United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S7-86/056 May 1987
Project Summary
The NAPAP Utility Reference
File for 1980
Edward H. Pechan, James H. Wilson, Jr., and Kristin K. Graves
Emission inventory activities within
the National Acid Precipitation Assess-
ment Program (NAPAP) estimate emis-
sions of pollutants of concern to the
acid deposition phenomenon. Electric
utilities emit a large share of total acid
deposition precursor emissions. The
purpose of this study was to produce a
1980 utility data base that meets the
needs of NAPAP task groups for utility
data. Special emphasis was placed on
meeting data needs of atmospheric
modelers, emissions forecasters, and
policy analysts. The product of this
analysis, the NAPAP Utility Reference
File (NURF) for 1980, now serves as
the source of emissions data for the
1980 NAPAP Emission Inventory. It
also serves as the source of operating
and economic data for utility simula-
tion models. Because both fossil and
non-fossil units are included, the total
number of units is more than 11.000.
Utility NOX and SO2 emission estimates
made using NURF data for 1980 are
6.5 million and 17.5 million tons.
respectively.
This Protect Summary was developed
by EPA'« Air and Energy Engineering Re-
search Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park, NC, to announce key findings of
the research protect that Is fully docu-
mented In a separate report of the same
title (see Protect Report ordering In-
formation at back).
Introduction
Components of NAPAP have overlap-
ping but not identical data needs; the
purpose of this project was to develop a
single data base that would meet the
utility-related data needs of all NAPAP
task groups. Existing data files were in-
adequate for this purpose. For example.
Version 4.0 of the 1980 NAPAP Emissions
Inventory, between its point source and
area source components, includes only
anthropogenic sources of major acid
deposition precursor pollutants for that
year. As another example, the Unit In-
ventory was developed to meet data re-
quirements of the Advanced Utility
Simulation Model (AUSM); the Unit In-
ventory contains unit-specific information
for only a subset of generating units,
however.
Technical Approach
Figure 1 provides an overview of the
NURF data system. NURF comprises four
component files: the master unit data file
(containing information on all electric
utility generating units), the fuel specific
emissions file (containing emissions in-
formation by fuel and unit), the stack
parameters file (containing stack infor-
mation on a unit-specific basis), and the
announced unit file (containing unit-
specific information on units coming on-
line or converting to coal-firing after
1980). In addition, as shown in Figure 1,
three files were derived from NURF and
made available for distribution: the NAPAP
Emissions Inventory updates file (con-
taining corrections and addendums to
Version 4.0 of the 1980 NAPAP Emissions
Inventory), information for AUSM, includ-
ing a 1980 existing units data file (con-
taining unit-specific information on larger
generating units and aggregated infor-
mation on smaller units), and the an-
nounced inventory (containing information
on units coming on-line or planned for
conversion to coal after 1980).
NURF was developed using information
from Version 4.0 of the 1980 NAPAP
Emissions Inventory, the Unit Inventory,
and new data from a variety of sources.
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Table 1 lists major data inputs to NURF.
In developing NURF, the greatest reliance
was placed on data available from public
sources, especially files available in
machine-readable form. A variety of pro-
cessing techniques were required to
format the available information from
these sources into a single consistent
data system.
Some data elements (e.g., heat rate
and capacity factor) were not available
from standard sources and had to be
calculated from available data. When the
calculated values were unreasonable,
judgments were made as to which of the
input values were the most accurate;
other data were adjusted on a unit-
specific basis so that all resultant values
were reasonable.
Because of the wide range of types of
data processing required to create NURF,
a combination of programming languages
and methodologies was used in its
development. Initial data reduction of the
larger data files was performed by a
series of programs written in Program-
ming Language/I (PL/I). These larger files
were reduced to one record per unit (or
plant if a plant-level file). The reduced
files were converted to a consistent
format using the Statistical Analysis
System (SAS). These SAS files were then
combined and manipulated using a series
of SAS programs. Examples of the pro-
cessing required include calculation of
default state average fuel quality data
and assignment of plant technology codes.
