Visible Emissions Evaluation Certification Training

Also Known As “Smoke School”

BEFORE WE GET STARTED

DID YOU SIGN IN?

RESTROOMS

LUNCH TIME

PLEASE DON’T USE YOUR CELL PHONES DURING LECTURES

NO SMOKING

What visible emissions are How they are caused External factors that may influence them How Visible Emissions can be controlled The Georgia VE Regulations How to properly evaluate VE

Lecture Objectives We want you to understand the following:

REGULATORY BACKGROUND

1881 City Air Pollution Laws

Chicago & Cincinnati

REGULATORY BACKGROUND1890 - Ohio regulated smoke emissions

from steam boilers.

REGULATORY BACKGROUNDRinglemann Number (1897)

A system where shades of gray can be reproduced by using a grid of black lines on a white background.

Used to determine boiler efficiency.

RINGLEMANN CHARTS

20% to 80%

REGULATORY BACKGROUND OPACITY

THE AMOUNT, EXPRESSED IN PERCENT, THAT EMISSIONS REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT AND OBSCURE THE BACKGROUND.

(5% increments)

REGULATORY BACKGROUNDEquivalent Opacity = (20 x Ringlemann No.) The opacity that is equivalent to the

obscuring power of the black smoke characterized by a Ringlemann Number.

Due to the promulgation of 40 CFR 60 Method 9 in 1974, the State of Georgia no longer uses the Ringlemann System.

REGULATORY BACKGROUND 40 CFR 60, APPENDIX A

METHOD 9 - Promulgated 1974

Visual determination of the emissions from stationary sources.

Provides procedures for training, certification of observations and determination of plume opacity.

QUESTIONS

What are Visible Emissions?

Questions

How are Visible Emissions Caused?

PARTICLES

Combustion sources: smoke,

soot, fly ash

Non-combustion sources: dust, fumes, mists, vapors, gases

VARIOUS POLLUTION SOURCES

Industrial Process Losses Chemical Processing

Mineral Processing Petroleum Refining

Solvent Evaporation

PARTICLES AND OPACITY

IF THE NUMBER OF PARTICLES IN A CERTAIN VOLUME OF AIR IS INCREASED, MORE LIGHT WILL BE BLOCKED.

External Factors That May Influence Visible Emissions

How Can Visible Emissions Be Controlled?

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

LOW ENERGY SYSTEMS: (do not collect small particles as efficiently)

-SETTLING CHAMBER -CYCLONE HIGH ENERGY SYSTEMS: (do collect

small particles efficiently) -BAGHOUSE -WET SCRUBBER -ESP

LARGE PARTICLES FALL INTO HOPPER

50 MICRONSOR LESS

EXPANDED AREA TO SLOWDOWN GAS FLOW

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

SETTLING CHAMBER

CYCLONES centrifugal force

High efficiency -Collect particles down to 4 microns; requires high pressure at inlet. -< 3ft. in diameter. Low efficiency -Cannot collect smaller particles; -larger / less pressure

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Baghouse - pressure, filter, 99%+

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

CONTROL EQUIPMENTBAGHOUSE TIDBITS

Different types of bags for different types of exhaust.

Uses particulate build-up on the bags to clean more effectively. (pores smaller)

Sometimes use pulsed air to clean the bags. (hoppers)

CONTROL EQUIPMENT WET SCRUBBER Uses water to contact the particles and

carry them out of the exhaust. No hoppers

Can be very efficient Water needs to be cleaned and /or dried

up (Settling pond)

WET SCRUBBER

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Very effective Moderate operating cost High installation cost Complex: may require original contractor

to repair

ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Charges particles Attracts the charged particles to plates Raps the plate to drop particles into the

hopper

ESP OPERATION

ESP

CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Questions

Some Meteorological Variables Which Influence Plume Transport, Dispersion & Opacity WIND STABILITY PRECIPITATION FRONTS

WIND SPEED Affects plume dispersion High Winds = Greater dispersion Low Winds = Less dispersion Also affects plume rise

WIND DIRECTION Determines the area over

which pollutants will move in relation

to the source

STABILITY Ability of the atmosphere to

disperse pollutants.

Dominating factor in determining plume rise and dispersion.

Cloud Cover

Determines the intensity of sunlight Clear Sky - Unstable lower

atmosphere from surface heating Cloudy Sky - Stable lower atmosphere

Change of Temperature in the Vertical

NORMAL Atmosphere - Temperature decreases with height.

INVERSION - Temperature increases with height.

INVERSION

Layer of air in which temperature increases with height

Top of the layer acts like a cap to limit vertical dispersion

Pollution often becomes trapped beneath the inversion cap

Removes pollutants from the atmosphere

Natures Wet Scrubber

PRECIPITATION

FRONTS

Affect winds

Affect temperatures

Affect stability

Can help cause precipitation

Questions

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Opacity Method

SOME ADVANTAGES OF VISIBLE EMISSIONS EVALUATION

Validity Established in Court.

Can Qualify with a Short Period of Training – Technical Background.

Sophisticated Equipment Not Required.

Evaluation Not Time Consuming.

Offers Methods of Self Monitoring.

SOME DISADVANTAGES OF VISIBLE EMISSIONS EVALUATION

Optimum Positioning Not Always Possible – The Greater the Deviation from Prescribed Conditions, the Less Reliable the Evaluation.

Adverse Weather Conditions – High Winds, Rain, Haze – May Inhibit Reliability or Make Readings Impossible for a Time.

NO Universal Correlation Between Opacity and Mass Emissions.

