Currently Penn State composts 4000 tons (2000 lbs = 1 ton) of organic waste (C_7
ID: 235531 • Letter: C
Question
Currently Penn State composts 4000 tons (2000 lbs = 1 ton) of organic waste (C_70 H_110O_50N) per year. Below you will do some calculations based on this compost. Calculate how much C0_2 is saved because the waste does not have to be trucked to the landfill. Assume the landfill is 70 miles away. The garbage truck holds 26 cubic yards and gets 2.9 mpg when the truck is full and 3.5 mpg when the truck is empty. The bulk density of the waste is 650 lb/yd^3. Calculate the total C0_2 saved assuming the truck goes to the landfill full and comes back empty. Assume that burning diesel produces 20.4 lb CO_2/gal. (4.3 times 10^5 lb CO_2/year) Calculate how much CH_4 and C0_2 would be produced if the 4000 tons of compost decomposed in the landfill. (65.6 times 10^6 lb C0_2 equivalent) One engineer suggests that instead of composting, you collect the methane from the landfill and use it power the garbage trucks. Calculate how many miles a full garbage truck (getting 2.9 mpg) can drive on the methane produced from the compost. Assume 5.66 lbs of CH_4 is equivalent to 1 gallon of gasoline (based on energy) and that the landfill is 70% efficient in producing methane. Would this cover the miles required for the landfill? (9.2 times 10^5 miles) Name some other considerations you need to make before you would chose to truck the compost to the landfill and use the methane to fuel the truck.Explanation / Answer
Answer A:
Since the state is using compost and hence saving the fuel on trucking to the landfill site the calculation of total CO2 saved is as hereunder:
Distance of landfill site- 70 miles
Total distance- 140 miles
The truck has to go to the landfill full and returned back empty
Fuel consumption: 2.9 mpg full = 70/2.9
=24.13 g
3.5 mpg empty
=70/3.5
=20 g
Total consumption= 24.13+20 g
=44.13 g
Since burning of diesel produces 4.3*105 lb CO2 per gallon
Hence total CO2 saved = 44.13 *(4.3*105) lb
=189.7931*105 lb
=1.89*107 lb CO2
Answer B:
B:
Methane & CO2 Generation:
As per the IPCC the LFG consists of 50% of CH4 and 40% of CO2 apart from other gases.
SO if the gases produced is equivalent to 65.6*10^6 lb CO2
It will consist of 50% of CH4
i.e. 65.6*10^6*.5
= 32.80*10^6 lb
CO2 Component= . 65.6*10^6*.4
=26.2 * 10^6 lb
Answer C:
Methane Production estimate
== 32.80*10^6 lbs
Actual Methane Production= (32.80*10^6)*.7 (efficiency 70 percent)
= 22.96 * 10^6 lbs
Methane Required-
5.66 lbs required for 1 mile
Total methane required to power the truck
=(9.2*10^5)/5.66
=16.25 * 10^4 lbs
Answer- Methane output is sufficient to meet the requirement of powering the truck
Answer D-
The other consideration before trucking the compost to landfill and powering the truck using methane are financial and environmental consideration.
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