EPA-452/F-03-033
Air Pollution Control Technology
Fact Sheet
Name of Technology: Permanent Total Enclosures (PTEs).
Type of Technology: Capture device - collects and vents pollutants to an abatement device such as an
incinerator.
Applicable Pollutants: Organic hazardous air pollutants (HAP) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Achievable Emission Limits/Reductions: PTEs have a capture efficiency of 100% (EPA, 2002). Emissions
reductions are dependant on the downstream pollution control device.
Applicable Source Type: Point or fugitive
Typical Industrial Applications: Any process or operation where total emissions capture is required. They are
commonly used in flexographic printing, rotogravure printing, coating (paper, film, fabric, and metal), laminating,
screen printing, can coating, and plastic card coating.
Emission Stream Characteristics:
a. Air Flow: PTEs draw clean air into the enclosure for venting of waste gas. The air flow through a PTE
must provide adequate capture and transport of the waste gas. The direction of air flow through all
natural draft openings (NDOs) must be into the enclosure. The average facial velocity of air though all
NDOs shall be at least 3,600 m/hr (200ft/min) (EPA, 1997). The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requires a minimum of 4 room air changes per hour (RAC/hr) for industrial
settings. Higher RAC rates, approximately 10 RAC/hr, are generally required for worker comfort (Lukey,
1997).
b. Temperature: Temperature inside the PTE must comply with standards established by OSHA. If the
installation of a PTE results in heat buildup, an air conditioning system may be used to maintain the air
temperature and humidity at comfortable levels. The air conditioner must be a closed loop system.
c. Pollutant Loading: The maximum concentration of VOC or HAP within the PTE should not exceed
permissible exposure levels (PELs). PELs are the OSHA standards for worker exposure to toxic
substances. They are expressed in terms of time-weighted average (generally 8-hour averages), short
term exposure levels, and ceiling concentration.
OSHA also limits the concentration of a flammable vapor or mist in the PTE. The lower flammable limit
(LFL) is the lowest level at which a gas supports combustion. For large PTEs (entire manufacturing
area), the concentration of any pollutant must not exceed 25% of the LFL. For small PTEs (several
pieces of equipment), the pollutant concentration must not exceed 10% of the LFL. (EPA 2002)
d. Other Considerations: Local concentration of pollutants within the enclosure may vary by factors of
1 for well-designed ventilation systems to 10 for poorly designed systems (Worrall, 1997).
Emission Stream Pretreatment Requirements: None
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet 1 Permanent Total Enclosures
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Cost Information: All costs are in 2002 dollars (Lukey, 1997 and EPA, 2002)
The majority of all PTEs are custom designed. The capital costs depend on the process configuration and size
of the emission sources within the PTE. The costs range from $10,200 for a single coating station to over
$307,000 for an enclosure with five pieces of equipment (Lukey, 1997). The cost depends on the materials used
for its construction. For instance, walls and ceilings cost $3 to $20 per square foot. Doors cost $300 for strip
curtains and $8,000 for speed doors. A 4x4 foot safety glass window costs $200 (Lukey, 1997). The cost of air
conditioners ranges from $30,000 for spot cooling to $150,000 for full conditioning (Lukey, 1997). The PTE cost
also includes exhaust and make-up air fans and instrumentation. The abatement device is not included in the cost
of the PTE.
Maintenance costs are minimal, except for such minor expenses as painting, repairs, and calibration of
instruments. Operating costs consist primarily of electric utility costs for operation of exhaust and makeup air fans
and air conditioners.
a. Capital Cost: $10,200 - $307,000
b. O & M Cost: $300 - $7,600 per year
c. Annualized Cost: $1,800 - $54,000 per year
d. Cost per Ton of Pollutant Removed: Variable cost per ton based on the removal efficiency of the
downstream air pollution control device.
