• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2009

As new small scale LFG (landfill gas) energy project model which can improve economic feasibility limited due to the economy of scale, LFG-Microturbine combined heat and power system with $CO_2$ fertilization into greenhouses was proposed and investigated including basic design process prior to the system installation at Gwang-ju metro sanitary landfill. The system features $CH_4$ enrichment for stable microturbine operation, reduction of compressor power consumption and low CO emission, and $CO_2$ supplement into greenhouse for enhancement plant growth. From many other researches, high $CO_2$ concentration was found to enhance $CO_2$ assimilation (also known as photosynthesis reaction) which converts $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ to sugar using light energy. For small scale landfills which produce LFG under $3\;m^3$/min, among currently available prime movers, microturbine is the most suitable power generation system and its low electric efficiency can be improved with heat recovery. Besides, since its exhaust gas contains very low level of harmful contaminants to plant growth such as NOx, CO and SOx, microturbine exhaust gas is a suitable and economically advantageous $CO_2$ source for $CO_2$ fertilization in greenhouse. The LFG-Microturbine combined heat and power generation system with $CO_2$ fertilization into greenhouse gas to enhance plant growth is technologically and economically feasible and improves economical feasibility compared to other small scale LFG energy project model.