Abstract: A pump comprising an elongated housing adapted to be positioned in a landfill gas well. The housing has a peripheral wall, an interior chamber and apertures in the peripheral wall leading from the exterior of the housing to the chamber so that liquid can flow from the well into the chamber. A pressure responsive valve member is mounted in the chamber on the peripheral wall and extends across the apertures. A discharge conduit extends from the chamber to a location above the housing. When the liquid level in the chamber rises to a predetermined upper level, gas under pressure is supplied to the chamber. The gas under pressure causes the pressure responsive valve member to close the apertures and it forces the liquid out of the chamber through the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A method of controlling the removal of flowable material from a well using a pump in the well which includes a housing having at least one aperture leading to an interior chamber within the housing so that flowable material from the well can enter the chamber and a pressure responsive valve for opening and closing the aperture. Gas is supplied under pressure through a conduit to the pump to close the valve to terminate entry of the flowable material into the chamber and to force the flowable material out of the pump. The flow of gas under pressure is then terminated, and gas from the conduit is vented. The venting is carried out during the time that the gas under pressure is supplied through the conduit to the pump and following the termination of the flow of gas to the pump to bleed gas under pressure from the conduit and the pump so that flowable material from the well can again enter the chamber.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons in landfill gas by injecting a carrier gas and landfill gas containing chlorinated hydrocarbons through a valve and into a gas chromatographic column containing a column packing capable of separating the chlorinated hydrocarbons. The temperature of the column is appropriately controlled to bring about the elution of the chlorinated hydrocarbons so that the concentration of the chlorinated hydrocarbons can be determined. The valve is a multiple port valve which permits loading of the landfill gas into the valve and subsequent injection of the landfill gas and the carrier gas into the column.

Abstract: A method of installing a liner within an underground pipe from a surface above the pipe wherein an excavation provides access to the pipe comprising installing a liner installation tool on an end portion of the liner to induce a distal curve in the liner, lowering the installation tool and liner into the excavation to induce a proximal curve in the liner and advancing the liner through the installation tool and into the underground pipe.

Abstract: A method for projecting the landfill gas collection rate of a surface collector, including removing some of the cover material from the landfill to expose a test area of the refuse in the landfill and measuring the venting rate of the landfill gas through the test area under essentially steady state pressure conditions in the landfill. Additional cover material is then removed to enlarge the test area and the measuring step is repeated. The measured venting rates are used for projecting the approximate collection rate for a surface collector.

Abstract: In a landfill gas recovery system, the breakthrough danger is minimized, and the system efficiency is improved, by providing pressure-equalizing low-impedance gas paths such as aggregate-filled symmetry trenches positioned within the landfill and surrounding, at least partially, the primary collection zone. The symmetry trenches may be connected to the system's low-pressure source to serve as secondary collectors. A sensing trench positioned within the landfill along the periphery of the collector's zone of influence can be used to monitor the collector pressure and to automatically maintain it at a safe level. The sensing trench can also serve as a secondary equalizing path in heterogeneous landfills. Hot spots may advantageously be tapped by auxiliary collectors whose pressure level bears a predetermined proportional relationship to the primary collector pressure.

Abstract: A method of measuring the flow of landfill gas from a surface of a landfill comprising placing a receiver having an opening therein on the landfill surface so that the landfill gas can flow through the opening and enter the receiver, conducting the landfill gas from the receiver through a conduit, measuring the flow of the gas in the conduit, and discharging the landfill gas from the conduit to the atmosphere through a dynamic pressure attenuator.

Abstract: A method of collecting landfill gas from a landfill comprising providing a porous collector in the landfill having a relatively broad collection zone in the path of migrating landfill gas, controlling the pressure in the collector to induce the landfill gas near the collector to flow into the collector, removing the landfill gas from the collector, and substantially excluding air from the atmosphere from entering the collector when the collector is collecting landfill gas.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure attenuator comprising a housing and a plurality of tubes extending through the interior of the housing and defining wind passages. Each of the tubes has a plurality of radially extending ports. The housing has an inlet to admit a gas to the interior of the housing. When wind passes through the wind passages, the static pressure in the ports is substantially normal ambient static pressure and the dynamic pressure in the ports is essentially zero. Gas from the inlet passes through the ports and the wind passages to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a substantially anaerobic sample from a landfill comprising providing a bore hole which opens at the surface of the landfill, substantially sealing off atmospheric air from a zone which includes at least a region of the bore hole to define an essentially anaerobic zone. Refuse from the anaerobic zone within the bore hole is loaded into a sample container in the anaerobic zone. The sample container is sealed within the anaerobic zone and then removed from the anaerobic zone. The sample can be used for various tests, including a determination of the rate of landfill gas generation by the sample.