Appeal 2006-2311
Application 10/676,593
INTRODUCTION
Appellants claim a solar-powered system and method for extracting
gas from a landfill well (Claims 1 and 9). The system includes a fan
powered with direct current (DC) from a rechargeable lead acid battery
(Specification 4). The lead acid battery is recharged using a solar panel
(Specification 4).
Claims 1, 5, and 9 are illustrative:
1. A landfill gas extraction system, comprising:
at least one fan module configured for communicating with
methane in the landfill;
at least one fan disposed in the fan module to extract methane
out of the landfill when the fan module is engaged with a landfill well of the
landfill and the fan is activated;
at least one battery for powering the fan;
at least one solar panel electrically connected to the battery to
recharge the battery, the fan module comprising:
a fan pipe holding the fan and first and second flanges engaged
with opposite ends of the fan pipe for mating with respective flanges of a
landfill well, the fan being disposed between the flanges.
5. The system of Claim 1, further comprising at least one support
rod extending through at least two flanges.
9. A method for extracting gas from a landfill well, comprising:
installing a fan module in the well, the fan module containing at
least one DC-powered fan;
energizing the fan using at least one battery to cause fluid to be
exhausted from the well; and recharging the battery using at least one solar
cell.
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Last modified: September 9, 2013