Implications of a stochastic approach to air-quality regulations

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6778476· OSTI ID:6778476

Witten, A. J.; Kornegay, F. C.; Hunsaker, Jr., D. B.; Long, Jr., E. C.; Sharp, R. D.; Walsh, P. J.; Zeighami, E. A.; Gordon, J. S.; Lin, W. L.

This study explores the viability of a stochastic approach to air quality regulations. The stochastic approach considered here is one which incorporates the variability which exists in sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) emissions from coal-fired power plants. Emission variability arises from a combination of many factors including variability in the composition of as-received coal such as sulfur content, moisture content, ash content, and heating value, as well as variability which is introduced in power plant operations. The stochastic approach as conceived in this study addresses variability by taking the SO/sub 2/ emission rate to be a random variable with specified statistics. Given the statistical description of the emission rate and known meteorological conditions, it is possible to predict the probability of a facility exceeding a specified emission limit or violating an established air quality standard. This study also investigates the implications of accounting for emissions variability by allowing compliance to be interpreted as an allowable probability of occurrence of given events. For example, compliance with an emission limit could be defined as the probability of exceeding a specified emission value, such as 1.2 lbs SO/sub 2//MMBtu, being less than 1%. In contrast, compliance is currently taken to mean that this limit shall never be exceeded, i.e., no exceedance probability is allowed. The focus of this study is on the economic benefits offered to facilities through the greater flexibility of the stochastic approach as compared with possible changes in air quality and health effects which could result.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6778476
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-8440; ON: DE83001636
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
017000 -- Coal
Lignite
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20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas & Particulate Emissions
500600 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR QUALITY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
COMPLIANCE
CONTROL
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EMISSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
MATERIALS
METEOROLOGY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
POWER PLANTS
REGULATIONS
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
VARIATIONS