and downstream of landfills were analysed to examine the applicability of stable isotope ratios as a tool for monitoring leachate contamination in landfill-associated streams. The design of leachate collection systems, operational history, and landfill location appeared to strongly influence leachate isotopic values and the effectiveness of isotope ratios as an environmental monitoring tool for surface water.     

Statistical Assessment of Unidirectional Propagation of a Leachate Contamination Plume

The leachate produced by the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill of São Pedro da Aldeia (State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) flows almost entirely in one direction guided by a natural ditch in the bottom of a gentle valley. This landfill has been in operation with no concern to environmental protection, such as containment systems or leachate drainage and treatment. This inadequate operation causes severe damage to flora, wildlife and local farmers, due to continuous propagation of contaminants in the groundwater. Field and laboratory measurements of ionic concentrations of several contaminants found in the groundwater adjacent the landfill are presented and interpreted in this paper. Several farms are located adjacent to the landfill, comprising about 1,000 inhabitants that use the ground water for personal use and land farming activities. The main purpose of this paper is to assess the environmental hazard to the surrounding properties as the landfill is still in operation. This is accomplished by estimating the maximum distance travelled by the leachate plume based on the statistical interpretation of the measured ionic concentration of several contaminants found commonly in landfills. The main recommendation coming from the statistical assessment is that safe groundwater consumption should be limited to a minimum distance of 400 m from the contamination source, provided that the quality of ground water is continuously monitored while the MSW landfill is still in operation.     

城市固体废弃物填埋场的岩土工程问题

论述了国内外城市卫生填埋场相关的岩土工程问题及其研究现状,包括卫生填埋场填埋体物理力学性质、卫生填埋场的防渗系统和边坡稳定等一系列岩土工程问题,在此基础上初步探讨了我国城市卫生填埋场相关岩土工程问题的发展前景。     

渗滤液水位以下垃圾体产气对孔隙压力影响研究

为了研究渗滤液水位以下产气对孔隙压力的影响,从孔隙气在渗滤液水位以下特定的流动状态出发,采用峰值产气模型,结合了达西定律、理想气体状态方程和多孔介质流体动力学理论,建立了渗滤液水位以下考虑产气作用的气液迁移模型。运用差分法对产气引起的气液迁移问题进行了数值求解。计算结果表明,渗滤液水位以下垃圾体的产气对孔隙压力的影响主要有渗滤液渗流引起的附加孔隙压力和水位升高引起的附加孔隙压力,按孔隙气所处阶段的不同可以分为孔隙气被封闭时孔压积聚阶段、孔隙气突破孔隙水封闭时的孔压急剧消散阶段以及由对流作用控制的气液运移阶段;高产气速率、高渗滤液水位和低渗透系数都会使得垃圾体内产生较高的孔隙压力;降低填埋场内渗滤液水位是减小产气对孔隙压力影响的有效措施。     

The Role of Fracture Structure in Leachate Pollution at Landfills: A Case Study of a Landfill in Chongqing City

This paper studies a landfill where there are three faults running through. As serious pollution has occurred to the geological environment, the landfill is to be closed up and renovated. The paper aims to explore the role of fracture structure in leachate pollution at the landfill. The research was carried out in several stages. First, mathematical models of the pre-renovation landfill with three faults running through and the landfill after renovation were established. And then, the boundary conditions and parameters of the two mathematical models were determined. The groundwater level of the landfills was simulated in order to modify the two mathematical models. As a result, a feasible mathematical model was achieved. Based on this model, a comparison was made of the COD concentration variations in the inside leachate and outside leachate between the two landfills. Accordingly, the impacts of the fracture structure on the pollution of leachate at the landfills could be identified. The study results show that while faults contribute to the migration of ieachate, they also serve as a confluence of leachate, thus further deteriorating the environment. The COD concentrations of the inside leachate and the outside leachate of the pre-renovation landfill are respectively 800 mg/L and 220 mg/L higher than those of the post-renovation landfill. Therefore, measures must be taken to handle the ieachate seepage in areas where there are faults as well as the neighboring areas so as to get the environmental pollution under control.     

单井注水改变填埋场中垃圾土温度的模拟

为了加速填埋场降解的稳定化,渗滤液回灌常被应用在工程实践中。使用竖井进行回灌是较为有效的方式之一。伴随着液体的注入,由于对流的产生,垃圾土温度势必会发生改变。基于无锡填埋场注水试验,对该现场试验过程中垃圾土温度的改变进行模拟。为此,建立了考虑渗透系数和孔隙率随深度变化的渗流模型,以及考虑渗流影响的热对流-热传导模型,并利用数值计算方法进行求解。在对比计算值和试验值之后,发现所建立的模型能较好地模拟注水期间渗滤液水位和垃圾土温度的变化规律。结果表明：在离注水井超过6 m处的位置,显现的液位相对滞后,至少滞后0.15 d,而且距离越远滞后的时间越长;在液位以下,注水井周围的垃圾土温度均低于初始温度。但是在径向上远离注水井3.6 m之外的垃圾土温度并不是全低于初始温度,在新老垃圾土交界处之上2 m范围内,会出现温度高于初始温度的现象,温度差可达3 ℃;新填垃圾土的已降解时长对单井注水工况下温度分布的影响较为显著。