The result of these manipulations was a
final NURF in SAS format. The final pro-
cessing steps converted the NURF data in
their component file form into the set of
derivative files which were discussed
earlier.
Development of NURF was a multi-
step process. The first step was to identify
the universe of units to be included.
Because the coverage of the major con-
tributing data files differs, it was neces-
sary to compare several data files on a
plant-specific basis in order to develop
the best possible universe of facilities.
Conflicts between these files occurred in
many cases. These had to be resolved on
a case-by-case basis. In cases where a
conflict occurred, if two or more files
contained consistent information, those
data were chosen. Otherwise, preference
was given to the U.S. Department of
Energy's (DOE) 1980 Form 67 data and
the Generating Unit Reference File
(GURF), both of which contain more re-
cent information.
Operating characteristics (e.g., total
generation and total fuels consumed for
NURF Component
Files
Master Unit
Data File
Fuel Specific
Emissions File
Stack
Parameters File
Announced
Unit File
NURF Derivative Files
a
Input to 1980
NAPAP Emissions
Inventory.
Version 5.0
Input to
AUSM
I960 Existing
Unit DataFile
Announced
Inventory
"existing plants emitting SOi. NO*, or TSP
^Advanced Utility Simulation Model
"aggregated information on smaller units
"planned plants (or conversions)
Figure 1. Overview of NAPAP Utility Reference File (NURF) elements.
Table 1. Major Data Inputs to NURF
Data Input Type" Level of Detail
Data Provided
El A Form 759 A
(formerly FPC Form 4)
FPC Form 423 A
FPC Form 67 A
FGDIS A
NAPAP Emission Inventory A
Generating Unit Reference A
File
EPA State Implementation A
Plan file
NERC planned plants M
NERC coal conversions M
DOE coal conversions M
Pechan nuclear plant status M
NO, control update M
ANL firing data A
Plant Fuel consumption and generation
Plant Cost and quality of fuels
Boiler/fuel Fuels consumed, control equipment,
feeder firing type, and bottom type
Boiler SO2 scrubber data
Boiler Stack parameters
Unit Year online, year retired, capacity
Unit TSP. SO2 and NOX emission limits
Unit New plants
Unit Plants converted or planning conversion
to coal
Unit Plants converted or planning conversion
to coal
Unit Status of planned nuclear units
Unit NO, control measures
Unit Supplemental data on firing types and
bottom type
'A = Automated. M - Manual.
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generation) were obtained from the
Federal Power Commission's (FPC) Form
4; in 1980, FPC Form 4 was renumbered
to EIA Form 759. Form 4 is a monthly
data base; for use in NURF, however, the
monthly data for 1980 were aggregated
into annual totals. Form 4 data are re-
ported by plant and prime mover; e.g., a
plant having both steam and combustion
turbine units would have fuel use and
generation data provided for each of these
two prime movers.
Unit-specific operational data for 1980
were estimated by applying 1980 unit
shares computed from 1980 Form 67
data on fuel use and generation to the
corresponding data elements from the
1980 plant and prime mover totals from
Form 4. This method was adopted to
correct errors associated with the use of
incorrectly reported units on Form 67
submissions. Because the Form 67 data
were used only to compute shares of
validated totals, unit errors in Form 67
data were not carried through to NURF.
Fuel quality data were obtained from
FPC Form 423. For units with no reported
Form 423 information, state average data
obtained from Form 423 were used.
Results
The major user files derived from NURF
are inputs to Version 5.0 of the 1980
NAPAP Emissions Inventory and the 1980
existing units data file, an input to AUSM.
