Devices and techniques relating to landfill gas extraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12544812-B2
Application number	US-202418733111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2024
Priority date	Nov 4, 2013
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control system for monitoring extraction of landfill gas from a landfill, the control system comprising:
at least one sensor device coupled to a pipe through which the landfill gas extracted from the landfill flows, the at least one sensor device being configured to measure a concentration of methane in a sample of landfill gas; and at least one controller configured to perform:
accepting user input via a user interface, the user input indicating at least one value for a methane concentration range for use in determining that a notification is to be sent when measured methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range;
setting the methane concentration range based on the user input;
obtaining, using the at least one sensor device, a measurement of the concentration of methane in the sample of landfill gas;
determining whether the measurement of methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range; and
transmitting a notification when it is determined that the measurement of the concentration of methane in the sample of landfill gas is outside of the methane concentration range indicated by the user input.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to obtain a measurement of pressure in a gas extraction system comprising the pipe.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to obtain a measurement of a flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor device is disposed in the pipe.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to draw the sample of landfill gas to the at least one sensor device from the pipe via an input port coupled to the pipe.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas analysis sample chamber comprising an input port coupled to the pipe and wherein the at least one sensor device is disposed in the gas analysis sample chamber.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein the gas analysis sample chamber further comprises an output port coupled to the pipe.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the methane concentration range is 45% to 55%.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one controller is further configured to obtain, using the at least one sensor device, a measurement of a concentration of oxygen in the sample of landfill gas; the at least one controller is further configured to receive an oxygen concentration range for use in determining that a notification is to be sent when measured oxygen concentration is outside of the oxygen concentration range; and the at least one controller is further configured to transmit an oxygen notification when it is determined that the measurement of the concentration of oxygen in the sample of landfill gas is outside of the oxygen concentration range.

10 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to display, via the user interface, the measurement of the concentration of methane in the sample of the landfill gas.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller comprises one or more processors.

12 . A method for monitoring extraction of landfill gas from a landfill, the method comprising:
performing, with at least one controller:
receiving user input via a user interface, the user input indicating at least one value for a methane concentration range for use in determining that a notification is to be sent when measured methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range;
setting the methane concentration range based on the user input;
obtaining, using at least one sensor device, a measurement of a concentration of methane in a sample of landfill gas;
determining whether the measurement of methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range; and
transmitting a first notification when it is determined that the measurement of the concentration of methane in the sample of landfill gas is outside of the methane concentration range indicated by the user input.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor device is disposed in a pipe through which the sample of landfill gas flows.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising drawing the sample of landfill gas to the at least one sensor device from a pipe through which the sample of landfill gas flows via an input port coupled to the pipe.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor device is disposed in a gas analysis sample chamber comprising an input port coupled to a pipe through which the sample of landfill gas flows.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the gas analysis sample chamber further comprises an output port coupled to the pipe.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the methane concentration range is 45% to 55%.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one controller comprises one or more processors.

19 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for monitoring extraction of landfill gas from a landfill, the method comprising:
receiving user input via a user interface, the user input indicating at least one value for a methane concentration range for use in determining that a notification is to be sent when measured methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range; setting the methane concentration range based on the user input; obtaining, using at least one sensor device, a measurement of a concentration of methane in a sample of landfill gas; determining whether the measurement of methane concentration is outside of the methane concentration range; and transmitting a first notification when it is determined that the measurement of the concentration of methane in the sample of landfill gas is outside of the methane concentration range indicated by the user input.

Assignees

• Loci Controls Inc

Inventors

• Campanella Andrew J
• Sims Melinda
• Pallo Nathan
• Martin Ian

Classifications

• G01N33/0004

  Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• G01N33/0047

  Organic compounds · CPC title

• B09B1/00

  Dumping solid waste · CPC title

• G01N33/0063

  using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means · CPC title