United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Research Triangle Park NC 27711 EMB Report 80-BOF-4 August 1980 Air Steel Processing Fugitive Emissions Emission Test Report Armco Steel Ashland, Kentucky ------- FUGITIVE EMISSION EVALUATION REPORT DESULFURIZATION STATION ARMCO STEEL ASHLAND, KENTUCKY Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Emission Measurement Branch Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 Prepared by Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc. 25711 Southfield Road Southfield, Michigan 48075 EMB REPORT NO. 80-EOF-4 Work Assignment 28 Contract No. 68-02-2817 ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables -JL List of Figures ii 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Discussion of Results 2 3.0 Observation Locations and Emission Points 7 4.0 Observation Procedures 12 APPENDICES A. Project Participants B. Field Data Sheets B-l. Fugitive Emissions (Method 22) B-l.l. Desulfurization B-l.2. Lance Opening and Skimming B-2. Visible Emissions (Method 9) B-3. Velocity Traverse C. Summary of Visible Emissions D. Method 22 E. Method 9 F. Visible Emission Certifications of Observers G. Calibration Data ------- LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1 Fugitive Emission Evaluations of 3 the Desulfurization Station 2.2 Fugitive Emission Evaluations 4 of the Lance Opening and Skimming Station 2.3 Stack Gas Parameters - Baghouse 5 Outlet, Desulfurization Station ------- LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 3.1 Plan view of desulfurization station 8 and observation points 3.2 Baghouse outlet sampling location 11 4.1 Elevation view of desulfurization 13 station and emission points 4.2 Stack cross-section and sampling 16 point locations 11 ------- 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Clean Air Act mandates that Standards of Perform- ance be established for new stationary air pollution sources. Establishment of these standards requires that an emission data base be developed for each source category. This data base is used as a guide for the establishment of Performance Standards which will minimize air quality degradation and yet not be impossible to attain. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retained Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc., to evaluate both visible and fugitive emissions emanating from the desulfurization station at the Armco Steel facility in Ashland, Kentucky. The study was conducted on April 22 and 23, 1980. Velocity traverses were conducted simultaneously with the emission observations of the desulfurization station. Emissions were also documented of the lance opening and the skimming process (both are uncontrolled). The results of this study will be used as part of the field sampling data for supporting New Source Perform- ance Standards for fugitive process emissions in the iron and steel industry. This study was commissioned as Project No. 80-BOF-4, Contract No. 68-02-2817, and Work Assignment 28. ------- 2.0 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS DESULFURIZATION STATION Table 2.1 presents the results for both the fugitive and visible emission evaluations of the desulfurization station. Ten observation runs were conducted. Emission frequencies during Test Runs 1 through 10 ranged from 0.0 to 68.2-percent, averaging 44.2-percent, for Observer 1, from 0.0 to 99.9-percent, averaging 60.4-percent, for Observer 2, and 0.0 to 97.8-percent, averaging 55.9-percent, for Observer 3. Therefore, the variability between observers in perceived emission fre- quency was over the range of 44 to 60-percent. The average opacities for six tests ranged from 2 to 14-percent. LANCE OPENING AND SKIMMING Table 2.2 presents the results for observations conducted at the lance opening and the skimming station. Three tests were conducted at each location. Emission frequencies were 100-percent for each test at both locations. Both are uncontrolled processes. VELOCITY TRAVERSE Table 2.3 presents the flowrates and temperatures from velocity traverses conducted simultaneously with the fugitive emission evaluations. The flowrates are expressed in standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) and temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit (F). - 2 - ------- TABLE 2.1. FUGITIVE EMISSION EVALUATIONS OF THE DESULFURIZATION STATION Test Date No. 1980 1 4/22 2 4/22 3 4/22 4 4/22 5 4/22 6 4/22 7 4/23 8 4/23 9 4/23 10 4/23 Observer 1 Accum. Observ. MiruSec 19:34 15:29 11:16 11:12 16:29 05:25 15:16 12:31 Accum. Emission Min:Sec 04:14 00:00 07:41 05:01 10:56 03:27 b 08:28 04:12 Emission Frequency % 21.6 0.0 68.2 44.8 66.3 63.7 55.5 33.6 Method 22 Observer 2 Accuro. Observ. Min:Sec 19:32 15:29 11:10 11:10 16:26 05:21 15:31 14:48 15:16 13:32 Accum. Emission Min:Sec 05:37 00:00 07:28 06:06 12:43 04:08 15:30 14:45 10:21 04:13 Emission Frequency % 28.8 0.0 66.9 54.6 77.4 77.3 99.9 99.7 67.8 31.2 Observer 3 Accum. Accum. Observ. Emission Min:Sec Min:Sec 19:32 05:32 15:29 00:00 c 15:42 15:19 15:00 14:40 c Emission Frequency % 28.3 0.0 97.6 97.8 Method 9 (Percent) a Observer 3 Low High c 0 25 0 15 0 75 0 50 c 0 20 0 10 Average 7 4 14 12 5 2 I to I Observers are as follows: (1) Dusanka Lazarevic, (2) John Holm, (3) Bruce Bird. Emissions emanating from the lance opening were observed (see Table 2.2). C0bserver alternated using Methods 22 and 9. ------- TABLE 2.2. FUGITIVE EMISSION EVALUATIONS OF THE LANCE OPENING AND SKIMMING STATION Test Number 1 2 I t» 1 3 Date 1980 4/23 4/23 4/23 Method 22 a Lance Opening Accum. Accum. Observ. Emission Min:Sec Min:Sec 15:33 15:33 14:32 14:32 15:17 15:17 Emission Frequency % 100 100 100 b Skimming Accum. Observ. Min:Sec 3:00 2:52 3:11 Accum. Observ. Min: Sec 3:00 2:52 3:11 Emission Frequency % 100 100 100 Tests 1 and 2 were observed by D. Lazarevic and Test 3 by John Brown. Observed by John Brown. ------- TABLE 2.3. STACK GAS PARAMETERS - BAGHOUSE OUTLET, DESULFURIZATION STATION Test Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Date 1980 4/22 4/22 4/22 4/22 4/22 4/22 4/22 4/22 Flowrate scfm 22,300 20,400 22,000 20,900 24,200 24,000 23,100 23,000 Temp F 127 154 120 144 101 107 105 113 - 5 - ------- The flowrates ranged from 20,400 to 24,200-scfm and temperatures ranged from 101 to 154F. - 6 - ------- 3.0 OBSERVER LOCATIONS AND EMISSION POINTS Figure 3.1 depicts a plan view of the desulfurization station and the EOF shop showing all respective observa- tion points. DESULFURIZATION STATION Observation points 1 and 2 were located approximately 25 and 60-feet east of the station at ground level, respectively. Observers alternated between the two positions depending on wind direction and how heavy emissions were during desulfurizing. Several times Point 1 became engulfed in smoke, forcing the observers to move to the second location. Both Stations A and B were observed from these locations. The observation locations permitted optimum viewing of the process and were also the safest from hot splashing metal during the desulfurizing process. Even though observers were facing into the sun during the afternoon readings, this did not interfere with the observations. The desulfurization building was tall enough to block the afternoon sun, allowing the observers to view the stations without any difficulty- The south side of the station would have been the best afternoon observing location with respect to the sun, but the plant had installed shields on this side to minimize interference caused by the winds. Therefore, the view of the stations - 7 - ------- N Desulfurization station i T - 4: f s 1 s / 00 1 Baghouse Only obse ;rved / this lance opening (D III ( /~\ Pulpit (D r\ _--^\ 7 -^^ ' \ I Lance openings (&) (3) J i I7\\ t , ; (Pi i ^-Stations I) III / j 7 -£ ^ / 1 © EOF shop L Skimming station Figure 3.1 Plan view of desulfurization station and observation points. ------- was completely blocked. Also, since prevailing winds were from the west-northwest, they would cause emissions to exit at the opposite side of the station. LANCE OPENING The lance opening was located about 20-feet above ground level, in a building enclosure above the desulfuriza- tion station. The opening was a slot in the desulfurization pick-up hood through which the lance was lowered into the torpedo car. The first test run began at Point 3, which was northwest of the lance. Within minutes, the entire enclosure was smoke filled and the lance was barely visible. At this time the observer moved to Point 4, (outdoors) to escape