United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of EPA/60C
Research and Development May 1993
Washington DC 20460 Vol. 11
&EPA
ORD ENGINEERING
HIGHLIGHTS
A bimonthly compilation of EPA's Office of Research and Development engineering research activities and
results and related research activities in pollution prevention and mitigation. To discuss any of these
activities, contact the ORD lead person listed below. For general information, contact Charlotte Bercegeay
of the Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration, Phone: 919-541-2482.
AIR '
* Enhanced Combustion Woodstove Patent
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
* Reduction of Energy Consumption fr) Electric
IVJotors
* Potential Replacement for C FC-1 1
SITE REMEDIATION
* Evaluation 01 Projects for SITE Emerging
Technology Program
HAZARDOUS WASTE
,* Renewal of RCRA Facility Permit
» Loring AFB Feasibility as National
Environmental Center
WATER
• Research Award for RREL Employee
* Remediation Technologies for lead Battery
Recycling Sites
« Report Or* PM-1 0 Emissions fcom Sattd/Salt
Applications on urban Roads
* Remediation Options for Contaminated Wood-
Preserving Sites
REGIONAL OK STATE ASSISTANCE
•* Best Treatment Technologies for Region V
Superfund Site
« Assessment o* Soil Wasning for Sand
SRe
AIIFT ' — •-••"
Enhanced Combustion Woodstove
Patent Issued
A patent entitled "Single Chamber Woodstove Including
Gaseous Hydrocarbon Supply" was recently issued to the
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL)
for an innovative woodstove design that significantly
reduces particulate emissions from woodstoves. This
Enhanced Combustion Woodstove (ECW) technology can
lower particulate emissions from residential woodburning
stoves to a record 1 g/hr. The current EPA-certified
woodstove emission rate is 7 g/hr, and the conventional,
uncontrolled woodstove emission rate is 22 g/hr. Recent
laboratory testing has focused on the gas controls, leading
to the perfection of an automated, fail-safe, pilot igni-
tion/gas control system using off-the-shelf components
approved by the American Gas Association. Under a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
(CRADA), EPA and Aladdin Steel Products, Inc., are
finalizing the adaptation of the ECW to-an improved-
design woodstove. Stress testing and limited field trials for
20 stoves are planned to begin around December 1993. A
patent application has been filed for the adaptation of the
ECW technology to firejplaces. (Robert C. McCrillis, 919-
541-2733)
1
AIR
Printed on Recycled Paper
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May 1993
GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE
Electric Motor Energy Reduction
—Fuzzy Logic Energy Optimizer
Fuzzy logic is a mathematical approach that uses
approximate reasoning to resolve complex programming
problems. AEERL is nearing completion of laboratory
studies for an energy optimizer based on fuzzy logic to
reduce the energy consumption of electric motors. Motor
speed control is achieved without the use of a feedback
signal from a tachometer. The project has moved from the
laboratory prototype stage to the microchip stage.
