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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Summary of the 1985 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) national performance audit program on source measurements. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6502993

In 1985, the Quality Assurance Division conducted the National Audits for Stationary Source Test Methods. The audit materials consisted of: a disposable gas cylinder for Method 3 (Orsat analyzer), a calibrated orifice for Method 5 (DGM only), five simulated liquid samples each for Method 6 (SO/sub 2/) and Method 7 (NOx), and two coal samples for Method 19A. Participating laboratories sent their data to the Source Branch and in return received a written report comparing their results to EPA's. In the Method 3 audit, each parameter had only one concentration. The mean for CO/sub 2/ was 4.0% from the expected (EPA) value. The mean for O/sub 2/ was 0.4%. In the Method 5 audit, the mean value for all participants differed by 10.6% from the expected value. For the Method 6 audit, the average mean differed by 10% from the expected value, and in the Method 7 audit the average mean differed by 4.0%. In the two coal audits, the parameters measured were sulfur, moisture, ash, and Btu content. On the average for the sulfur analysis, 87% of the participants measured within 10% of the expected value; for Btu, 98% of the participants measured within 10% of the expected value.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Environmental Monitoring and Systems Lab.
OSTI ID:
6502993
Report Number(s):
PB-87-165254/XAB; EPA-600/4-87/001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English