1168506 - Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) Capture and Control

Exposure to hazardous air pollutants in industrial processes such as textiles, manufacturing, printing, fuel processing and surface coating operations not only poses acute and chronic illness risks to workers but can also impact surrounding communities with similar risks and generate odor complaints. Fugitive emissions from these types of processes are controlled with capture systems that sequester the dangerous HAPs and deliver them to either destruction (thermal oxidizers), removal (scrubbers) or recovery (carbon adsorption/absorption) controls. The performance of capture/control systems require testing to evaluate their effectiveness.

This presentation will review the various types of VHAP controls and applicable environmental regulations. The procedures used to evaluate performance will be identified and the science behind the sampling will be examined. The following subsections will be presented:

Capture System Techniques and Technologies – Sources of VOC emissions can come from a variety of industrial processes ranging from hot matrix coating operations to ambient processes with highly volatile organic compounds. The capture system is key to eliminating the fugitive emissions from the breathing zones of workers and surrounding communities.

Control System Techniques and Technologies – The Capture systems are only half of the equation. Removal of VHAPS from the captured gas stream must be sufficient to reduce airborne concentrations to safe levels before process gases are exhausted to atmosphere.

Performance Testing of Capture Systems – USEPA has defined test procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of capture systems. These methods must be followed prior to evaluating control systems to ensure the source of VHAPS are properly controlled, and that loadings to the control system are representative of real-time operations.

Performance Testing of Control Systems – The methodologies for determining emission rates and destruction/removal efficiencies of VHAPS control systems are complex and require skilled and careful measurements.

Lessons Learned from Actual Test Events – Challenges to be expected and how they were overcome will be discussed based on experience conducting capture and control testing and evaluation of results.