Formazione, diffusione e distribuzione del percolato: modelli matematici integrati del progetto SIGLOD

Abstract

This work, carried out under the project PON SIGLOD, deals with the development of mathematical models of formation, diffusion and distribution of leachate in large landfills, considered in this project. Recently simulation through mathematical models of some processes concerning both the formation and diffusion of pollutants found a significant benefit to all operators in this sector, because they are able to represent the scenarios and give essential information to “expert systems” that oversee the control and management of these facilities.
The models here implemented have provided results that will support the planning and future management of landfills activities. Their initial definition was rather long, since issues relating to physical and chemical phenomena have been addressed with their analytical formulations. These phenomena have been summarized and translated into numerical models object of this work. By these models, the quantities of the substances that are formed by the degradation of the organic fraction of the material have been foreseen to have a first estimate of the leachate quantity for the proper planning of the landfill management. The spread of leachate over time at various depths and spatial distribution, to assess and mitigate the impact in the environment, have been modeled. The analytical-numerical formulation has been implemented mainly in MATLAB and MATHCAD. In this work, the results of simulations of formation, diffusion and spatial distribution process of the leachate have been reported in some particular examined conditions.