Efficiency gains in the laboratory compare favorably to
those predicted by computer simulation. Predictions are
for energy savings with a generic fuzzy logic energy
optimizer that will allow payback within 6 months and
savings of several billion kWh per year in the United
States. To commercialize the technology, AEERL has
begun CRADA and licensing negotiations with GM/Delco
Remy. The patent application has been sent to GM for
evaluation and potential use in GM's electrical propulsion
systems for new electric vehicles. (Ronald Spiegel, AEERL,
919-541-7542)
New Chemical Could Replace CFC-11 Refrigerant
Approximately 65,000 large, centralized air-conditioning
systems use CFC-11, the refrigerant of choice for many
years. CFC-11 will be phased out of production on
January 1,1995, however, and no permanent alternatives
have been found by industry to replace it. Industry has
proposed a hydrochlorofluorocarbon(HCFC) asjmjdterria-
tive, but HCFC also is subject to phaseout because it
contains chlorine. AEERL researchers reported results on
the evaluation of a new chemical, HFC-245ca, that shows
considerable promise as a replacement for ozone-depleting
CFC-11. The AEERL research group developed HFC-245ca,
which has no chlorine or bromine atoms and therefore has
zero potential to destroy stratospheric ozone. The
compound also has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime
of 6.4 years, a feature that helps minimize its impact on
global warming. Computer modeling, using measured
thermophysical properties of the compound, indicates that
acceptable performance would be achieved by chiller sys-
tems. Experiments also indicate that the chemical is com-
patible with chiller equipment materials and with certain
polyester lubricants. Initial tests performed to date show
no evidence of toxicity problems, although more testing
remains to be done. One possible drawback of HFC-245ca
is its slight flammability at certain air ratios, depending on
the moisture content of the mixture. Ways are being
evaluated to eliminate or reduce this risk. AEERL's new
chemical could make a significant difference in industry's
ability to reduce stratospheric ozone depletion. (N. Dean
Smith, AEERL, 919-541-2708)
SITE REMEDIATION
Numerous Research Projects
Evaluated for Emerging Technology
Program
The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL) SITE
Emerging Technology Program provides funding to
developers to continue research efforts from the bench- and
pilot-scale levels to promote the development of innovative
technologies for hazardous waste cleanup. The program
reviewed 77 research projects, of which 18 were invited to
submit full preproposals and cooperative agreement
applications. The projects reviewed were categorized as
follows: Solidification/Stabilization, Biological Treatment,
Chemical Treatment, Physical Treatment, and Thermal
Treatment. (Randy A. Parker, RREL, 513-569-7271)
HAZARDOUS WASTE
RCRA Facility Permit Renewed
EPA's Region IV and the State of
North Carolina have renewed
AEERL's RCRA Research, Development, and Demon-
stration (RD&D) permit to operate a hazardous waste
incineration research laboratory. AEERL performs bench-,
laboratory-, and pilot-scale research examining phenomena
related to the formation of metal aerosols, destruction of
organic wastes in rotary kiln incinerators, NOX reduction
via combustion modification, and the capture of heavy
metals in fluidized beds. At the request of the Office of
Solid Waste, AEERL recently devised means to reduce
emissions caused by the opening of incinerator emergency
0LQ8AL CLIMATE CHAfcteSITE {^MEDIATION/HAZARDOUS WASTE
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May 1993
J,3ff» Engineering Highlights
safety vents during system failure, to minimize effects to
workers and others in the near vicinity. (Paul Lemieux,
AEERL, 919-541-0962)
Loring AFB Feasibility Study To Be Presented to
Congress
RREL participated in a study to evaluate the use of Loring
AFB in Maine as a national environmental research center.
The final report is being reviewed by EPA and OMB before
its presentation to Congress in the near future. The
feasibility study presents options for a national engineering
research center to evaluate innovative technologies for use
in cleaning up hazardous waste sites. The engineering
^center—will-be—operated—as—a—G0<5O-~(government—
owned/contractor-operated facility) by RREL; it will
complement other research operations in Jefferson, AR, and
Cincinnati, OH. The Maine facility is also being considered
for a national environmental response training center.
(John S. Farlow, RREL, 908-321-6635)
<4.^
WATER
RREL Employee Receives American
Water Works Association 1993
Research Award
Dr. Robert Clark was selected as the recipient of the
American Water Works Association (AWWA) Research
Award for 1993. Established in 1967 in honor of Dr. A. P.
Black, the award recognizes outstanding research
contributions to water science and water supply practices
rendered over an appreciable period. Dr. Clark received
the award for his many contributions to the drinking water
industry. His research has generated major advancements
in improved drinking water quality, cost-effective treat-
ment options for water utilities, impacts on the direction of
water treatment through immediately applicable research,
and education of engineers and students though publi-
cation of technical papers and books. The award will be
presented at the Annual AWWA Conference on June 7 in
San Antonio, TX. (Robert Clark, RREL, 513-569-7201)
TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER
RREL Bulletin on Cleanup of Lead
Battery Recycling Sites
RREL prepared an engineering bulletin, "Selection of
Control Technologies for Remediation of Lead Battery
Recycling Sites." The document provides remedial project
managers (RPMs), potentially responsible parties (PRPs),
and their supporting contractors with information on
^h^eatmentalternatives and cleanup services at lead battery
recycling sites? ThrbuUetirTdescnb^Tcommorroperafions
and wastes generated; remediation technologies;
information on treatability studies; information on
readability of materials at sites; and profiles of innovative
treatment technologies. The bulletin and its associated
technical documents are part of a coordinated series that
provide data and informa.tion on remediation of Superfund
sites. Other documents are currently being prepared on
solvent, pesticide, and metals sites. Copies of this bulletin
are available from the Center for Environmental Research
Information (CERI), 513-569-7562 (Publication No.
