VOC reduction strategies for the aerospace industry
- Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO (United States)
The aerospace NESHAP, which was issued on September 1, 1995, requires reductions in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and organic Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) emissions associated with the application of primer and topcoat. The regulation affects any facility that is a major source of HAPs and produces, reworks, or repairs, in any amount any commercial, civil, or military aerospace vehicle. Options for reducing VOC and organic HAP emissions include use of low VOC/organic HAP containing coatings or implementation of air pollution control systems. Use of primers and topcoats that meet the regulatory limits for VOC and organic HAP content is clearly the lowest cost option of meeting requirements of the aerospace NESHAP. However, some facilities have been unsuccessful in identifying aerospace paints and primers that meet requirements of the NESHAP and also have acceptable performance properties. For those aerospace companies considering implementation of air pollution control systems, several strategies can help to reduce the anticipated capital and operating costs. Such strategies include: segregation of specialty coatings, non-aerospace coatings, and low-use coatings not affected by the aerospace NESHAP from regulated paints and primers; reduction of airflows in affected booths; recirculation of air; and combination of exhausts from one or more booth. Estimated capital and operating costs are also provided for the air pollution control systems best suited for aircraft painting and priming operations. These systems include regenerative thermal oxidizers and fluidized bed/rotary concentrators in conjunction with thermal oxidizers. Even after implementing strategies to reduce VOC and organic HAP pollution control system costs, economics will dictate use of compliant primers and topcoats for many aerospace companies. 6 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 621345
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960273--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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