A Conceptual Framework for Biothermal variations in Municipal Solid Waste landfill under Mesophilic Temperature Regime

Abstract

Conversion of organic fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into energy involves a complex biological and thermal reactions. This study presents a conceptual framework for biothermal variations in MSW landfill based on computational modelling. Mesophilic temperature range (291-321 K) was modelled using SOLIDWORKS simulation module based on steady state thermal analysis, and the biothermal variations obtained were graphically presented in the study. The rate of heat generation in the landfill model varied in the range of 0.111-0.784 W/m3 at initial temperature distribution of 291 K to the range of 2.216-2.837 W/m3 at a terminal temperature distribution of 321 K. The landfill gas temperature varied in the range of 297-306 K at initial landfill temperature of 291 K to the range of 313-324 K at a terminal landfill temperature of 321 K. The aforementioned biothermal landfill variations revealed that, heat is a function of temperature upon which biogas evolve during anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, the total heat generated at the lower section of a landfill is higher than the heat total heat at the upper section of the system. With proper understanding of the biothermal variations in a landfill, heat energy and biogas can be harnessed for domestic and industrial purposes.