Dilution-based emissions sampling from stationary sources: part 2 - gas-fired combustors compared with other fuel-fired systems

Journal Article · Mon Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2007.10465304· OSTI ID:20847486

England, G C; Watson, J G; Chow, J C; Zielinska, B; Chang, M C.O.; Loos, K R; M, Hidy G ^[1]

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1. GE Energy, Santa Ana, CA (United States)

With the recent focus on fine particle matter (PM2.5), new, self- consistent data are needed to characterize emissions from combustion sources. Emissions data for gas-fired combustors are presented, using dilution sampling as the reference. The sampling and analysis of the collected particles in the presence of precursor gases, SO{sub 2}, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compound, and NH{sub 3} is discussed; the results include data from eight gas fired units, including a dual- fuel institutional boiler and a diesel engine powered electricity generator. These data are compared with results in the literature for heavy-duty diesel vehicles and stationary sources using coal or wood as fuels. The results show that the gas-fired combustors have very low PM2.5 mass emission rates in the range of {approximately}10{sup -4} lb/million Btu (MMBTU) compared with the diesel backup generator with particle filter, with {approximately} 5 x 10{sup -3} lb/MMBTU. Even higher mass emission rates are found in coal-fired systems, with rates of {approximately} 0.07 lb/MMBTU for a bag-filter-controlled pilot unit burning eastern bituminous coal. The characterization of PM2.5 chemical composition from the gas-fired units indicates that much of the measured primary particle mass in PM2.5 samples is organic or elemental carbon and, to a much less extent, sulfate. Metal emissions are low compared with the diesel engines and the coal- or wood-fueled combustors. The metals found in the gas- fired combustor particles are low in concentration. The interpretation of the particulate carbon emissions is complicated by the fact that an approximately equal amount of particulate carbon is found on the particle collector and a backup filter. It is likely that measurement artifacts are positively biasing 'true' particulate carbon emissions results. 49 refs., 1 fig., 12 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 20847486
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Vol. 57, Issue 1; Other Information: [e-mail]; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
03 NATURAL GAS
02 PETROLEUM
AIR SAMPLERS
STATIONARY POLLUTANT SOURCES
EMISSION
SAMPLING
MEASURING METHODS
PERFORMANCE
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
DESIGN
US EPA
NATURAL GAS
COMBUSTORS
DIESEL FUELS
EXHAUST GASES
FLUE GAS
PARTICULATES
VOLATILE MATTER
PARTICLE SIZE
DILUTION
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
FIELD TESTS
REFINERY GASES
FUEL GAS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
GASEOUS WASTES
COAL
PRECURSOR
SULFUR DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
WOOD
BITUMINOUS COAL
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ACCURACY
DATA COVARIANCES
GRAMINEAE
BIOMASS
COMBUSTION
FUEL OILS