United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
EMB Report 80-WFB-12
January 1981
Air
Nonfossil Fueled Boilers
Visible Opacity
Observations
At Five Boiler
Installations
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NONFOSSIL FUELED BOILERS
Visible Opacity Observations
At Five Boiler Installations
Georgia-Pacific
Emporia, Virginia
Nashville Thermal Transfer Company
Nashville, Tennessee
Champion International
Corrigan, Texas
Georgia-Pacific
Durand, Georgia
Resco
'Saugus, Massachusetts
by
James A. Peters
MONSANTO RESEARCH CORPORATION
DAYTON LABORATORY
Dayton, Ohio 45407
Contract No. 68-02-3547
Work Assignment No. 3 (ESED 78/31)
Technical Directive No. 3
January 1981
Prepared for
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF AIR QUALITY PLANNING AND STANDARDS
EMISSION MEASUREMENT BRANCH
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27711
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CONTENTS
Tables iv
1. Introduction 1
2. Summary of Results. . 2
Appendices
A. Certificates of Smoke Readers A-l
B. Complete Opacity Results B-l
TAK2/F iii
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SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
The air pollution control devices serving five nonfossil fueled
boilers were observed for visible emissions by Monsanto Research
Corporation (MRC) for .the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) under Contract No. 68-02-3547, Work Assignment No. 3.
The purpose of the opacity observations was to gather background
information to support the setting of new source performance
standards for opacity for the nonfossil fueled boiler industry.
Accordingly, representative plants were chosen which had avail-
able particulate emission data and air pollution control devices.
The opacity reading performed by MRC was done by Thomas N. Malone
and Charlie M. Clark, during the week of 7-12 November 1980 and
on 21 January 1981. The method employed was EPA Method 9.
Quality assurance/quality control for opacity reading covered
such activities as observer training, observer testing and certi-
fication, and protocols for the recording and reduction of data.
Whenever a background interference, such as a steam plume, nulli-
fied an opacity observation, it was indicated on the field data
sheets. In accordance with EPA Method 9, average opacity is
determined as a set of 24 consecutive observations, nullified
observations not counted.
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SECTION 2
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Visible emissions were read at the outlets of the air pollution
control devices of five nonfossil fueled boilers. All readings
extended for 3 hr durations. No problems were encountered with
observer positioning.
On November 7, opacity was read at the Nashville Thermal Transfer
Company, a municipal solid waste (MSW) boiler with electrostatic .
precipitator (ESP) located in Nashville, Tennessee. Weather con-
ditions were clear initially, then changed to overcast. Table 1
presents the summarized results. The opacity fluctuated from
less than 5% to bursts which were over 10% opacity, typical of a
boiler with a variable MSW feed. The average opacity over 3 hrs
reading time was 3.0%.
On November 10, readings were made at Georgia-Pacific in Emporia,
Virginia, which had a wood-fired boiler with wet scrubber.
Weather conditions were clear throughout the test, and opacity
remained constant at 20-25%. The average opacity over three hours
reading time was 22.9%. Table 2 contains the summarized results. •
On November 11, in Corrigan, Texas, opacity was read at Champion
International's wood-fired boiler with electrostatic precipitator.
The weather was clear, and opacity was very low (0-5%) with
occasional bursts to 30-40% when ESP rapping occurred. At the
end of the test two observations of 70% opacity were made due to
grate cleaning. Average opacity for the 3 hr test was 0.5%.
Table 3 summarizes the results. Complete records of visible emis-
sions are furnished in Appendix B.
On November 12, opacity was read at Georgia-Pacific's wood-fired
boiler with wet scrubber in Durand, Georgia. Weather conditions
were clear and calm. Opacity ranged from 15-20%, then two hours
into the test the boiler load was increased as more fuel was
added, the smoke changed from a blue-gray to light brown color,
and the opacity increased to 25-30%. Table 4 summarizes the re-
sults; the average opacity was 17.1%.
On January 21, 1981 the Resco municipal solid waste boiler with
ESP was read in Saugus, Massachusetts. The weather was clear,
and the opacity was fairly constant at 0-10%. Table 5 summarizes
the results; the average opacity was 3.9%.
