AP Monitoring & Control

Monitoring Techniques
• Continuous monitoring methods
These are high-resolution methods that provide continuous records of
contaminant levels. They can operate over extended periods (weeks or
months) with minimal operator intervention.

• Remote communication is possible by telemetry. They have a high degree

of measurement precision, and have detection levels around one order of
magnitude or more below typical background levels.
• As might be expected, these are the most expensive monitoring methods.
A high standard of maintenance, calibration, and operational and quality
control procedures are required for good data quality.
• Gravimetric particulate methods

Monitoring starts when a known volume of air is pumped through a

pre-weighed filter for a known length of time (typically 24 hours). The
filter is reweighed after exposure and a concentration determined.
• Most systems require manual changes of the sampling filters between
each sample, although a number of semi-automated systems are also
available. This can be done on consecutive days. Manually changing
filters at midnight, however, is operationally impractical when
compliance monitoring
• Passive monitoring methods (diffusion tubes and badges)
Diffusion tubes work when a contaminant is diffused into a tube containing
either an adsorbent or reactive material. Analysis of the tubes following a
known exposure time (typically two to four weeks) will provide a time-
averaged contaminant concentration. Badges work in a similar way, the
difference being the sampler configuration. Badges typically have higher
uptake rates and are used more widely in New Zealand.
Because these methods are simple and cheap, they can provide a good
picture of spatial variation over a large area. They are particularly useful in
screening surveys and during the initial stages of an air quality monitoring
programme.
Carbon monoxide and NO
• CO monitoring instruments are predominantly gas filter correlation infrared (GFC-IR)
absorption analysers.
• In a GFC-IR analyser, ambient air is continuously sampled using a pump unit and the
CO concentration in the sample air is measured by the absorption of infrared
radiation at 4.5 to 4.9 nanometers (nm) wavelength.
• NO
• The intensity of the chemiluminescent radiation (hv) produced is measured using a
photomultiplier tube (PMT) or photodiode detector. The detector output voltage is
proportional to the NO concentration. The ambient air sample is divided into two
streams; in one, ambient NO2 is reduced to NO using a molybdenum catalyst before
reaction. The molybdenum converter are 95 per cent efficient at converting NO2 to
NO. This gas stream gives total NOx. The second stream measures NO directly by not
passing through the molybdenum converter.
• PM10: The USEPA standard is described as a reference method (eg,
gravimetric)
• The recommended method for hydrogen sulphide is fluorescence
monitoring

• In an O3 analyser, ambient air is continuously sampled using a pump

unit. O3 concentrations are calculated from the absorption of
ultraviolet (UV) light at 254 nanometres (nm) wavelength. The
absorption is measured using a UV detector.
• SO2 monitoring instruments are predominantly molecular UV fluorescence
analysers. This is the recommended SO2 monitoring method.
• UV fluorescence systems operate on the principle that an ambient air
sample stream exposed to UV light excites SO2 molecules in the sample to
higher, but unstable, excited states.

• The recommended method for lead content of PM10 is high-volume

gravimetric sampling

• Ref: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/air/good-practice-guide-air-
quality-monitoring-and-data-management-2009/4-how-monitor-
%E2%80%93
High Volume Sampler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6LwtWnGtZs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQXJHOc7E0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueWRM
KilBEY
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL METHODS
Cyclone Separator

Cyclonic separation is a method of removing particulates

from an air, gas or liquid stream, without the use of filters,
through vortex separation. When removing particulate
matter from liquid, a hydrocyclone is used; while from gas,
a gas cyclone is used.

Cyclone dust collectors are often employed as an initial

stage collector or prefilter to lighten heavy dusts loads

Common applications include mining, cement, metals,

wood, and other applications that generate large amounts
of large, coarse dust.
Electrostatic Precipitator
An electrostatic precipitator is a filtration
device that removes fine particles, like
dust and smoke, from a flowing gas using
the force of an induced electrostatic
charge minimally impeding the flow of
gases through the unit.

