Modular Landfill Gas Sensing With Pre-Calibrated Sensor Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Monitoring the volatile carbon gases emitted from landfills is challenging due to their variable composition and flow rates, necessitating complex and sensitive sensors, and existing systems face difficulties in calibrating new sensors without disrupting the entire monitoring system.

Innovation Solution

A modular landfill gas monitoring system with interchangeable smart sensor block assemblies that include calibration information in memory, allowing easy addition or replacement of sensors without recalibration, and a methane detection device using NDIR sensors with multiple channels to accurately measure gas concentrations in mixed gases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex and sensitive sensors are used to monitor variable carbon gases, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas concentration measurement precisionVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is divided into modular sensor blocks that can be independently configured and replaced. Each sensor block contains specific sensors for particular gas types, allowing the system to be customized without redesigning the entire system. This segmentation reduces overall complexity while maintaining high measurement precision for each gas type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of sensor blocks based on changing monitoring needs. Sensors can be added, removed, or replaced without disrupting the entire system, enabling adaptation to variable landfill gas compositions while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If new sensors are added or replaced in the monitoring system, then adaptability is improved, but calibration difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor replacement easeVSAvoidsensor calibration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Sensor blocks are pre-configured with calibration information stored in memory before being installed in the system. This preliminary calibration eliminates the need for complex on-site calibration procedures when sensors are replaced, making the system highly adaptable while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages sensor calibration using stored calibration data, eliminating the need for manual calibration interventions. When sensors are replaced, the system self-adjusts using the pre-stored calibration information, reducing both calibration difficulty and maintenance complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If modular sensor blocks with stored calibration information are used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor block replacement easeVSAvoidcalibration data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Calibration data is accurately determined and stored in memory during the manufacturing process before the sensor blocks are deployed. This preliminary calibration ensures that when sensor blocks are replaced in the field, they operate immediately with high accuracy without requiring additional calibration steps, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining manufacturing precision standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and efficient monitoring of landfill gas constituents with reduced calibration needs, allowing for easy sensor upgrades and adjustments to environmental conditions, improving data accuracy and system flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12467857B2Modular landfill gas measurement

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 ECOTEC SOLUTIONS

AI summary

A system may include a flow valve coupled to a gas inlet of a landfill gas system and a pump coupled to the flow valve and configured to draw gas from the landfill gas system via the gas inlet. The system may further include an oxygen sensor comprising at least one laser configured to detect oxygen concentration in the gas, a carbon dioxide sensor comprising at least one infrared light source configured to detect carbon dioxide concentration in the gas, and/or one or more chemical sensors configured to sense concentrations of a respective one or more chemicals in the gas. A microprocessor may determine sensed data including at least the oxygen concentration, the carbon dioxide concentration, concentrations of the one or more chemicals, the static pressure, the atmospheric pressure, and/or a differential pressure, and communicate the sensed data to a mobile control device.