EPA Studies Mercury CEMS

 The USEPA has released an initial draft report concerning the long-term study of several mercury continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS).  Work was conducted by the Midwest Research Institute at a coal fired utility boiler burning eastern bituminous coal and equipped with SCR, an ESP and wet scrubber.

The report presents the results from certification and initial relative accuracy test audit (RATA) testing of four mercury CEMS.  Three CEMS were installed in November 2004 and the fourth in February 2005.  The RATA consisted of 12 paired-train runs using the Ontario Hydro method (ASTM D6784-02).  Testing was conducted under normal facility operations with the SCR bypassed.  Another RATA is planned with operation of the SCR.

EPRI was also involved in the field studies.  EPRI conducted a RATA using the paired sorbent trap monitoring approach concurrent with EPA testing.

Initial certification included a 7-day calibration error test, a measurement error test, a linearity check, converter efficiency test, cycle time test and zero/upscale drift tests.  Instrument span was defined as 10 ug/m3.

The field evaluation data are summarized in the following table.  Note that results from the Ontario Hydro method are not yet completed for the RATA evaluation.

Manufacturer:

Forney/Genesis*

Horiba/Nippon

Tekran

ThermoElectron

Test

Criteria

 

 

 

 

7-Day Calibration Error Test

 

<1 ug/m3

Test not completed.

0.2-0.3 ug/m3 (2 days)

Passed.

0.1 to 0.5 ug/m3

Passed.

0.096 to 0.122 ug/m3

Passed.

0.04 to 0.09 ug/m3

Linearity

<10% or

< 1 ug/m3

Test not performed.

Test not completed.

Ran 1 cycle of low, mid and high.

Passed low; failed mid and high.

Passed.

Met absolute difference (<1 ug/m3) at low level and <10% at mid and high levels.

Passed.

All levels <10%.

Cycle Time

<15 minutes

Test not completed.

Test not completed.

Passed.

Passed.

Converter Efficiency

<5% span

Test not performed.

Passed.

All levels: zero, mid and high.

Passed.

All levels: zero, mid and high.

Passed.

All levels: zero, mid and high.

Measurement Error

<5% span

Test not performed.

Test not completed.

Passed at zero level.

Failed at mid level.

Passed.

All levels: zero, mid and high.

Passed.

All levels: zero, mid and high.

Zero and Upscale Drift

<5% span

Test not performed.

Passed at zero and upscale.

Catalyst replaced twice during 7-day period.

Passed at zero and upscale.

Passed at zero and upscale.

RATA

 

<20%

or <1 ug/m3for low emitters

CEMS  ug/m3

Run1:               

Run2:               

Run3:               

Run4:               

Run5:               

Run6:                1.9

Run7:                1.7

Run8:                4.0

Run9:                2.3

Run10:              1.5

Run11:              1.6

Run12               2.0

CEMS  ug/m3

Run1:                2.0

Run2:                2.0

Run3:                1.8

Run4:                1.9

Run5:                2.3

Run6:                1.8

Run7:                2.1

Run8:                1.4

Run9:                2.7

Run10:              2.5

Run11:              2.5

Run12               2.3

CEMS  ug/m3

Run1:                2.639

Run2:                2.610

Run3:                2.335

Run4:                2.477

Run5:                2.870

Run6:                3.180

Run7:                2.791

Run8:                2.799

Run9:                2.909

Run10:              2.869

Run11:              2.910

Run12               3.317

CEMS  ug/m3

Run1:                2.44

Run2:                2.53

Run3:                2.06

Run4:                2.10

Run5:                2.67

Run6:                2.70

Run7:                2.16

Run8:                2.15

Run9:                1.95

Run10:              1.71

Run11:              1.92

Run12               2.74

Sorbent Trap Data, ug/m3

Run1:    3.0

Run2:    3.4

 

Run1:                3.0

Run2:                3.8

Run1:                2.695

Run2:                3.325

 

*All testing not completed/conducted due to pending system upgrade.

 

  Author: Nancy M. Hirko, Senior Engineer

  Date: 10/6/05

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