An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) removes

particles from a gas stream by using electrical
energy to charge particles either positively or
negatively. The charged particles are then
attracted to collector plates carrying the opposite
charge
Scrubbers (Venturi)
Scrubber systems (e.g. chemical scrubbers,
gas scrubbers) are a diverse group of air pollution control
devices that can be used to remove some particulates
and/or gases from industrial exhaust streams. ... There
are several methods to remove toxic or corrosive
compounds from exhaust gas and neutralize it.

The Venturi Scrubber uses the differential between high

velocity gases and free-flowing water to create droplets
which entrap contaminants, hold them in suspension and
deliver them as a highly concentrated slurry. ... It removes
pollutants present in process gas streams.
Wet scrubbers have been used in a variety of industries such as acid plants, fertilizer plants, steel mills,
asphalt plants, and large power plants. Small space requirements: Scrubbers reduce the temperature and
volume of the unsaturated exhaust stream

A dry scrubber, or dry scrubber system, is a type of pollution control equipment that is designed to remove
harmful gases and particulates from industrial exhaust streams. Dry scrubbers are primarily used to abate
acidic gases, like those associated with acid rain.
Bag Filters

A fabric filter, sometimes referred to as a baghouse,

utilizes fabric filtration to remove particles from the
contaminated gas stream by depositing the particles
on fabric material.
As dust builds up on the filter surface, the pressure
drop across the filter increases.
In every industry that needs bag filter, these bag filters are placed inside of bag filter housings for the purpose
of purification by removing solids from wastewater. They are typically used in the treatment of industrial process
water, wastewater, groundwater, and cooling water, along with many others.

Fabric types: Cotton (1:2), Satin(1:4) pattern

Process: Impaction and Interception

Gaseous Removal Equipment
Absorption
• Absorption is an operation involving mass transfer of a soluble vapor component to a solvent liquid
in a device that promotes intimate contact between the gas and the liquid.
• The driving force for absorption is the difference between the partial pressure of the soluble gas in
the gas mixture and its vapor pressure just above the surface of the liquid.
• It is necessary to employ a liquid solvent within which the gas to be removed is soluble.
• Water is, by itself, quite efficient for removing soluble acidic gases such as HCl and HF and the
soluble basic gas NH3 .
• Gases of more limited solubility, such as S02, Cl2 , and H2S, can be absorbed readily in an alkaline
solution such as dilute NaOH.
• Thus, when water is used as the solvent, it may contain added species, such as acids, alkalines,
oxidants, or reducing agents to react with the gas being absorbed and enhance its solubility.
Nonaqueous, organic liquids of low volatility can be used for absorption of gases with low water
solubility, such as hydrocarbons. Examples of such solvents are dimethylaniline and amines.
• The most commonly used devices are columns containing packing or regularly spaced plates, open
spray chambers and towers, and combinations of sprayed and packed chambers. Countercurrent
contact of liquid and gas is employed to maximize the driving forces.
 • Adsorption is employed to remove low
concentration gases from exhaust streams
Adsorption by causing the gaseous solutes to intimately
contact a porous solid to which the solute
will adhere. Gas adsorption is used
industrially for odor control and for the
removal of volatile solvents such as
benzene, ethanol, trichloroethylene, and so
on, from effluent streams
 • The process called incineration
or combustion—chemically, rapid
oxidation—can be used to convert VOCs
and
other gaseous hydrocarbon pollutants t
Combustion o carbon dioxide and water. Incineration
of Gaseous of VOCs and hydrocarbon fumes usually
is accomplished in a special incinerator
pollutant called an afterburner.
• TEMP: 375-825DEG C,
• RESIDENCE TIME: 0.2-0.5SEC
• GAS VELOCITY: 4.5 TO 7.5M/SEC
Catalytic Oxidation
• Advanced Reading:
https://www.env.go.jp/earth/coop/coop/document/01-
apctme/contents.html