EPA/540/2-91/014). (Michael D. Royer, RREL, 908-321-
6633)
AEERL Report on PM-10 Emissions from Sand/Salt
Applications to Roadways
This report, "Characterization of PM-10 Emissions from
Antiskid Materials Applied to Ice and Snow Covered
Roadways," completes the first phase of a two-winter (FY
1992 and 1993) test program to determine the amount of
PM-10 emissions from sand/salt applications to urban road
surfaces. The FY 1992 test data indicate that current
emission factors are too low. The second phase of the field
tests will be completed this winter. The report is available
from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS),
U.S. Department of Conunerce, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, VA 22161 (Report No. PB 93-150209). (Larry
Jones, AEERL, 919-541-7716)
WATER/TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
•U.S. Government Printing Office: 1993—750-071/60237
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ORD Engineering Hi$MtgMs
May 1993
RREL Publication on Remediation of Wood-Preserving
Sites
The publication "Contaminants and Remedial Options at
Wood Preserving Sites" informs RPMs, PRPs, and their
supporting contractors about facilitating remediation of
sites contaminated with wood-preserving chemicals.
Information is included on wood-preserving processes,
wastes generated, contaminants commonly found, and their
mitigation patterns. For each assessment an approach is
presented for selecting remediation options that are most
likely to achieve site-specific cleanup levels. The use of
treatment trains instead of single technologies is stressed.
Copies of the document are available from CERI, 513-569-
7562 {Report No; EPA/600/R-92/182). (Mary
RREL, 908-321-6683)
REGIONAL OR STATE
ASSISTANCE
Assistance to Region V on
Superfund Site
RREL's Edison, NT, staff continues to provide assistance to
Region V on the Ninth Avenue Dump Superfund Site
located in Gary, IN. The 17-acre site is for inactive
chemical and industrial waste disposal, and is situated in
an area of mixed industrial, commercial, and residential
use. Buried wastes at the site include foundry sand, wood,
concrete, bricks, metals, slag, noncontainerized liquids and
sludges, and drummed liquid and solid material. Soils
show contamination with a variety of ketones; chlorinated
ethenes; benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene
(BETEX); polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons; phenols; pes-
ticides; polychlorinated biphenyls; plasticizers; and
dioxins/furans. RREL is currently reviewing results from
the treatability studies to determine the best treatment
technologies, which include soil washing, in-soil flushing
with bioremediation, thermal desorption, and soil vapor
extraction. (C. Chen, RREL, 908-906-6985)
Volume Reduction Unit Used at Sand Creek Site
RREL assisted Region VIII in assessing the feasibility of soil
washing for remediating the Sand Creek Site in Commerce
City, CO. The Record of Decision identified soil washing
as the technology to be used to remediate soils con-
2,4-D herbicides, and metals. Development of the
Remedial Design posed several problems. The surface soils
had high levels of contamination whereas the subsurface
soils were less contaminated. Because the action levels for
the con-taminants of interest are extremely low, achieving
these levels will require extraction efficiencies greater than
99%. In addition, the soils are fairly fine. Soils with a
large percentage of fine particles (day and silt) are usually
much less cost-effective to soil wash due to the larger
amount of contaminated material that must be treated. Soil
feed is mixed with water and various extraction agents to
remove the contaminants and transfer them to the
extraction fluid. Soils are then segregated by particle size.
The volume reduction unit incorporates a wastewater
treatment component, which processes the washwater to
meet regulatory requirements for discharge or recycling.
Although multiple washings may be required for highly
contaminated surface soils, nonetheless soil washing can be
very cost-effective in remediating this site to acceptable
levels. (Patrick Augustin, RREL, 908-906-6992)
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
EPA/600/N-93/008
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