United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Industrial Environmental
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA-600/S9-84-011 June 1984
Project Summary
EADS Gaseous Emissions Data
System 1982 Annual Report
J. Patrick Reider
This report is the first data summary
of solids media sampling and analysis
results compiled in EPA's Gaseous
Emissions Data System (GEDS). GEDS
is a component of a group of related
computerized data bases — the Envi-
ronmental Assessment Data Systems
(EADS) — that describe multimedia
discharges from energy systems and
industrial processes. EADS was designed
to aid researchers in environmental
assessment, source characterization,
and control technology development.
This report summarizes data compiled
from the implementation of GEDS in
1980 through 1982. It lists the sources
reported in GEDS, feed materials used,
chemical analysis data on hazardous and
priority pollutants, and the number of
samples for each source.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Industrial Environmental
Research Laboratory. Research Triangle
Park. NC, to announce key findings of
the research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
The Gaseous Emissions Data System
(GEDS) is a computerized information
system that contains results of sampling
and analysis of gaseous media discharges
from energy systems and industrial
processes. GEDS is one of four waste
stream data bases that make up the
Environmental Assessment Data Systems
(EADS). GEDS became operational in
June 1980. This annual report describes
GEDS and its growth, contents, and
future within EADS.
EADS is a comprehensive system of
computerized data bases that describe
energy systems, industrial processes,
control technologies, and process dis-
charges. Morever, EADS is a protocol for
data analysis and evaluation that allows
users to make consistent and meaningful
interpretations of the data collected and
reported. The EADS protocol may be
applied to any type of sampling and
analysis activity in which discrete samples
are collected.
EADS consists of four operational data
bases for multimedia product, process, or
waste streams sampled and analyzed, that
are supported by a variety of reference
data bases and data evaluation programs.
The four sampling and analysis data
bases now in operation are the Fine
Particle Emissions Information System
(FPEIS), GEDS, the Liquid Effluents Data
System (LEDS), and the Solid Discharge
Data System (SDDS).
Each data base contains extensive
information on the source of the dis-
charges, on applied control technologies,
on fuels or feedstocks, and on the
composition of each discharge. EADS
applies to most sources, including
industrial processes, energy systems,
and wastewater treatment plants. The
structure of EADS and the types of data
contained in it are discussed in the
project report.
The vast and growing volume of
sampling and analysis data produced by
EPA, its contractors, and other agencies
required a mechanism to consolidate
such data. These organizations have
produced and still are producing a broad
range of data from a variety of industrial
and energy sources, and sampling and
analysis methods and protocols are
constantly evolving. EADS was created to
provide a comprehensive and diverse
repository for multimedia environmental
sampling and analysis data and to
-------
consolidate the data in a central location
where they can be readily available to the
user community. To meet this provision,
EADS was designed to accommodate a
variety of multimedia data from assorted
sampling and analysis programs.
One requirement of an environmental
data base was that a consistent format be
used in order to facilitate accurate
reliable data assessments. More specifi-
cally, it was essential that data be
reported in similar units and be compiled
with consistency in engineering conditions,
technical bases, etc. To meet this need,
EADS was developed to provide a
standardized and uniform protocol for
reporting sampling and analysis data.
A critical need existed for current
information and standardized data analy-
sis procedures. Thus, EADS was created
to supply current sampling and analysis
data for evaluation and to provide standard
methods for retrieving and analyzing the
data. LEDS, for example, has been useful
to EPA's Office of Research and Develop-
ment in developing the Wastewater
Treatability Manual. EADS is updated and
expanded constantly, and a Program
Library aids users in their data evaluation
needs through the utilization of standard
reports and analysis software.
Finally, and possibly most important,
EADS was created to document the
quality of the data reported. EPA is
committed to producing environmental
data of high quality and to providing a
cost-effective way to document results of
sampling and analysis programs so that
data quality may be determined. EADS is
an integral component of lERL-RTP's
approved Quality Assurance (QA) Program
Plan and contains QA parameters to aid
interpretation of the data by the user. The
broad applicability and comprehensive-
ness of EADS make it particularly suitable
for a QA documentation role.