VE’S Not Readily Performed at Night.

Observer Position for Reading Visible Emissions

PRESCRIBED CONDITIONSI. POSITION: The observer shall be positioned with the sun in the 140° sector

to his or her back.

The observer shall be positioned with the wind blowing the plume at approximately right angles to his or her line of sight if possible.

The observer shall be positioned so that the longer axis of a rectangular outlet is at approximately a right angle to his or her line of sight.

The observer shall be positioned from a point not less than three stack heights nor more than a quarter mile from the base of the stack.

PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS (continued)II: OBSERVATION: The observer’s line of sight shall not include more

than one plume, when multiple stacks are visible.

The observer should view the plume at the point of greatest opacity, usually about one diameter above the stack exit.

The observer shall not stare at the plume continually, but view the plume only at the prescribed 15 second interval.

The observer shall view the plume against a background that contrasts with the color of the plume.

Point towards the Stack

140º Angle

sun

140

°

KEEP THE SUN AT YOUR BACK EVEN ON OVERCAST DAYS

Observer positioned with the longer axis of rectangular outlets at approximately right angles to the observer’s line of view.

The observers line of sight is perpendicular to the long axis of a rectangular outlet.

The observer is positioned froma point not less than THREE ( 3 ) stackheights and not more than 1/4 milefrom the source.

OBSERVER POSITION

3H2H1H

202020

21.022.428.2

ACTUALOPACITY

OBSERVED OPACITY

H STACK

45° 27° 18°

1H 2H 3H

OBSERVER’S LINE OF VIEW SHOULD NOT INCLUDE MORE

THAN ONE STACK WHEN MULTIPLE STACKS ARE INCLUDED.

Condensed Water Vapor Plumes

CAUSES OF WET PLUMES WATER PRODUCED BY FUEL COMBUSTION.

MOISTURE FROM DRYERS.

WATER INTRODUCED BY WET SCRUBBER.

WATER INTRODUCED TO CONTROL HEAT.

WATER INTRODUCED TO CONDITION GAS FLOW

SON, THAT’S JUST STEAM

AREA OF STEAM CONDENSATION

READHERE

ATTACHED STEAM PLUME

AREA OF STEAM CONDENSATION

READHERE

READ HERE (PREFERRED)

The Smoke Generator and How it Works

SMOKE GENERATOR TRAILER COMPONENTS

PROPANE TANK STORAGE

WHITE SMOKE VAPORIZATION CHAMBER

VENT

SMOKE GENERATOR TRAILER COMPONENTS

BLACK SMOKE COMBUSTION CHAMBER

PLUME PRODUCTION

PROPANE

PLUME PRODUCTION

WHITE SMOKE

PLUME PRODUCTION

BLACK SMOKE

SMOKE PRODUCTIONPLUME PRODUCTION

Reflection, Refraction or Absorption

PLUME MEASUREMENT AND CALIBRATION

TRANSMISSOMETER

PHOTOCELL LIGHT SOURCE

PLUME MEASUREMENT AND CALIBRATION

Field Procedures and Documentation

METHOD 9 METHOD 9 INCLUDES: PROCEDURES FOR TRAINING AND

CERTIFICATION OF OBSERVERS.

PROCEDURES TO BE USED IN THE FIELD FOR DETERMINATION OF PLUME OPACITY.

THE APPEARANCE OF A PLUME DEPENDS UPON

A NUMBER OFVARIABLES WHICH MAY

BE CONTROLLABLE INTHE FIELD

OPACITY OBSERVATIONS SHALL BE MADE AT THE POINT OF

GREATEST OPACITY.

OBSERVER SHOULD NOT STARE AT THE PLUME

CONTINUALLY, BUT VIEW THE PLUME ONLY AT THE PRESCRIBED 15 SECOND

INTERVAL.

THE OBSERVER SHOULD VIEW THE PLUME AGAINST BACKGROUNDS

THAT CONTRAST WITH THE COLOR OF THE PLUME.

A BLACK PLUME SHOULD BE READ AGAINST A LIGHT BACKGROUND

A WHITE PLUME SHOULD BE READ

AGAINST A DARK TEXURED BACKGROUND

PICK UP TEST SHEET POSITION YOURSELF (SUN AT BACK) FILL OUT TOP PORTION OF FORM LOOK AT THE STANDARDS

FIELD QUALIFYING PROCEDURES

FIELD QUALIFYING PROCEDURES OBSERVE DEMONSTRATION OF STANDARDS

PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE PLUME TESTS

TESTING FOR BLACK AND WHITE SMOKE

MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND GRADING PROCEDURES

RETEST, IF NECESSARY

Don’t Look From Side To Side For information !!!

FIELD QUALIFYING PROCEDURES

TESTINGA trainee must assign opacity values

to 25 black plumes and 25 white Plumes on one continuous form.

FIELD CERTIFICATION AND FORMS

1. STARING AT THE PLUME 2. READING THE PLUME AT THE WRONG TIME

Common Errors

CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TEST:

Has only one circled answer on every line

Has neatly marked changes Is signed

Then turn in the white original portion.

Did You PASS ?If the answers to the following questions are all yes, turn in the yellow copy.

Were all answers within 15% opacity i.e., errors of 3 increments or less (+ or -)

Was the total error less than 38 for black smoke?

Was the total error less than 38 for white smoke?

You must re-test if: There is an error of 4 increments or

Greater anywhere on the Field Test Form

The total error on either of the sets is more than 37

QUESTIONS

THE END