EMISSIONS

MEASUREMENT

Decorina
Patna
Solacito
Emissions
measurement is the
process of measuring
the amount of
pollutants, in a
gaseous or particulate
form, being emitted to
the air from a specific
source, such as an
industrial process.
• An accurate quantitative analysis
of the discharge of pollutants
from a process must be
determined prior to the design
and/or selection of control
equipment

• Sampling methods and tools

vary in their complexity
according to the specific task
SAMPLING is done to

• measure quantities or concentrations of

pollutants in effluent gas streams
• measure the efficiency of a pollution-
abatement device
• guide the designer of pollution-control
equipment and facilities, and/or
• appraise contamination from a process or a
source.
Steps on Sampling

• The selection of a sampling site and the number of sampling points

required are based on attempts to get representative samples.
• Once the sampling location has been decided on, the flue cross
section is laid out in a number of equal areas, the center of each
being the point where the measurement is to be taken.
For rectangular stacks, the
cross section is divided into
equal areas of the same
shape, and the traverse
points are located at the
center of each equal area,
as shown in Fig. 22-27. The
ratio of length to width of
each elemental area should
be selected.
 For circular stacks, the cross section
is divided into equal annular areas,
and the traverse points are located
at the centroid of each area. The
location of the traverse points as a
percentage of diameter from the
inside wall to the traverse point for
circular-stack sampling is given in
Table 22-34.

For gases moving in small pipes at relatively high velocities or

pressures, orifice-disk meters or venturi meters may be used.
Sampling Methodology

Table 22-35 provides a

list of some of the most
commonly employed
test methods.
Velocity and Volumetric Flow.
Since sampling rates depend on
stack-gas velocity, a preliminary
velocity check is usually made
prior to testing for pollutants to
aid in selecting the proper
equipment and in determining
the approximate sampling rate
for the test.
Measurements to determine volumetric flow rate usually require
approximately 30 min.

The volumetric flow rate determined by this method is usually

• within ±10 percent of the true volumetric flow rate.
Sources of Methods and Information.
The U.S. EPA methods fall in two groups—those used by EPA’s Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) and those used by EPA’s
Office of Solid Waste (OSW).
The Emission Measurement Technical Information Center (EMTIC) is
supported by EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
Perhaps the most efficient of several available forms of assistance is the
EMTIC Bulletin Board System (BBS).
• Test methods are included along with announcements, utility
programs, miscellaneous documents, and other information.
• EMTIC sponsors workshops and training courses jointly with EPA’s Air
Pollution Training Institute. Training videotapes, a newsletter, and
other mailings are also available from EMTIC.
An excellent source for information concerning OSW’s SW-846
Methods is the Methods Information Communication Exchange
(MICE).

Although the function of MICE is to provide information, they will

usually send copies of up to three methods. They will not provide
copies of the entire SW-846 Methods Manual.

The SW-846 Methods Manual may be obtained on CD-ROM or hard

copy from National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
REFERENCES
• https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-management-process/managing-air-
quality-emissions-measurement

• Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, Eighth Edition