Continuous Emission Monitoring - James A. Jahnke

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Cylinder gases used for calibration or audit purposes are dry gases, containing no water. The molecular weight of a dry gas used to establish the calibration of a dilution system will be different than the molecular weight of a flue gas containing percent levels of moisture. As discussed earlier, this will affect the dilution ratio and introduce bias into the measurement. Also, some analyzers are subject to interference by water vapor. Here, a dry calibration gas may not truly establish the calibration function for the analyzer and the wet flue gas measurements will be in error. Additionally, water can adsorb onto sample tubing and internal instrument surfaces and subsequently reduce the adsorption of other gases such as volatile organic compounds (Peeler et al. 1997). Daily calibration with dry gases can disrupt this effect and cause some disequilibrium in the measurements for a period of time after calibration.

      The entire extractive system sampling system and gas analysis system must be capable of being calibrated as a unit. In the design of the system, calibration gases should be able to be injected as close as possible at the probe – a recommendation made in fact by the EPA in its Appendix F quality assurance requirements and a requirement for cylinder gas audits and linearity checks. This is necessary to check for leaks or other operational problems in the system. In calibrating source‐level‐extractive systems, the analyzer should be calibrated at the same gas flow rate, pressure, temperature, and operating procedures that are used in monitoring the stack gas. In calibrating dilution systems, the calibration gas must enter the system before the critical orifice. Flooding the coarse filter or dilution probe with calibration gas at the inlet or using a check valve that allows calibration gas injection directly behind the coarse filter are the best methods for performing this check (Reynolds 1989). If the system is not pressurized by the calibration gas, this method can be used to determine if leaks, blockage, or gas adsorption are occurring in the system.

      The system should also be capable of checking the calibration directly at the analyzer. A comparison between instrument readings from a probe calibration check and an analyzer calibration check is frequently useful in system troubleshooting.

      The calibration gases are usually injected automatically every 24 hours although some operators prefer to perform calibration checks manually so that the system can be watched more closely.

      The design of an extractive system involves considering more than piecing together a probe, pump, and a conditioning or dilution system. The task is more complex since decisions must be made on at least the following minimum components:

      1 Sample probe: construction and composition

      2 Probe blowback: design and frequency

      3 Sample line: composition, length, and diameter

      4 Valves and fittings: construction and composition

      5 Pressure and vacuum meters: quality

      6 Moisture conditioning system: refrigerated, dilution, capacity, design, and construction

      7 Filters: coarse, fine, or coalescing

      8 Pumps: capacity, type, and quality

      9 CEM shelters or cabinets: location, shelter HVAC requirements, enclosed space safety considerations, temperature stability

      10 System controller: programmable logic controllers, datalogger, or microprocessor to sequence and control automatic functions

      11 Electrical support: fuses, circuit breakers, regulating equipment, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

      12 Calibration gases: location, injection point, tubing requirements, regulators, and manifold, certified gases as appropriate, cylinder gas cabinet or weather overhang, cabinet heater/air conditioning as appropriate

      13 Automatic calibration system: valves, injection sequencing, interconnections with the DAS and/or DCS

      Issues associated with many of these components are discussed in further detail by McNulty et al. (1974) and Podlenski et al. (1984). The resistance of different materials to acid gases, flow rate, condensation requirements is particularly addressed.

      Extractive CEM systems are most commonly housed in a temperature‐controlled room or a modular shelter. This adds significantly to the expense of a CEM system, but it does provide a centralized location to conduct system operations. To reduce costs, system manufacturers can also incorporate systems in temperature‐controlled National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enclosures, a common practice in process monitoring applications. Alternatively, by close‐coupling the system to the stack, costs associated with sampling line and shelter are essentially eliminated.

      To construct a working extractive system that delivers a representative sample to the gas analyzers is not something that can be done without experience, requiring an understanding of the interaction of gases, temperature, and materials. This experience is most often gained through trial and error and may require time to acquire.

      Miniaturization in extractive sampling system design has gone a step further through the development of modular, miniaturized sampling systems. Sponsored by the Center for Process Analysis and Control (CPAC), at the University of Washington, a consortium of equipment manufacturers and end‐users was formed for this purpose. Intended primarily for the process industries, refineries, and chemical companies, the “New Sampling Sensor Initiative” or “NeSSI” established the ISA standard, ISA 76.00.02‐002, for the design of modular sampling platforms (ANSI/ISA 2002). The goals of the program were to simplify and standardize sampling system design by using modular flow components that could be arranged like building blocks.

      Derived from modular concepts developed in the semiconductor industry, functional components such as valves, gauges, regulators, sensors, and analyzers are mounted on interconnected building blocks. The standard specifies that each building block is to have a “footprint” of about one and a half square inches. The building blocks are machined with holes and passages in configurations that allow the functional components to be interconnected. Instead of stainless steel or Teflon tubing with nut and ferrule fittings, common in traditional extractive systems, the functional components (valves, gauges, regulators, and so on) are interconnected by the use of annular o‐ring slip‐fit pressure connectors or connecting tubes having specially designed o‐ring boss end fittings.

       In the Parker‐Hannifin system (Dudley and Cost 2012), the modular blocks are arranged on a pegboard, or other support, where they are interconnected by annular slip‐fit pressure connectors. The flow channels of the Parker‐Hannifin system are all in one plane, allowing for straightforward topology.

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