One-dimensional model for municipal solid waste (MSW) settlement considering coupled mechanical-hydraulic-gaseous effect and concise calculation

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 2473 - 2483
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiaodong, Shi, Jianyong, Qian, Xuede, Hu, Yadong, Peng, Gongxun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biochemistry; Biodegradation, Environmental; Cities; Computer Simulation; Coupled mechanical-hydraulic-gaseous effect; Degradation; Dissipation; Exact sciences and technology; Gases - analysis; Mathematical models; Models, Theoretical; MSW; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Porosity; Pressure; Refuse Disposal - methods; Settlement; Settlements; Temperature; Time Factors; Urban and domestic wastes; Wastes; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pressure; MSW; Model; Settlement; Coupled mechanical-hydraulic-gaseous effect; Biodegradation; Urban waste; One dimensional model; Solid waste; Hydraulic conductivity; Modeling; Interstitial water
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.013

► A new model entitled the coupled effect and degradation for MSW is proposed. ► Excess pore gas pressure will have an increase stage due to degradation. ► Excess pore water pressure depends on hydraulic conductivity of MSW. ► Settlement of MSW can be improved by considering coupled effect. ► A new formula is proposed to simulate degradation.
A new model entitled the coupled mechanical-hydraulic-gaseous effect and biochemical degradation for municipal solid waste (MSW) is proposed to simulate and predict the MSW settlement in this study. The coupled model can be used to simulate and predict the distributions of gas and water pressure as well as total waste settlement. Model verification indicates that because of degradation, the excess pore gas pressure increases rapidly and reaches a peak value in a short time, and then it dissipates gradually. But the excess pore water pressure may not always increase at the beginning, which depends on hydraulic conductivity of MSW. Dissipation of the excess pore water pressure is slower than that of the excess pore gas pressure. A waste settlement experiment was conducted in the laboratory using a synthetic MSW. The data was used to verify the developed model, which gave satisfactory results. Based on the experimental results, a new formula is proposed to simulate biochemical degradation.