Due to data coverage and desired data
base size considerations, both of these
derivative files have been segmented into
components comprising large and small
generating units. The size cutoff utilized
in the existing units data file is more
restrictive than that used to update Ver-
sion 4.0 of the 1980 NAPAP Emissions
Inventory because the existing units data
file is used as the basis for projection of
emissions and fuel use in AUSM; the
activity of smaller units cannot be pro-
jected reasonably. For example, the 1980
existing units data file includes unit-
specific data on only 30% of all fossil-
fired units, while Version 5.0 of the 1980
NAPAP Emissions Inventory contains
detailed data on 62% of all fossil-fired
units; because the units represented in
detail in these data files are the larger
units, these files have more extensive
coverage of generating capacity, gen-
eration, and emissions. For fossil-fired
generating capacity, 92% of the total is
represented in unit-specific data in the
1980 existing units data file and 96% of
the total is included in Version 5.0 of the
1980 NAPAP Emissions Inventory file.
Generation and emissions coverage is
almost complete for Version 5.0 of the
1980 NAPAP Emissions Inventory file
and is extremely high (more than 98%)
for the 1980 existing units data file. Note
that the existing units data file also
includes non-fossil units, which are not
included in the NAPAP Emission
Inventory,
Table 2 provides some summary statis-
tics on NURF's coverage of generation
capacity, generation, and emissions, by
fuel and plant type. Fossil-fired units
account for more than 75% of capacity
and generation, and 100% of emissions.
Table 2 also shows that the proportion of
coal-fired generation is larger than the
proportion of coal-fired capacity; the op-
posite is true for oil-fired units. As
expected, coal-fired units account for
most emissions.
Discussion
NURF was compiled from every major
publicly available data file on utilities. By
matching and combining this information,
the development of NURF gathered all
relevant information into one data file.
Discrepancies that existed in the past
between data bases are resolved in NURF;
the result is a cohesive and comprehen-
sive electric utility operations and emis-
sions data file.
Because NURF is a composite of the
best data available from a number of
sources, it does not exactly match any
other individual file. Aggregate measures
of key variables are in excellent agree-
ment with published statistics, however.
NURF is important as an input to NAPAP's
emission efforts, as well as an important
utility operations data base in its own
right.
Conclusions
NURF is a central repository of data for
utility operations and emissions, facili-
tating analysis of the electric utility sector.
The largest sources of NOX and SO2
emissions have been thoroughly covered.
In addition, data on all large units (in-
cluding fossil-fired, non-fossil fired, exist-
ing, and planned) are provided in a
comprehensive manner.
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Table 2. Summary Statistics by Plant Type
Plant Type
Coal steam
Oil steam
Gas steam
Oil non-steam
Gas non-steam
TOTAL FOSSIL
Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Other
TOTAL
Capacity
(MW)
242,700
67,600
93,500
29,300
24,400
457,500
45,900
81,500
900
555,800
%of
Total
42
11
16
5
4
75
5
14
0
700
Generation
(TWh)
1.171,000
217.OOO
338,000
7,OOO
21,000
1,754,000
233,000
287,000
5,000
2,279,000
%of
Total
51
10
15
0
1
77
10
13
0
10O
S02
(1OOO tons)
16.070
1,320
120
10
0
17.520
0
0
0
17.520
%of
Total
91
8
1
0
0
100
0
0
0
100
NO,
(10OO tons)
5,20O
400
750
4O
10O
6.490
0
0
0
6.490
%of
Total
79
6
12
1
2
10O
o
o
o
100
TSP
(1OOO tons)
570
60
20
3
2
655
0
0
O
655
%of
Total
88
9
3
O
0
1OO
O
O
O
100
Note: Percentages calculated from detailed data.
E. Pechan, J. Wilson, and K. Graves are with E. H. Pechan and Associates,
Springfield. VA 22151.
J. David Mobley is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report consists of two parts, entitled "The NAPAP UTILITY
Reference File for 1980:" (paper copy. Order No. PB 87-182 887; Cost: $18.95)
"1980 U.S. Electric Utility Data Base." (computer tape. Order No. PB 87-
182 879; Cost: $ 175.00; cost of tape includes paper copy as well)
The above reports will be available only from: (costs subject to change)
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S7-86/056
cttoN
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