The public perception toward the routine emission or the accidental release of air pollutants from stationary sources or fugitive emission sources has attracted a great deal of attention under the circumstances of increasing demands on the quality of life in our society. Among those air pollutants, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), not only are the important triggers for a variety of health problems, including aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis, but also are the most frequent causes of environmental nuisance complaints. Furthermore, VOCs are the main pollutants resulted in the rise of ozone level in the atmosphere causing a variety of adverse health effects on the respiratory system, the circulatory system or even leading to the formation of tumor in human bodies. Consequently, Taiwan Environment Protection Administration (TEPA) applied several air pollution control strategies, such as permit system, emission standards, fugitive emission control, and economic incentives, on stationary sources to reduce VOC emission and improve air quality.
The project has completed analyzing and comparing OP-FTIR data collected from several neighboring sites of Linyuan industrial park and Mailiao industrial park from 2009 to 2012. The monitoring data used for the analysis included results of OP-FTIR measurement, meteorological data, and measurements of nearby EPA stationary monitoring stations. We have conducted fenceline monitoring campaigns in the Mailiao industrial park and the Linyuan industrial park by setting up six OP-FTIR systems in the nearby villages of the industrial parks. Thousands of FTIR spectra have been collected from these six fenceline monitoring sites, and a number of hazardous air pollutants including 1,3-butadiene, vinyl chloride, n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, carbon tetrachloride, vinyl acetate and 1,2-dichloroethane were identified. Nevertheless, the yearly monitoring data indicated a significant reduction in VOC concentrations, which is believed highly associated with the reinforcement of VOC emission standards and the advance of regulatory measures in recent years
Odor nuisance complaints in Hsinchu county and Taichung city were targeted for emission sources investigation in this year. A polyurethane coating factory in the Kuanlan industrial park (Taichung City) and a fabric factory in Hsinchu County were identified as the major emission sources contributing to odor pollution problems in the surrounding regions. Through optimizing abatement efficiency and conducting leak detection and repair programs, the endeavors of the two factories were magnified by a dramatic decrease in the petition of odor nuisance in the nearby area. In additions, 143 tons of VOCs reduction was estimated for the fugitive emission from oil storage tanks located at CPC Dai-Lin Plant, which was identified as a major emission source in the previous year. A flare emission reduction of 167 tons VOCs was achieved through redirecting process waste flow gases from flare inlet to fuel supply systems. A total of 310 metric tons of VOCs emission reduction was achieved through this study.
A tracer study was conducted at the south part of the Mali industrial park where SF6 (as tracer gas) was released into one of the flaring stack to simulate the behavior of plume transportation and dispersion. It was noticed that the tracer gas was able to travel all the way from the source to the location of 770 meters downwind. A dilution ratio of 500 thousand times was calculated accordingly by the distance traveled. Remote measurement of heat emission sources by passive-FTIR (PFTIR) and gas imaging detector was performed at Tofan industrial park and Linyuan industrial park, where ammonia, formic acid, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide were detected from 260 meters to 1400 meters away from the measurement sites. The hybrid system, a standoff remote sensing technology with the combination of PFTIR and gas imaging detector was proved to be an effective and efficient tool to assist with pollution auditing in the future.
The compliance status and emissions quantities of 8 petrochemical factories are reviewed and audited, in which 18 problems involving operating permits, 4 problems involving emission reporting, and 2 problems regulatory compliance are identified. For these problems, this study provides remediation measures. Additionally, the underreporting of emissions quantities is the most common phenomenon in inspection results of VOC emissions. Chimney inspections or evaluation of control equipment efficiency of 15 points reveal that the emission standards of each factory comply with the permit limits. Based on a comparison of the operations permit system of the South Coast Air Quality Management District with that of the Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China, Taiwan, we recommend incorporating their amendments into the formal cover of operating permits. In particular, the operating permits should incorporate “Equipment Description and Equipment Characteristics,” “Management Conditions,” and “Committed Plans and Schedule”. Moreover, the related legal basis should be established in each item and contents of the operating permits. The operating permits should also incorporate the air pollutant emission limits and the key design factors, calculated formulas, and calculated processes of air pollution control equipment.
For two petrochemical factories, inspection results of regulatory compliance indicate no non-compliant items; the VOC contents of cooling water comply with VOC standards. Also, sampling inspections are also performed for equipment components of a total of 4,050 points from 4 factories, revealing 10 leaking points; the detection values are also all below 100 ppm after improvement. Additionally, the leak detection and repair (LDAR) program of 9,000 points of equipment components and two storage tanks is implemented using optical gas imaging instrument. While factory A contains five leaking components, two detection values are decreased from 10,000 ppm to 10 ppm after improvement. Experimental results further reveal the vents leaking of two storage tanks in factory A and the fire pipeline and emergency discharge valve leaking of storage tanks in factory B. Although factory B has already replaced related components, factory A has tentatively scheduled the maintenance of leaking storage tanks for next year. Forty six equipment components have already been detected. Exactly how the four emission factors of equipment components differ in emission quantities has already been estimated. According to those estimates, using related equations to estimate emissions may more accurately reflect actual situations.
Although the Taiwan petrochemical industry has developed 231 processes, only 152 are currently implemented. While considering related factors of species emissions quantities and species carcinogenicity, this work compiles a prioritized list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)-related processes in petrochemical industries, as well as identifies three phases to control them. The definitions and analysis processes of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) programs from the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (USEPA) are translated and compiled. Three MACT cases are also cited to illustrate MACT analysis processes. Moreover, the MACT standards of the main emission sources of petrochemical industry processes from the USEPA are compiled. Furthermore, the concentrations of six HAPs categories in the sensitive receptor points of industrial park E are sampled and analyzed. Experimental results reveal six categories of HAPs in the atmosphere near this industrial park. Contents of “Meteorological Data Collection,” “Acid Gas Detection,” and “Target Pollutants Selection” are also revised in the “101 Years of Standard Operating Procedures for HAPs Detection and Investigation in the Atmospheric Environment of Sensitive Receptors (Draft)”.
