US 11,883,864 B2
Automated compliance measurement and control for landfill gas extraction systems
Peter Quigley, Duxbury, MA (US); Ian Martin, Higganum, CT (US); Jack Rowbottom, Swansea, MA (US); and Nicole Neff, North Potomac, MD (US)
Assigned to Loci Controls, Inc., Wareham, MA (US)
Filed by Loci Controls, Inc., Wareham, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/152,252.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/967,147, filed on Jan. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0229142 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. B09B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B09B 1/006 (2013.01) 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for use by a system coupled to at least one sensor and at least one flow control mechanism of a gas extraction system, the system comprising at least one controller and being configured for use in connection with a landfill gas extraction process for extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via the gas extraction system, the method comprising:
using the at least one controller of the system to perform:
obtaining, based on at least one measurement made by the at least one sensor, a first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system;
determining, based on the first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system, whether pressure in the gas extraction system is negative;
when it is determined that the pressure in the gas extraction system is not negative, increasing a flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill via the gas extraction system;
subsequent to increasing the flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill and after a first amount of time has passed since the obtaining the first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system, obtaining a second measure of pressure in the gas extraction system; and
in response to determining that the second measure of pressure in the gas extraction system is not negative and if the first amount of time is greater than or equal to a threshold amount of time, performing a second corrective action other than increasing the flow rate of the landfill gas being extracted from the landfill via the gas extraction system.
 
8. A system coupled to at least one sensor and at least one flow control mechanism of a gas extraction system, the system being configured for use in connection with a landfill gas extraction process for extraction of landfill gas from a landfill via the gas extraction system, the system comprising:
at least one controller configured to:
obtain, based on at least one measurement made by the at least one sensor, a first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system;
determine, based on the first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system, whether pressure in the gas extraction system is negative;
when it is determined that the pressure in the gas extraction system is not negative, increase a flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill via the gas extraction system;
subsequent to increasing the flow rate of landfill gas being extracted from the landfill and after a first amount of time has passed since obtaining the first measure of pressure in the gas extraction system, obtaining a second measure of pressure in the gas extraction system; and
in response to determining that the second measure of pressure in the gas extraction system is not negative and if the first amount of time is greater than or equal to a threshold amount of time, performing a second corrective action other than increasing the flow rate of the landfill gas being extracted from the landfill via the gas extraction system.