Prediction of particulate air pollution from a landfill site using CFD and LIDAR techniques

Abstract

Landfill sites have been the most common way of eliminating solid urban waste, as well as that of public and mining wastes. Landfill sites are a constant source of environmental pollution and wind is the most important contributing factor to air pollution, due to the erosion which it produces over the landfill site surfaces, transporting dust away from the source point. This causes serious risks for human health and general dirt in the surrounding areas of the landfill site. The result of dust air pollution produced in a landfill site is analysed through CFD3D (Computational Fluid Dynamics) by joining the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technique and Ansys CFX 10.0 software. The CFD simulations determine the wind velocity distribution on the landfill site surface and the different particle threshold friction velocities which determine the dust emission in multiphase simulations (air-particles). These simulations are validated from field data obtained in three measurement programmes for each type of landfill site surface treatment which has been studied. It was determined that the superficial landfill site treatment with the lowest air pollution is tall grass and bushes. The methodology used can be applied to the dust emission calculation in the design or evaluation of other landfill sites.

A review on the importance of metals and metalloids in atmospheric dust and aerosol from mining operations

“…More recently, FLUENT CFD software has become an approved air pollution tool by The EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory. In a different study, Torno et al (2011) calculated dust emissions using CFD and realistic topography obtained from Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) techniques, which provides high resolution topographic data, and wind events from a fixed direction correlated well with wind speed measurements. Badr and Harion (2005, 2007) used CFD to model fugitive dust emissions from stockpiles.…”

Evaluating Wind Erosion Sensitivity for Landfill Sites in New Mexico Using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)

“…Given the weight assigned to vegetative cover, wind erosion sensitivity heavily depends upon an accurate assessment of this major resistive force to soil loss. Torno et al [58] modeled dust emissions from a landfill surface in northern Spain using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).…”

An urgent call to think globally and act locally on landfill disposable plastics under and after covid-19 pandemic: Pollution prevention and technological (Bio) remediation solutions

“…Nevertheless, these can be ineffective with some small-sized microplastics that can have adsorbed contaminants/pathogens, which calls for more research and innovative technology [57], as explored in the next section. Without a proper mitigation treatment, such emissions of pollutants (either solid, gas, or liquids) produced in solid urban waste landfill sites can last approximately three decades or even centuries after the landfill site is closed [67,68], with continuous loads to the surrounding environments [29].…”