&EFA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Industrial Environmental Research
Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Research and Development
EPA-600/S2-81-131 Sept. 1981
Project Summary
VOC Emissions Control
Technologies for Ship
Painting Facilities
J. W. Meredith, M. Moskowitz, J. G. Kresky, and D. Harrison
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has the responsibility of
reducing the levels of Volatile Organic
Compound (VOC) emissions from the
nation's stationary and mobile
sources. This project was directed at
assessing the levels of VOC emissions.
from ship painting operations with the
intent of determining the need for
research activity in this industry- A
secondary objective was to identify
control technologies or new
technology concepts which may be
used or developed and demonstrated
that lowers the levels of VOC emis-
sions during ship painting.
This Project Summary was develop-
ed by EPA's Industrial Environmental
Research Laboratory, Cincinnati. OH,
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
Ship painting represents a potentially
significant stationary source of VOC
emissions. Estimates indicate that an
average of 64 metric tons (70 short tons)
are emitted each day from the 76 largest
ship facilities in the United States. This
study is aimed at ship and metal struc-
ture painting with the objectives of
defining and characterizing emissions
from these sources. Only shipyards with
facilities for ships of 92 meters (300 ft)
and 1800 metric tons (2000 tons) or
larger were considered.
The investigators reviewed the litera-
ture and made direct contact with the
ship building and repairing industry to
develop conclusions and recommenda-
tions on control technologies and
concepts.
Ship Painting
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
emissions from ship painting were
determined to average 28 to 65 metric
tons (31 to 72 short tons) per day from
the 76 largest shipyards in the U.S.
Approximately 50 percent of the VOC
emissions are generated during the
painting of U.S. military vessels for
which Military Specification, (Mil.
Spec.), paints are dictated to be used
Mil. Spec, paints typically contain high
volumes of volatile paint solvents.
These paints, however, represent only
30 percent of the total paint consump-
tion.
VOC Control
VOC emission control strategies
found most applicable to ship painting
were paint reformulation and increased
transfer efficiency of the painting equip-
ment. These approaches are being
actively pursued by the ship painting
industry primarily due to economics
rather than reduction of VOC emissions.
There is no known use or considera-
tion of the use of add-on control equip-
ment in this industry. Further reductions
of VOC emissions will come primarily
from increased use of low solvent paints
and high efficiency painting equipment,
respectively.
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J. W. Meredith, M. Moskowitz, J. G. Kresky, and D. Harrison are with CENTEC
Corporation, 11260 Roger Bacon Drive, Reston, VA 22090.
Charles H. Darvin is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "VOC Emissions Control Technologies for Ship
Painting Facilities." (Order No. PB 81 -226 268; Cost: $8.00. 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
Cincinnati. OH 45268
•A US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1981 —757 -O12/7315
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
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