the emissions. Test 3 was also conducted at this location. Test 2 was conducted within the pulpit (Point 5), which was adjacent to the lance opening. SKIMMING Observations of the skimming process were conducted indoors about 100-feet south of the ladle at Location 6 (Figure 3.1). The ladle was approximately 25-feet above the ground. VELOCITY TRAVERSE The baghouse outlet was a 36.0-inch by 36 7/8-inch duct located approximately 23-feet above ground level. - 9 - ------- The duct was accessed through three 2 1/2-inch ports equally spaced across the 36.0-inch duct face. The ports were located about 11.5-feet downstream from a bend and 4.5-feet upstream from another bend, providing adequate upstream/downstream distances to disturbances. Each traverse consisted of three sampling points for Test Nos. 1 and 2, and four points for the remaining six tests. Velocity pressures were measured at each of the 9 and 12 points, respectively. Temperatures were taken at the center of each port location. Figure 3.2 presents both plan and elevation views of the traverse location. - 10 - ------- Plan view fan Baghouse t! ports • Elevation view Baghouse To fan Figure 3.2. Baghouse outlet sampling location, - 11 - ------- 4.0 OBSERVATION PROCEDURES Visible emissions were evaluated in accordance with EPA Method 22, Visible Determinations of Fugitive Emissions from Material Processing Sources, and EPA Method 9, Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions from Stationary Sources. DESULFURIZATION STATION The station is equipped with two desulfurizing units but only one torpedo car is lanced at a time. Initially, the lance was partially lowered into the torpedo car and the nitrogen purge begun. When the lance was fully lowered into the car, the magnesium/lime mixture was added. This indicated the starting point of the test. The designated stop time was when the lance was fully raised into the hood. Initially, all three observers used only Method 22. After the second run, the EPA Technical Manager, Mr. John Brown, suggested that one individual use Method 9, while the other two use Method 22. Ms. Dusanka Lazarevic and Mr. John Holm used Method 22, while Mr. Bruce Bird used Method 9. Emission points A and B were observed during the study. Emissions from the uncontrolled lance opening emanated from Point C, and were not included (Figure 4.1) - 12 - ------- Desulfurization Station To fan x CO I A /I V \ \ B Figure 4.1. Elevation view of desulfurization station and emission points. ------- A great deal of interference was encountered during the third test. A machine located in front of Point B was filling the lime bins and spewing lime dust into the air, making observations at Point B impossible. The wind may also have been a contributing factor to the higher emission levels. The wind direction was predominantly from the west-southwest, channeling itself through the station. Since the exhaust shrouds were positioned high enough for a locomotive to pass under them, it appeared that the emissions were carried away before they could be drawn into the exhaust system. The plant has installed shields on the southern side of the desulfurization building to minimize capture interference caused by the prevailing winds. LANCE OPENING AND SKIMMING Both locations were observed using Method 22. Three runs were conducted at each location. VELOCITY TRAVERSE Exhaust gas sampling was conducted in accordance with procedures outlined in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources" (Federal Register 40CFR60, December 23, 1971, as amended through August 18, 1977). The duct was divided into equal areas and exhaust gas velocities were measured at each midpoint. Velocity - 14 - ------- pressures were obtained using an S-type Pitot tube and inclined 0 to 10-inch water gauge manometer, in accordance with EPA Methods 1 and 2. Figure 4.2 shows the inlet and outlet stack cross-sections and sampling point loca- tions . - 15 - ------- 1 H 1 1 1 1 1 » O 0 1 0 1 I [. „ J 1 1 0 , 0 ( 0 I I 1 1 , o i o ' o 1 1 1 1 . 1 i ±2 I*. | 0 jG 36 7/8" 36 7/8" U | --J.4 | J.£ 36" • - t> Point 1 2 3 Distance (inches) 6.1 18.4 30.7 Point 1 2 3 4 Distance (inches) 4.6 13.8 23.0 32.3 Figure 4.2. Stack cross-section and sampling point locations. ------- |