Data from EADS have been used to
model process engineering emissions, to
design and evaluate control technology,
and for many other applications. The
EADS Program Library contains an
extensive array of user programs, includ-
ing special reports and computations.
Data can be retrieved according to source
control technology, sample methods, or
other criteria. Data can be requested for
the entire EADS or for any of the data
bases within EADS. Specially designed
routines are available to interface with
statistical packages and to present the
data in a variety of reporting formats. For
example, the FPEIS data base has a
program called PArticle Data REduction
(PADRE), which calculates particle distri-
butions from user supplied stage weights/
concentrations and cut diameters, and
stores the results in the FPEIS. These
programs are designed to assist the user
in obtaining useful and meaningful data
in a variety of forms.
EADS is user-oriented. A GEDS User
Guide is available documenting instruc-
tions for data encoding and submittal,
along with methods for data retrieval.
GEDS data may be retrieved by either
direct computer access to the data base
and its user program library of by written
or verbal request to EADS technical
support staff. Use of the GEDS data and
analysis software is described in the
GEDS User Guide. Revisions to the
documentation are made easily, and
supplements are issued as needed.
A key component of the design effort
for the EADS data bases isflexibility. User
needs will change, and EADS can adapt
to these changes to remain a useful
information resource. EADS has under-
gone several improvements since it
became operational in 1980 and will
undergo additional changes as needed.
EADS is still the only sampling, analysis,
and engineering data system available
that is completely integrated across
media boundaries.
Description of the GEDS Data
Base
The GEDS data base contains industrial
or energy process source emissions test
data and related source and control
system design and operating data. It
describes gaseous emissions at the point
where the gas sample is collected from
the discharge stream. This is accomplished
through a flexible data base structure and
in the definitions of the principal data
types that are reported. These data types
are defined as data elements, each data
element describing a particular piece of
information (e.g., source characteristic,
discharge stream characteristic, control
device or treatment process, source
operation, test information, analyses of
the fuels and feedstocks, sampling
activity information, chemical analyses,
radionuclide analysis, or bioassay result).
The data elements collectively describe
the entire source test activity. SDDS may
contain more than 500 discrete data
elements for each site test activity
reported. The extent (or completeness) of
the data contained in the data base
depends on the objectives of the site test
plan.
Major categories of data at each level of
the data base are given in Figure 1. The
data are grouped into four general
Test Series
Level
Stream Design
Level
Source Categorization
{Reference Information]
Stream Design
Information
Test Operating]
Level
_L
Fuels/Feedstocks
Characteristics
Sample
Level
Control System
Design Information
Source/Process
Operating lnformation\
Control Systems I
Operating Parameters!
Sample Run
Information/Data
r
Effluent
Concentrations/
Characteristics
Sample Component
Results/ Analysis
|
Inorganic
Analysis/
Non-Level 1
Organic
1
Level 1
Organic Analysis
1
Radionuclides
Analysis
Bioassay
Results
Figure 1. GEDS structure.
-------
categories: general source description and
related information; design conditions
and parameters of the effluent stream
and of the control device or treatment/
storage/recovery process; test operating
information including analysis of any
fuels and feedstock; and sampling
activities information including chemical,
physical, radionuclide, and biological
analysis results.
GEDS Data Summary
The GEDS data base contains about
450 samples from about 100 source
tests. The rate of growth of the GEDS is
expected to level off as concern with air
pollution is supplanted by greater concern
with toxic and hazardous pollutants,
particularly at the Federal level. Toxic and
hazardous pollutants are primarily a
liquid and solid media problem. Source
categories in GEDS are summarized in
Table 1.
