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Air Quality Control in Vietnam

May 3, 2013 By
Air Pollution Challenges in Vietnam

Air Pollution Challenges in Vietnam

After 2 months staffed, the Representative Office for Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS) in Vietnam is excited about the opportunities and challenges in regards to the air quality situation in the country. Air quality in Vietnam in modern times is a significant concern, particularly in Ho Chi Minh city, a primary focus city for government initiatives for sampling and pollution control activities. Ho Chi Minh City has been targeted as a serious air pollution area, due primarily to issues related to industrial production, transportation, and construction.

Air Pollution Challenges

Among the challenges is the high level of air pollution in the inner cities and Suburbs, but there are improvements. Tran Nguyen Hien, Head of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Department in Ho Chi Minh City, said the results of air-quality monitoring in 2012 showed improvement from previous years. Concentrations of NOx, benzene, and lead dropped significantly to reach the initial promulgated standards. But dust (particulate) and CO2 concentrations remain higher than the permitted standard. There are a number of reasons for this. In urban areas, concentrations of CO2 typically exceed the targets due to areas with dense traffic and inadequate infrastructure, leading to frequent congestion and traffic jams. In suburban areas, particulate pollution often comes from the manufacturing operations of local businesses.

Mr. Phung Chi Sy, Deputy Director of the Institute of Tropical Technology and Environmental Protection, says that of existing factories, only 10% have exhaust treatment system that satisfy standards. Very few companies invest in gas treatment systems, and for the ones that do the technology is typically outdated, offering no guarantee for meeting emission requirements. Of the remaining companies, many are not interested in the costs related to investing in exhaust or gas treatment systems. Fines are often less than the cost of investment, and so many of these companies will simply choose to pay the fines if infractions are discovered by inspection teams.

Overcoming the Challenges

According to Mr. Tran, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has submitted to the HCMC People’s Committee a plan for reinvestment and rehabilitation of equipment and systems to control air and surface water, including new investments in surface water monitoring stations and the renovation of two automatic air monitoring stations. At the same time, the Department is working with relevant agencies to accelerate solutions in traffic congestion and infrastructure, including reconstruction of the traffic system in the inner cities. The hope is that this will lead to a decrease in traffic congestion.

In the suburbs, the Department plans to strengthen inspection activities and to levy sanctions against those companies with emissions violations. The first step involves increasing fines on the highest bracket to where they provide a significant deterrent to organizations in violation of the emissions standards. At the same time, the city plans on compiling a registry of the most serious violators, particularly those established in residential areas.

The Department of Environmental Protection believes that their new initiative will provide the basics for a consistent solution to air-pollution, that will maintain consistency even in the event of a significant change of focus or direction in the country’s manufacturing goals. In the long term, the goal is to provide solutions that will bring a future of clean air and healthy atmosphere to the citizens of Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. For experienced distributors of control equipment, and air quality consultancy firms like ESS, it is a new chance to cooperate with and support the city for clean air quality and control.

ESS was established in 1979 and has a history of over 30 years of providing stack testing, and air-quality consulting services, both domestically in the United States and internationally. Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, ESS has been a leader in international Air Quality projects, mobilizing globally toHungary, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam.Should you have needs or requirements, both domestic and internationally, give ESS a call today: 910-799-1055.

More information on the news can be found at the following links:

Strengthening the Air Quality Control - Vietnam

Center for Environmental Monitoring Portal - Vietnam

Related Posts:

ESS Establishes and Staffs Office in Hanoi, Vietnam
ESS is Authorized Apex Equipment Distributor in Vietnam and SE Asia
ESS Attends World Bank Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam

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ESS is Authorized Apex Equipment Distributor in Vietnam and SE Asia

February 26, 2013 By

Stack Testing ServicesEnvironmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS), an international air-quality consulting firm, is now an authorized distributor of Apex Instruments stack testing and monitoring equipment in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region.

This distribution deal coincides with the commissioning and staffing of an ESS office in Vietnam, as part of a multi-pronged approach to providing air-quality consulting, monitoring, and emissions testing needs in the developing economies of Southeast Asia.

