A methodology for obtaining air emission factors at point sources containing a combustion process

Abstract

AbstractPreparation of air permits generally involves estimating emission rates of point sources. At point sources where combustion is occurring, the EPA's AP‐42 emission factors can be used to estimate emissions resulting from combustion of fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. Emission factors for the combustion of other substances are the subject of this work. The method developed herein is based on the kinetics of the combustion reaction, and involves the formulation of a novel dimensionless group. This dimensionless group, which is referred to as ϕ in this work, is defined as the ratio of the log‐mean reaction rate (normalized by the log‐mean fuel concentration) to the space velocity of the materials passing through the reaction locus. This dimensionless group takes the value of 530 to 780 for the typical combustion of light hydrocarbons in a boiler or similarly‐operating point source. The method provides emission factors which are in good agreement with those in the AP‐42 compilation of emission factors.