A cost effective and precise solution to calibrate for fugitive emissions at petrochemical plants

This article originally published on Petrochemical Chemical & Energy Website at petro-online.com

Petrochemical processes emit a range of toxic chemicals beyond the ubiquitous pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). These emissions, released both via process stacks and as fugitive emissions, have considerable implications for environmental quality and public health. Consequently, regulatory bodies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate rigorous monitoring and control measures. Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) of particulate concern include hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), toxic organic compounds, chlorinated compounds, and sulphur species such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S).

Emissions from process stacks are usually monitored using online Continuous Emissions Monitors (CEMs), whereas fugitive emissions are assessed through Fenceline Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (FLAAQS). To ensure compliance with international regulations, these monitoring systems require frequent calibration and daily validation. However, the highly reactive nature of the monitored chemicals presents a challenge, as they are unstable in cylinder mixtures. Additionally, EPA validation procedures require substantial quantities of gas when using calibration cylinders, resulting in extensive operational costs.

To address these challenges, KIN-TEK Analytical’s Span Pac Industrial Gas Standard Generator provides NIST-traceable standards through physical measurement using permeation tubes. Since both EPA Protocol and the European Committee for Standardisation recognise permeation tube standards, this approach mitigates the risks associated with high-pressure cylinders while reducing costs. In addition, the use of KIN-TEK Trace Source™ disposable and refillable permeation tubes improves analytical accuracy, thereby ensuring more reliable emissions monitoring and regulatory compliance.

Explore our full product line or contact us to learn which KIN-TEK solution is right for your application.

Calibrate your way using KIN-TEK Trace Source™ Permeation Tube technology combined with KIN-TEK’s EcoFlex™ Standalone gas standard system, 491Flex™ manually operated expandable system, or KIN-TEK’s fully automated and expandable FlexStream™ System.

• Accurate sub-ppm to pptr gas concentrations for calibrating GC, GC-MS, or other devices.
• Multiple gases and a multipoint calibration curve generated using  Trace Source™ Permeation Tubes in a KIN-TEK Gas Standard Generator.
• 550+ NIST-traceable gas compounds available to provide complex gas mixtures.

KIN-TEK introduces the FlexMixer™ Multi-Gas Blending/Diluting System that mixes or dilutes up to 4 separate gas feeds (or cylinder sources) to one Span Gas output. Click here for more information about the FlexMixer™

Modular configurations provide interchangeable and expandable calibration scenarios giving you full control to Calibrate Your Way!

Calibration challenges solved with Permeation Tube Technology

Challenge: The challenge is that permanent gases or air pollutants that cannot be liquefied, such as O2, NO, CO, N2, CH4, NO, etc. must be used in the gas form for calibration and are unstable in static mixtures at trace concentrations (ppm and lower). Using a permeation tube emitting at a very low flow rate for dilution to ppm and lower concentrations requires precision flow, pressure, and temperature control devices. Dynamically generating the gas mixture as it is needed eliminates issues created from storing the mixture.

Solution: Trace Source™ 57H Gas Fed permeation tubes used within a system that combines the FlexStream™ Base and PM/GF Modules provide the controls needed for creating trace concentrations of high vapor pressure (permanent) gases such as O2, NO, CO, N2, CH4, etc. that cannot be liquefied. The mechanism and controls needed to deliver accurate gas standards at trace concentrations is a combination of the tube construction and the equipment controls required to hold the tube at equilibrium conditions.  The FlexStream™ System provides automated mechanical controls to hold the permeation tube at equilibrium for dynamically delivering a precise gas standard with each use.

Read more  “Low Concentration Calibration for High Vapor Pressure Gases”