ESS was established in 1979 and has a history of over 30 years of providing stack testing, and air-quality consulting services, both domestically in the United States and internationally. Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, ESS has a large client base in the Eastern United States, and in the past 18 months has performed emissions testing and monitoring projects in international venues such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Sweden, and Hong Kong.

Apex Instruments was established in 1988 and has more than 24 years experience in providing stack testing and monitoring equipment. Headquartered in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, Apex has manufactured equipment for sampling emissions from industrial chimneys and smoke stacks using US-EPA guidelines. Apex equipment is designed by a staff of experienced stack testers who understand the compliance testing needs both in the United States and internationally, and has a distribution network that stretches around the globe.

ESS and Apex have 25 years experience of working together in the United States, and are excited by this new opportunity to leverage their joint strengths to service the air-quality needs of the new and developing economies in Vietnam, and elsewhere in Asia. But this push will not come at the expense of the same quality of domestic American service that has made ESS and Apex a leader in the emissions testing and air-quality consulting industry.

Should you have needs or requirements, both domestic and internationally, give ESS a call today: 910-799-1055

Related Posts:

Environmental Source Samplers to Open Office in Asia in 2013
ESS Attends World Bank Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam

Filed Under: Blog - Environmental Source Samplers, Stack Testing Experts, ESS Vietnam, Press Release Tagged With: , , , , ,

Boiler MACT, CISWI, and NHSM Rule Updates

January 29, 2013 By

Boiler MACT, CISWI, and NHSM Rule UpdatesAdjustments to the Final Standards For Major and Area Source Boilers an Certain Incinerators

On December 20th, 2012, the U.S. EPA finalized a set of adjustments to Clean Air Act Standards for boilers and certain solid waste incinerators (CISWI). These adjustments to the standards came in response to public comment, petition, and critique following the initial finalization of the rules in March of 2011. The finalized adjustments and rule ostensibly represent an attempt to seek middle ground between the lessening of toxic air-pollutants, while providing a reprieve on the already-burdened industry in the slowly-recovering economy.

Unit-Specific Standards and Compliance

One set of adjustments in the finalized ruling revolve around the creation of new subcategories of specific types of units, in an attempt to provide appropriate regulations for a wide variety of unit types that have significant variations in use, fuels, and emissions output. Some new sub-categories include units that burn light/heavy industrial liquids, coal fluidized bed units, and dual-fuel fired boilers. In addition, certain area source boilers are being reconsidered based on seasonal or limited use, easing the compliance burden for less-frequently used units. These categorical regulations, along with adjustments made to emissions standards for pollutants including Particulate Matter (PM), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Mercury (Hg), allow the EPA to estimate that most of the existing 1.5 million boilers operating in the United States will already be in compliance with the new standards, and many of those left can demonstrate compliance with work-practice standards, rather than performance tests.

Compliance Dates

Another of the adjustments deals with the dates that facilities must come into compliance with the new standards. For existing Area Source Boilers, initial notification has been extended to January 20, 2014, and the initial tune-up requirements for boilers subject to work practice standards have been extended to March 21, 2014. The date of initial compliance for all units has also been extended until March 21, 2014, as well, with the possibility of requesting an initial year if necessary to integrate the proper control equipment. For existing major source boilers, the date for initial compliance has been extended to early 2016, with an additional year upon request as needed. For CISWI units, existing incinerators have to comply no later than early 2018, while new incinerators will need to meet the standards 180 days following publication in the Federal Register.

Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials (Fuel versus Waste)

The final adjustments made to the NHSM rule represent another step in the long attempt by the EPA to properly define waste versus fuel, and how units are classified and subject to rules and different emissions limits as based on those classification. The classification of waste versus fuel will be a subject in an upcoming entry, but in short the new ruling allows for self-evaluation using certain “legitimacy criteria” — such as whether or not the materials are managed as a valuable commodity, have sufficient heating value, and contain Clean Air Act pollutants at levels comparable to or lower than a traditional fuel that the combustion unit is capable of burning.