Much data in GEDS resulted from
environmental assessments conducted
for EPA during the last 5 years. These
studies are often multimedia, and any
corresponding data in other media may
be located in corresponding data bases.
Over 70 percent of all test series in GEDS
have been conducted on combustion
Table 1. Summary of Source Categories in GEDS
Print-001
DataBase: GEDS
Where Clause Follows.
WHC355LT 01/01/83
Environmental Assessment Data Systems
Source Category Summary
Page: O01
Date: 05/01/83
Source Category
Agrichemicals
Chemical Manufac
Chemical Manufac
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Combust-Energy
Consumer Products
Fabricated MTL Prod
Food Industry
Food Industry
Lumber & Wood Prod
Lumber & Wood Prod
Metals
Metals
Metals
Metals
Metals
Minerals
Minerals
Minerals
Minerals
Petroleum Refining
Petroleum Refining
"etroleum Refining
'etroleum Refining
Source Type
Fertilizers
Industrial Inorganic
Industrial Inorganic
Government
Industrial
Industrial
Industrial
Industrial
Industrial
Residential
Utility
Utility
Utility
Utility
Utility
Utility
Utility
Utility
Glass & Glass Prod
Metal Products
Grain Mill Products
Grain Mill Products
Mil/work
Wood
Primary Ferrous
Primary Ferrous
Primary Ferrous
SEC Nonferrous
Secondary Ferrous
Building Materials
Building Materials
Building Materials
Building Materials
Intermediate Dist
Light Distillates
Paving & Roofing MTL
Paving & Roofing MTL
Product or Device
Mixed Fertilizer
Boric Acid
Boric Acid
Internal Combust
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Internal Combust
Furnace
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Boiler
Internal Combust
Internal Combust
Glass Bottles
Automobiles
Carob Kibble
Rice
Housing Products
Lumber
Steel
Steel
Steel
Aluminum
Steel
Brick
Cement
Fiberglass Wool
Gypsum Products
Heavy Fuel Oils
Gasoline
Asphalt
Asphalt
Process Type
Blending
Boiler
Borax & Sulfuric
Reciprocating Engine
Firetube
Single Wall
Stoker
Watertube
Reciprocating Engine
Single Burner
Cyclone
Horn Opposed Wall
Not Specified
Single Wall
Stoker
Tangential
Reciprocating Engine
Simple Cycle Turbine
Manufacture
Surface Coating
Roasting
Processing
Finishing
Sawmill Operations
Abrasive Blasting
Heat Treating
Sintering
Reverb Furnace
Open Hearth
Manufacture
Production
Manufacture
Calcining
Process Heater
Cracking
Batching
Roofing
SIC
2875
2819
2819
4900
4960
4960
4960
4960
4960
4900
4911
4911
4911
4911
4911
4911
4911
4911
3221
3449
2041
2044
2431
2421
3312
3312
3312
3341
3320
3251
3241
3296
3275
2911
2911
2951
2952
Number of
Test Series
1
1
1
1
5
1
2
1
2
3
6
7
2
10
5
7
6
7
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Number of
Samples
2
5
2
4
29
12
4
4
14
15
31
48
3
26
10
59
21
14
13
6
3
3
3
6
2
3
6
3
6
2
6
4
2
2
3
6
4
-------
energy sources; the remainder are
primarily in the metals and minerals
source category. Of the combustion
energy source tests, there is a relatively
even distribution of control device types,
including combustion modifications
(including fuel additives), electrostatic
precipitators, filters, afterburners, liquid
scrubbers, and mechanical collectors.
The full report summarizes source
categories, control systems, feed materi-
als, and the number of samples in GEDS.
J. P. Raider is with Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City. MO 64110.
Gary L. Johnson is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "EADS Gaseous Emissions Data System 1982
Annual Report," (Order No. PB 84-198 407; Cost: $8.50, subject to change)
will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
•if US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; 1984 —759-015/7740
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
CHICAGO IL 60604
------- |