Theory of Operation:
PTEs are permanently installed structures that completely surround a source(s) of emissions. They consist of
walls, roof, windows, doors, and exhaust and make-up air fans. The pollutants are captured by means of a
ventilation system, which draws contaminated air from the enclosure and replaces it with clean supply air. The
waste gas is vented to a control device, such as an incinerator or carbon adsorber, for abatement. The abatement
device is not part of the PTE. Auxiliary equipment forthe PTE includes pressure monitors, PEL and LFL monitors,
smoke detectors, flame detectors and alarm bells.
In orderto qualify as a PTE, an enclosure must meet EPA Method 204 Criteria for and Verification of a Permanent
or Temporary Total Enclosure. If the criteria are met, the capture efficiency is assumed to be 100 percent. Overall
control efficiency will be equal to the control device reduction efficiency. A capture efficiency test is not required
for a PTE. The five point control criteria in Method 204 are given below.
1. All NDOs are at least four equivalent opening diameters from each VOC emitting point.
2. The total area of the NDOs shall not exceed 5 % of the surface area of the enclosure's walls, floor,
and ceiling.
3. The average facial velocity (FV) of air through all NDOs shall be at least 3,600 m/hr (200 fpm), or the
static pressure in the enclosure must be -0.007 in. of H2O. The direction of air flow through all NDOs
must be into the enclosure.
4. All access doors and windows shall be closed during routine process operation.
5. All VOC emissions must be captured and contained for discharge through a control device.
PTEs usually accommodate production personnel within its structure during operation; therefore, PTEs are
regulated by OSHA. PTEs must provide fresh air to the space and safe and comfortable working conditions.
There may be additional design requirements to meet fire and insurance regulations.
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet 2 Permanent Total Enclosures
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The PTE design must prevent build-up of pollutant levels in the enclosure. Localized concentrations within the
PTE may vary greatly due to inadequate mixing and thermal stratification. Mixing depends on a number of
variables such as:
Temperature of the delivery supply air,
Temperature within the PTE,
Amount and locations of supply and exhaust air,
Location of objects within the PTE,
Shape and size of the PTE,
Presence or absence of heat sources within the PTE, and
Injection velocity of the supply air.
Advantages/Pros:
Simple construction
100 percent capture
Once design is approved, there is no need for capture efficiency tests
Disadvantages/Cons:
Difficult to provide worker comfort and meet OSHA standards, additional air conditioning may be
required to avoid substantial heat build-up.
Once the PTE has been built, it is difficult to add on equipment or modify the process configuration.
The PTE is only a capture device, the amount of pollutant removed is dependent on the abatement
device installed.
References:
EPA, 1997. "EPA Method 204: Criteria for Permanent Total Enclosures. 40 CFR Part 51 Appendix M".
Research Triangle Park, NC.
EPA, 2002. U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, OAQPS EPA Air Pollution Control Cost
Manual, Section 2 Chapter 3, EPA 452/B-02-001. Research Triangle Park, NC.
http://www.epa.qov/ttn/catc/dir1/cs2ch3.pdf
Lukey, 1997. Lukey, Michael. "Five Design Options for Permanent Total Enclosures (PTEs)". Presented at the Air
& Waste Management Association Meeting Emerging Solutions to VOC and Air Toxics Control, San Diego, CA.
Lukey, 1999. Luckey, Prasad, Toothman and Kaplan. "Procedure for estimating permanenttotal enclosure costs".
Presented at the Air and Waste Management Association's 92nd Annual Meeting & Exhibition. St.Louis, MO.
Lukey, 2001. Lukey, Michael. Gravure Magazine, August 2001 issue. Total Press Enclosures. Rochester, NY.
Worrall, 1997. Worrall, Mike. "Practical Considerations for Permanent Total Enclosures". Presented at the
Proceedings of the Specialty Conference on Emerging Solutions to VOC and Air Toxic Control. San Diego, CA..
EPA-CICA Fact Sheet 3 Permanent Total Enclosures
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