Outreach

The EPA has announced its intention to partner with the US Department of Energy (DOE), through its regional Clean Energy Application Centers, to provide site-specific technical and cost information to the major source facilities currently burning coal or oil in their boilers. Technical experts will visit these facilities and discuss compliance strategies, information on potential funding and financing, and analysis of energy assessment and boiler tune-up options. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will likewise be reaching out to facilities that have boilers that burn biomass to make sure that operators understand the regulations and how they apply to the units in question.

More information on this program can be found at the following link:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/states/pdfs/incentives_boiler_mact.pdf

For more information on the Final Standards, visit the following link:
http://www.epa.gov/airquality/combustion/actions.html

 

Related Posts:

New RICE Rules for MACT Standards and Compliance
Stack Testing Methods

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Environmental Source Samplers to Open Office in Asia in 2013

December 27, 2012 By

Environmental Source Samplers, Inc.Air quality consulting firm Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS) announced that it will be opening an office in Vietnam in 2013, to capitalize on growing demand for emissions testing and environmental consulting within the Southeast Asian region.

Headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, ESS has been a leader in international Air Quality projects, mobilizing globally to Hungary, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Hong Kong within the last 14 months. The projects included air-monitoring and emissions testing for World Bank and local environmental requirements, process improvement, and vendor guarantees. Past international mobilizations have included other points in Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Region, including a decommissioned munitions base in Johnston Atoll, and Relative Accuracy Test Audit (RATA) sampling in the Philippines.

The decision to open an office in Asia was made after developing relationships with the Public Sector Liason Officers for the World Bank, and Air-Quality conferences and missions in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The events allowed ESS to gain an insider’s view into the region’s air-quality needs and priorities, and ESS management determined that there was both a sustainable market for air-quality analysis, and existing market conditions that would allow ESS to leverage its expertise in international project management and state of the art methodologies, in order to compete effectively.  (See: ESS Attends World Bank Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam.)

The regional office will allow ESS to pair international expertise with local responsiveness in meeting the region’s air-quality needs. ESS will utilize its staff of experienced, QSTI-certified project managers, along with regional technicians to assist. This strategy will lead to cost savings in labor, equipment, and shipping prices, while not sacrificing the quality of project execution and client deliverables. This will also enable ESS to provide much-needed knowledge transfer of emissions testing and monitoring methodologies to regional employees, enabling them to better serve their own communities as their countries and economies continue to develop.

ESS is excited by the upcoming opportunities and challenges the new office will bring in 2013, and expects to have another successful year, both internationally and with their established domestic clients in the United States.

Related Post:

International Stack Testing – Challenges and Solutions

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ESS Attends World Bank Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam

November 7, 2012 By

Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS) president Mark Looney (pictured at left) recently attended a trade mission to Indonesia and Vietnam, from October 16th to the 26th, 2012. The mission, organized by the World Bank’s Private Sector Liaison Officers, offered the chance for an international delegation of companies to meet with representatives from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Governments of the two countries. The program presented a unique opportunity for ESS and other companies in attendance to learn first-hand about the business environment in Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as projects financed by the International Finance Institutions (IFIs).

The delegation kicked off in Jakarta, Indonesia from October 16th to the 20th, and traveled to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from October 21st to 26th. Mission attendees were briefed on recent trends and prospects for the emerging and developing markets, methods for improving efficiency and ways to meet the demands of new consumer markets. They were also given an insider view of upcoming pipeline projects financed by the multilateral development banks and information on bank strategies to provide for sustainable development – finding the balance between economic growth and the protection of the natural environment that is frequently difficult to obtain in emerging and developing economies. In addition, the program provided a great opportunity for networking and forging contacts and relationships with other key players in international development and environmental protection.

As an emissions-testing firm with experience in international mobilizations, ESS actively pursues opportunities to develop relationships with international organizations, in the private sector as well as the multilateral development banks such as the IDB and ADB, and the program provided a great opportunity to develop strategies in moving forward.

Mr. Looney, upon completion of the mission, said: “The World Bank PSLO Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam has given us the chance to interact, within a small group setting, with many potential business partners in these target markets, including government agencies and regional business representatives. When developing relationships and opportunities within international and developing markets, an opportunity for personal interaction is invaluable. In two weeks in this mission, we feel that we have learned more about the market and its inner workings than could have been learned remotely in two years or more.”