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TABLE 1. VISIBLE EMISSIONS SUMMARY AT NASHVILLE THERMAL
TRANSFER CO., NASHVILLE, TN, NOVEMBER 7, 1980
Date: 11-7-80
Type of Discharge:
Stack
Height of Point of Discharge:
Wind Direction: NW
Color of Plume: White
Observer Name: Thomas Malone
Distance from Observer
to Discharge Point: 110 ft
Height of Observation
Point: Ground Level
Type of Plant: MSW
Location of Dis-
charge: ESP Outlet
100 ft Description of Sky: Clear
Wind Velocity: 2-3 mph
Detached Plume: Yes
Duration of Observation: 3 hrs
Direction of Observer
from Discharge Point: SE
Description of Back-
ground: Blue sky
15
10 -
o
I 5
Summary of average opacity
Set
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
e
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Average ,
Tine
Start
9:20
9:26
9:32
9:38
9:44
9:50
9:56
10:02
10:08
10:14
10:20
10:26
10:32
10:38
10:44
10:50
10:56
11:02
11:08
11:14
11:20
11:26
11:32
11:38
11:44
11:50
11:56
12:02
12:08
12:14
Opacity
End Sum Average
9:25
5 0.2
9:31 40 1.7
9:37 285 11.9
9:43 255 10.6
9:49 100 4.2
9:55
0 0
10:01 45 1.9
10:07 10 0.4
10:13 40 1.7
10:19
5 0.2
10:25 55 2.3
10:31 110 4.6
10:37 270 11.3
10:43 255 10.6
10:49 165 6.9
10:55 345 14.4
11:01 10 0.4
11:07
11:13
11:19
11:25
11:31
11:37
11:43
11:49
11:55
12:01
12:07
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
12:13 100 4.2
12:19 45 1.9
all sets
3. 0%
^
D
1
i, A
2
3
TIME, hours
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TABLE 2. VISIBLE EMISSIONS SUMMARY AT GEORGIA-PACIFIC,
EMPORIA, VA, NOVEMBER 10, 1980
Date: 11-10-80
Type of Discharge:
Stack
Height of Point of Discharge:
Wind Direction: NE
Color of Plume: White
Observer Name: Thomas Malone
Distance from Observer
to Discharge Point: 220 ft
Height of Observation
Point: Ground Level
60 ft
Type of Plant: Plywood
Location of Dis-
charge: Scrubber Outlet
Description of Sky: Clear
Wind Velocity: 4-7 mph
Detached Plume: Yes
Duration of Observer: 3 hrs
Direction of Observer
from Discharge Point: SW
Description of Back-
ground: Blue Sky
Summary of average opacity
Set
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Average ,
Time
Start
9:35
9:41
9:47
9:53
9:59
10:05
10:11
10:17
10:23
10:29
10:35
10:41
10:47
10:53
10:59
11:05
11:11
11:17
11:23
11:29
11:35
11:41
11:47
11:53
11:59
12:05
12:11
12:17
12:23
12:29
End
9:40
9:46
9:52
9:58
10:04
10:10
10:16
10:22
10:28
10:34
10:40
10:46
10:52
10:58
11:04
11:10
11:1'6
11:22
11:28
11:34
11:40
11:46
11:52
11:58
12:04
12:10
12:16
12:22
12:28
12:34
Opacity
Sum
600
590
565
545
595
600
580
580
475
465
460
475
465
465
480
575
600
645
595
575
585
585
545
485
615
590
595
530
500
510
all sets
Average
25.0
24.6
23.5
•22.7
24.8
25.0
24.2
24.2
19.8
19.4
19.2
19.8
19.4
19.4
20.0
24.0
25.0
26.9
24.8
24.0
24.4
24.4
22.7
20.2
25.6
24.6
24.8
22.1
20.8
21.3
22. 9X
o
Q.
