Comparison of Resistivity and Time Domain Reflectometry Sensors for Assessing Moisture Content in Bioreactor Landfills

Volume 33, Issue 3 (May 2010)

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ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Published Online: 9 March 2010
Page Count: 9

Comparison of Resistivity and Time Domain Reflectometry Sensors for Assessing Moisture Content in Bioreactor Landfills

Jonnalagadda, Sreeram
Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Kumar, Dinesh
Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Jain, Pradeep
Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of FloridaInnovative Waste Consulting Services, LLC, GainesvilleGainesville, FLFL

Gawande, Nitin
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Townsend, Timothy G.
Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Reinhart, Debra R.
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

(Received 8 January 2009; accepted 8 January 2010)

Abstract

Instruments that can monitor the in situ moisture content of landfilled waste would be of great benefit to landfill operators, especially those operating their facilities as bioreactor landills (wet landfills). Two instrumentation technologies for measuring in situ moisture content (resistivity sensors and time domain reflectometry (TDR)) in landfills were examined and compared. Resistivity and TDR instruments were installed in close proximity at multiple locations in a leachate recirculation well field at a bioreactor landfill in Florida, and resulting moisture content measurements were assessed. The resistivity instruments were less expensive, easier to install, and found more reliable over time than TDR sensors. Both technologies predicted transient moisture changes in the landfill. The magnitudes of the moisture content values obtained using the two technologies were much higher compared to values estimated using mass balance, suggesting that accurate calibration to field conditions is difficult.

Keywords:
landfill, bioreactor, moisture, sensor, resistivity, time domain reflectometry

Paper ID: GTJ102326
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ102326
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Author Title Comparison of Resistivity and Time Domain Reflectometry Sensors for Assessing Moisture Content in Bioreactor Landfills Symposium , 0000-00-00 Committee D34

		SEDL / Journals / Geotechnical Testing Journal (GTJ) / Citation Page Volume 33, Issue 3 (May 2010) Click here to download this paper now for $25 PDF (328K) View License Agreement ISSN: 1945-7545 CODEN: GTJODJ Published Online: 9 March 2010 Page Count: 9 Comparison of Resistivity and Time Domain Reflectometry Sensors for Assessing Moisture Content in Bioreactor Landfills Jonnalagadda, Sreeram Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL Kumar, Dinesh Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL Jain, Pradeep Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of FloridaInnovative Waste Consulting Services, LLC, GainesvilleGainesville, FLFL Gawande, Nitin Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL Townsend, Timothy G. Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL Reinhart, Debra R. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (Received 8 January 2009; accepted 8 January 2010) Abstract Instruments that can monitor the in situ moisture content of landfilled waste would be of great benefit to landfill operators, especially those operating their facilities as bioreactor landills (wet landfills). Two instrumentation technologies for measuring in situ moisture content (resistivity sensors and time domain reflectometry (TDR)) in landfills were examined and compared. Resistivity and TDR instruments were installed in close proximity at multiple locations in a leachate recirculation well field at a bioreactor landfill in Florida, and resulting moisture content measurements were assessed. The resistivity instruments were less expensive, easier to install, and found more reliable over time than TDR sensors. Both technologies predicted transient moisture changes in the landfill. The magnitudes of the moisture content values obtained using the two technologies were much higher compared to values estimated using mass balance, suggesting that accurate calibration to field conditions is difficult. Keywords: landfill, bioreactor, moisture, sensor, resistivity, time domain reflectometry Paper ID: GTJ102326 DOI: 10.1520/GTJ102326 ASTM International is a member of CrossRef. Author Title Comparison of Resistivity and Time Domain Reflectometry Sensors for Assessing Moisture Content in Bioreactor Landfills Symposium , 0000-00-00 Committee D34