Read the original PSLO/World Bank Press Release.

Also learn more about common challenges and solutions found with international projects and mobilizations.

 

Contact:

 

Mark Looney
Environmental Source Samplers, Inc.
436 Raleigh Street
Wilmington, N.C., 28412
910-799-1055
ess@essknowsair.com
http://www.ESSKnowsAir.com

 

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Filed Under: Blog - Environmental Source Samplers, Stack Testing Experts, ESS Vietnam, Press Release Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Subpart IIII

October 31, 2012 By

In a previous blog entry regarding the ZZZZ and JJJJ RICE Rules , we discussed the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustions Engines (RICE NESHAP), and the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Spark Ignition RICE Units, more commonly referred to as Subparts ZZZZ and JJJJ, respectively. There is another related rule that bears consideration, and that is Subpart IIII, the NSPS for Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Units (CI ICE).

There are two basic types of Stationary Reciprocating engines: spark ignition and compression ignition. Spark ignition engines use a spark, across a spark plug, to ignite a compressed fuel-air mixture. Typically, fuels for these engines are gasoline and natural gas. Compression ignition engines compress air to a high pressure, heating the air to the ignition temperature of the fuel, which is then injected. The high compression ratio used for compression ignition engines results in a higher efficiency than is possible with spark ignition engines. Diesel fuel oil is normally used in compression ignition engines, although there are dual-fueled varieties, where natural gas is compressed with the combustion air, and diesel oil is injected at the top of the compression stroke to initiate combustion.

The requirements of the Subpart IIII standards, particularly as they are related to performance testing, are dependent on the size of the engine, the manufacture date, the cylinder displacement, and whether it is used for emergency or non-emergency purposes. The EPA defines an emergency engine as one that is used for the purpose of maintenance checks and readiness testing, and is operated less than 100 hours per year. The owner of the emergency engine can NOT connect the engine to the grid under financial incentive and maintain the unit status as an emergency engine. Therefore, a peak shaving engine will not be classified as an emergency unit under the definitions of the Subparts.

For engines that are required to comply with Subpart IIII, including those engines located at Area Sources and engines less than or equal to 500hp located at Major Sources, there are no further requirements under the RICE NESHAP (Subpart ZZZZ). A Major Source is one that has the potential to emit 10 tons per year of any individual Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP), or 25 tons per year of all HAPs. An Area Source is any source that is not considered a Major Source under this definition.

Regarding stack testing, an owner or operator of a CI ICE non-emergency unit built after 2007 with a displacement of >30L must demonstrate compliance by a performance test (stack test) for emissions of Particulate Matter (PM) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx). There are two methods for demonstrating compliance with either pollutant. The first is to show a percent reduction in emissions, and requires sampling for that pollutant at both the inlet and outlet to the control device for the source. Per IIII requirements, NOx must be reduced by 90% and PM by 60%. The second option is to limit the mass emission rate in the exhaust and only requires sampling at the outlet of the unit. The emission limit for NOx is 1.6 g/KW-hr (1.2 g/HP-hr). The emission limit for PM is 0.15g/KW-hr (0.11 g/HP-hr). In addition to the initial compliance performance test, owners of such engines must then perform annual performance tests to prove continued compliance with the standards.

The NESHAP and NSPS rulings can be an impenetrable maze without expert assistance, and the performance testing requirements can have a substantial impact on a facility’s operating budget. It is important to have a partner that is reliable and knowledgeable when approaching the many new emissions requirements being promulgated by the EPA and state governments. For assistance with your compliance needs, and performance testing requirements, ESS is available to help. If you believe you will or may have compliance issues under Subpart IIII, ZZZZ, or JJJJ, give us a call or an email today: 910-799-1055

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ESS Announces Successful Completion of Industrial Air Testing Project in the Dominican Republic

September 25, 2012 By

The successful completion of an international stack testing project in the Dominican Republic by Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS) has led directly to a new air testing contract for ESS  in Port Au Prince, Haiti.  The project in Haiti was awarded and mobilized within a four day timeframe.