O
20
10
1 2
TIME, hours
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TABLE 3. VISIBLE EMISSIONS SUMMARY AT CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL,
CORRIGAN, TX, NOVEMBER 11, 1980
Date: 11-11-80
Type of Discharge:
Stack
Height of Point of Discharge:
Wind Direction: SW
Color of Plume: White
Observer Name: Thomas Malone
Distance from Observer
to Discharge Point: 125 ft
Height of Observation
Point: Ground Level
Type of Plant: Wood Products
Location of Dis-
charge: ESP Outlet
96 ft Description of Sky: Clear
Wind Velocity: 1-3 mph
Detached Plume: No
Duration of Observation: 3 hrs
Direction of Observer
from Discharge Point: SE
Description of Back-
ground: Blue sky
Summary of average opacity
Set
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
e
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
29
30
Average ,
Time
Start
10:35
10:41
10:47
10:53
10:59
11:05
11:11
11:17
11:23
11:29
11:35
11:41
11:47
11:53
11:59
12:05
12:11
12:17'
12:23
12:29
12:33
12:41
12:47
12:53
12:59
13:05
13:11
13:17
13:23
13:29
End
10:40
10:46
10:52
10:58
11:04
11:10
11:16
11:22
11:28
11:34
11:40
11:46
11:52
11:58
12:04
12:10
12:16
12:22
12:26
12:34
12:40
12:46
12:52
12:56
13:04
13:10
13:16
13:22
13:26
13:34
- Opacity
Sum
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
IS
0
0
0
80
0
85
0
20
30
40
15
0
0
0
10
80
0
0
0
0
155
all Bets
Average
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.6
0
0
0
3.3
0
3.5
0
0.8
1.3
1.7
0.6
0
0
0
0.4
3.3
0
0
0
0
6.5
0.5%
o
Q_
O
A
1 2
TIME, hours
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TABLE 4. VISIBLE EMISSIONS SUMMARY AT GEORGIA-PACIFIC,
DURAND, GA, NOVEMBER 12, 1980
Date: 11-12-80
Type of Discharge:
Stack
Height of Point of Discharge: 85 ft
Wind Direction: SE
Color of Plume: Blue-gray
Observer Name: Thomas Malone
Distance from Observer
to Discharge Point: 105-180 ft
Height of Observation
Point: Ground Level
Type of Plant: Plywood
Location of Dis-
charge: Scrubber Outlet
Description of Sky: Clear
Wind Velocity: 2-4 mph
Detached Plume: Yes
Duration of Observation: 3 hrs
Direction of Observer
from Discharge Point: NW
Description of Back-
ground: Blue sky
Summary of average opacity
Set
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
e
9
10
11
12
13
14
IS
16
17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
29
30
Average,
Time
Start
13:25
13.31
13:37
13:43
13:49
13:55
14:01
14:07
14:13
14:19
14:25
14:31
14:37
14:43
14:49
14:55
15:01
15:07
15:13
15:19
15:25
15:31
15:37
15:43
15:49
15:55
16:01
16:07'
16:13
16:19
End
13:30
13:36
13:42
13:48
13:54
14:00
14:06
14:12
14:16
14:24
14:30
14:36
14:42
14:46
14:54
15:00
15:06
15:12
15:16
15:24
15:30
15:36
15:42
15:46
15:54
16:00
16:06
16:12
16:16
16:24
Opacity
Sum
330
355
360
370
395
375
385
400
425
430
415
390
430
440
375
• 390
425
415
370
360
455
530
470
405
390
420
390
480
425
480
all sets
Average
13.6
14.8
15.0
15.4
16.5
15.6
16.0
16.7
17.7
17.9
17.3
16.3
17.9
16.3
15.6
16.3
17.7
17.3
15.4
15.0
19.0
22.1
19.6
16.9
16.3
17.5
16.3
20.0
17.7
20.0
17. IX
o
30
20
10
1 2
TIME, hours
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TABLE 5. VISIBLE EMISSIONS SUMMARY AT RESCO,
SAUGUS, MA, JANUARY 21, 1981
Date: 1-21-81
Type of Discharge: Stack
Height of Point of Discharge: 150 ft
Wind Direction: South
Color of Plume: White
Observer Name: Charlie M. Clark
Distance from Observer
to Discharge Point: 200 ft
Direction of Observer
from Discharge Point: NW
Description of Background: Blue sky
Type
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