chapter 4: temperature inside the landfill

presented. The possibility of ambient temperature affecting the average temperature inside the
landfill has been investigated.
The implications of the results of this study may be far reaching. If the temperature
sensors were to be used for tracking of moisture arrival then capital and operational cost being
used for moisture sensors can be reduced. Also if the pattern of the change in temperature due to
biological activity enhancement after liquid injection is known in advance then it can be used to
control biological activity inside the landfill, avoid the costs used in repairing geomembrane
damaged by high temperatures, and prevent landfill fires. In addition, the volume of waste
wetted during injection has been a matter of concern for landfill managers as well as researchers;
therefore an attempt has been made to estimate the volume of waste in which an increase of
moisture content occurs as a result of liquid injection.
Objectives of the research are as following:
1.2 Research Objectives
1. To investigate the efficacy of temperature sensors to track moisture arrival,
2. To determine the area wetted by an injection well,
3. To determine the pattern of temperature after injection, and
4. To determine the impact of ambient temperature on the temperature inside the landfill
1.3 Organization of Thesis
Chapter 2 describes the literature review on technologies for measuring the moisture content in
landfilled waste and moisture movement. It also discusses the importance of temperature in the
operation of a bioreactor landfill and the relationship between liquid injection and the
temperature in the waste. Furthermore, site description and methodology used for data analysis
has been included in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 consists of the research paper related to this study.
This paper is to be submitted to Waste Management. Chapter 4 also presents the results and then
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