 

Wilmington, N.C., September 2012 — Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS), an established leader in emissions testing both domestic and internationally, today announced a successful conclusion to an air-testing project at a power facility in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

The power company is a client that ESS has performed stack testing services for in prior years, the last project completed in December of 2006. ESS has multiple clients in the Dominican Republic, and often performs work in the Caribbean, on average at least once a year. ESS mobilized a three-man crew from September 5th through 12th, 2012.

The project purpose was in-house engineering analysis for quality control and quality assurance, and to demonstrate compliance with emissions requirements as stipulated by the International Development Bank (IDB). ESS utilized USEPA 40 CFR Part 60 methodologies for all sampling requirements at the facility in San Pedro.

In addition to the successful completion of this project, ESS realized benefits in networking that will be invaluable in future endeavors into the Dominican and its neighboring country. Several contacts made during the course of the project have already led to further planned projects, and ESS personnel will be mobilizing to another power facility to perform sampling in Port Au Prince, Haiti, in the following week. The Haiti mobilization presents the challenge of a severely truncated lead and planning time. ESS was initially contacted regarding the project on Thursday, September 21st, awarded the work on Friday, September 22nd, and is planning to mobilize no later than Monday, September 24th.

Such needs for quick response and flexibility in operations are frequently the case in air-testing projects both domestic and international. Changes in project scope and requirements, late additions to air-testing needs and late changes in schedule are a common occurrence, but without preparation and experience these common occurrences can become extreme difficulties when mobilizing internationally. ESS has the competitive advantage of experience, drawn from international projects conducted in such locations as Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, and other points in Europe. The ESS network of reputable vendors and service providers help drive projects to completion within the required timeline and budget.

Founded in 1979, ESS has been performing industrial air quality testing since that time, and has developed into a leader within the field. ESS utilizes modern, consistently maintained equipment to conduct its stack testing services throughout the U.S. and abroad. They are qualified to conduct a wide range of EPA test methodologies among various air emissions sources and industries. ESS clients have easy access to the reliable and accurate reporting of stack test results through a secure online client portal.

For more information about ESS, please visit their company website at http://www.ESSKnowsAir.com and their blog at http://www.ESSKnowsAir-Blog.com.
Contact:

Brian Mellor
Environmental Source Samplers, Inc.
436 Raleigh Street
Wilmington, N.C., 28412
910-799-1055
ess@essknowsair.com
http://www.ESSKnowsAir.com

 

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Related Posts:

ESS Announces Successful Conclusion to Hungary Emissions Testing Project
Environmental Source Samplers (ESS) to Mobilize to Hungary
Environmental Source Samplers (ESS) Announces Successful Completion of International Stack Testing Project in Hong Kong
International Stack Testing – Challenges and Solutions

Filed Under: Blog - Environmental Source Samplers, Stack Testing Experts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Your One Stop Shop for RICE NESHAP ZZZZ Compliance

August 22, 2012 By

Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS) is pleased to announce a partnership with PowerSecure International, Inc. (PowerSecure) and Governor Control Systems, Inc. (GCS) to provide a one-stop-shop for total compliance with the EPA mandated emission standards for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) units. This ruling, which was finalized in May 2010, is part of the larger Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards promulgated by the EPA.

GCS is a provider of control equipment for the affected units, such as DCL’s Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC), Silencers, Diesel Particulate Filters. GCS has also designed and developed the required Continuous Parameter Monitoring Systems (CPMS) Kit necessary to refit existing engines to meet emission requirements. PowerSecure provides products and services in the areas of Energy Efficiency, Interactive Distributed Generation, and Utility Infrastructure. ESS is an air quality consulting firm specializing in project management, emissions sampling and testing for a wide base of industrial, government and municipal clients.

ESS, PowerSecure and GCS have an established history of working together to meet a facility’s compliance requirements. Over the last year our three organizations have worked together on over 100 projects for RICE units demonstrating Subpart ZZZZ compliance. Our project management team provides initial consultation and emission measurements; engineering and design work; an accredited and certified emissions test program; and, guaranteed RICE NESHAP compliance.

Several million stationary reciprocating engines are in use throughout the United States. These engines, in general industry use, provide shaft power to drive process equipment, compressors, pumps, standby generator sets and other machinery. The uses are similar in agriculture, with many engines serving the purpose of driving irrigation pumps. Reciprocating engines also find wide application in municipal water supply, wastewater treatment, and in commercial and institutional emergency power and load-managing stations.

The Subpart ZZZZ RICE rule (see: A Guide to the ZZZZ and JJJJ RICE Rules) includes requirements to regulate emissions from new and reconstructed RICE units located at major sources and area sources of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP). A HAP major source is a facility with a potential to emit 10 tons per year of a single HAP, or 25 tons per year of a combination of HAPs. An area source is any source that is not a HAP major source. All RICE units >100 hp (at area sources) and >500 hp (at major sources) have Carbon Monoxide emission testing requirements.

If you have any questions concerning your operations and applicability under these rulings, don’t hesitate to contact our office today. Compliance with the rule must be achieved by May 3, 2013!

– Environmental Source Samplers – Brian Mellor (910) 799-1055, sales@essknowsair.com

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New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emissions Guidelines for Sewage Sludge Incineration (SSI) Units

July 30, 2012 By

Stack Testing for Air Quality ControlHistory of NSPS and Emissions Guidelines for SSI Units

On Feburary 21, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized new source performance standards (NSPS) and emissions guidelines for new and existing sewage sludge incineration (SSI) units. The rule, per the EPA research is expected to impact 204 units currently in operation. This rule is one of the many new standards for units that emit pollutants under the MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) Standards, and was enacted under Section 129 of the Clean Air Act (See also: New RICE Rules for MACT Standards and Compliance.)

The purpose of the rule is to reduce emissions of a number of toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, that are known or suspected of causing cancer and other serious health benefits.

On April 27, 2012, the EPA issued a Denial of Reconsideration Petitions for the Final Rule.

Affected SSI Units

An SSI unit is an incinerator or combustion device that is used to burn dewatered sewage sludge. The units are typically owned by municipalities, and located at wastewater treatment facilities. They come in two primary types. The first – Multiple Hearth – covers over 80 percent of the identified SSI units. The other units are Fluidized Bed combustors. Most of the affected units are in the Eastern parts of the United States, with the largest number of facilities in New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. There are a significant number on the West Coast as well. Units incinerating sludge at other types of facilities, such as commercial, industrial, and institutional, will be covered under different air pollution incineration standards.

Sewage Sludge Treatment Plants are regulated under 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart O, as well as 40 CFR Part 61, Subparts C and E. The new source performance standards for these units have been promulgated under Subpart LLLL, and the Emission Guidelines themselves are promulgated under Subpart MMMM. The EPA estimates that of the 204 active SSI units, 155 are currently meeting these emission limits, and forty will need to install one or more air pollution control device.

Regulated Pollutants for SSI

The following table lists the Regulated Pollutant, the unit of measurement for emission limits, and the Emission Limit itself for both Multiple Hearth and Fluidized Bed Incinerators.

Pollutant

Units

Emission Limit for MH Incinerators

Emission Limit for FB Incinerators

Cadmium

mg/DSCM @7% O2

0.095

0.0016

Carbon Monixde

ppmvd @7% O2

3,800

64

Hydrochloride

ppmvd @7% O2

1.2

0.51

Mercury

mg/DSCM @7% O2

0.28

0.037

Oxides of Nitrogen

ppmvd @7% O2

220

150

Lead

mg/DSCM @7% O2

0.30

0.0074

Dioxins/Furans, Total Equivalency Quality

ng/dscm @7% O2 (TEQ)

0.32

0.10

Dioxins/Furans, Total Mass Basis

ng/dscm @7% O2 (TMB)

5.0

1.2

Particulate Matter

mg/DSCM @7% O2

80

18

Sulfur Dioxide

ppmvd @7% O2

26

15

 

Measuring Emissions

To measure and quantify the emission rates for these pollutants, it is typically necessary to do an Emissions Sampling Program, or Stack Test, conducted by a qualified and accredited stack testing organization. The EPA has reference methods for quantifying emissions for each regulated pollutant, and the testing must be done in accordance with those methods. The methods in question can be found on the EPA website.

Mercury Emissions and the Ontario Hydro Method

Mercury (Hg) is one of the strictly regulated pollutants. Mercury has been shown through research to adversely affect developing brains in children, including detrimental effects on IQ, learning, and memory. However, controlling mercury emissions can be tricky, dependent on what form the Mercury takes in the emission from the stack. There are two primary types: Oxidized and Particle-Bound, and the control devices associated with controlling those two types are different. For that reason, during stack testing to determine existing emissions, many owners of SSI units elect to perform a special Mercury Speciation test, utilizing ASTM Ontario Hydro Method. The data taken from this sampling can be used to determine the best approach to further controlling emissions for that specific stack.

Sludge and Scrubber Water Analysis

Many facilities often undertake fuel analysis on the sludge feedstock itself, to determine the base level of pollutants in the sludge prior to being incinerated. These measurements can be utilized to determine the current effectiveness of emissions controls.

About Environmental Source Samplers, Inc. (ESS)

ESS has some of the most experienced SSI test crews in the country. In the last six months, ESS has conducted this nearly identical test series for SSIs at multiple municipal facilities in Virginia, Ohio, and New York.  All test series have been completed on-time and on budget. ESS has a history of working with chief WWTP consultants that extends back to 1990, and has partnered with some of the leading experts on SSI in the nation. Our experience in some of the more exacting methodologies required by the SSI test program is unsurpassed in this industry.

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ESS Announces Successful Conclusion to Hungary Emissions Testing Project

June 27, 2012 By

Environmental Source Samplers, Inc.Environmental Source Samplers, Inc, (ESS), a leader in emissions testing worldwide, announces the completion of an air testing project at an Ethanol Plant in Hungary.  ESS is making great strides with their experience and expertise in international stack testing.

Wilmington, N.C., June 2012 — Environmental Source Samplers, Inc., an established leader in emissions testing both domestic and internationally, today announced a successful conclusion to an air-testing project at an Ethanol Plant in Dunafoldvar, Hungary.

The Hungarian based client contacted ESS after discovering an ESS blog post, International Stack Testing – Challenges and Solutions, in which ESS staff discussed some of the special circumstances and potential challenges that are encountered while conducting stack testing outside of the domestic USA.

The project was for the purpose of verifying vendor guarantees for a newly-installed boiler system and scrubber control device, for a regimen of pollutants that included Particulate Matter and Gaseous Emissions. ESS also provided multiple days of on-site monitoring with real-time results for engineering purposes as the Facility staff made adjustments for process optimization and tuning. ESS utilized USEPA and ISO methodologies; EPA and MCERT approved analyzers (European Union approved for emissions measurements in Europe); and provided the Facility a number of protocol blend gas bottles for the sampling project.

As is frequently the case in air-testing projects both domestic and international, the project required flexibility in operations. Changes in project scope and requirements, late additions to air-testing needs and late changes in schedule are a common occurrence, but without preparation and experience these common occurrences can become extreme difficulties when mobilizing internationally. ESS utilized its experience, drawn from international projects conducted in such places as Hong Kong, Dominican Republic and other points in Europe. The ESS network of reputable vendors and service providers helped drive this project to completion within the required timeline and budget.

Founded in 1979, ESS has been performing industrial air quality testing since that time, and has developed into a leader within the field. ESS utilizes modern, consistently maintained equipment to conduct its stack testing services throughout the U.S. and abroad. They are qualified to conduct a wide range of EPA test methodologies among various air emissions sources and industries. ESS clients have easy access to the reliable and accurate reporting of stack test results through a secure online client portal.

For more information about Environmental Source Samplers, Inc., visit their website at http://www.ESSKnowsAir.com and their blog at http://www.EssKnowsAir-Blog.com.

 

Contact:

Brian Mellor
Environmental Source Samplers, Inc.
436 Raleigh Street
Wilmington, N.C., 28412
910-799-1055
ess@essknowsair.com
http://www.ESSKnowsAir.com

 

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Filed Under: Blog - Environmental Source Samplers, Stack Testing Experts, Press Release Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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