Innovative Approach for Measuring Ammonia and Methane Fluxes from a
Hog Farm Using Open-Path Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
D. Bruce Harris, Edgar L. Thompson, Jr., and Chester A. Vogel
U.S. EPA, ORD, NRiMRL, Mail Drop 61, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Ram A. Hashmonay, David Natschke, and Keith Wagoner
ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller, Inc., P.O. Box 13109, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Abstract
This paper describes a new approach to quantify emissions from area air pollution sources. The
approach combines path-integrated concentration data acquired with any path-integrated optical
remote sensing (PI-ORS) technique and computed tomography (CT) technique. In this study, an
open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) instrument sampled path-integrated
concentrations along five radial beam paths, in a vertical plane downwind from an area source.
The innovative CT technique, which applies the smooth basis function minimization (SBFM)
method to the beam data in conjunction with measured wind data, was used to estimate the total
flux from the area source. Results are presented from a field experiment designed for quantifying
ammonia and methane emissions before and after a bioactive cover was added to control odors
from a hog farm waste lagoon near Jacksonville, NC. This field study provides new insight to the
processes taking place in these facilities. The suggested technologies may provide robust and
real-time estimates of gaseous emission fluxes and near-field dispersion parameters for near-
ground-level area sources.
Introduction
Several methods have been developed and applied 1-9 to estimate emission rates from fugitive
sources such as landfills 3, coal mines 5"6, or water treatment plants 7"8, using PI-ORS
technologies. All previous methodologies combine downwind path-integrated concentration
(PIC) data, wind measurements, and plume dispersion modeling to retrieve the total emission
rate. Recently, an innovative CT technique was proposed10 and evaluated11'12, which applies the
SBFM method13"15 to the beam data in conjunction with measured wind data, to estimate the total
flux from the area source. The approach combines path-integrated concentration data acquired
with any PI-ORS technique and CT data analysis. Moreover, this approach is independent of
dispersion model assumptions. In this study, an OP-FTIR instrument sampled path-integrated
concentrations along five radial beam paths, in a vertical plane downwind from the lagoon
source.
1
-------
Emissions from animal waste lagoons have increased as production has shifted from the family
farm to concentrated industrial operations16. Air emissions of interest include greenhouse gases
(methane and nitrogen dioxide) and fine particle precursors (ammonia) The test site is a 0.3
hectare (3/4 acre) lagoon serving a single 980 head finishing barn. The lagoon is being used to
test the effectiveness of a bioactive cover for controlling ammonia emissions. The cover consists
of a punched polyester felt fabric held afloat by recycled closed cell polyethylene foam blocks
upon which a thin layer of zeolite is spread. Bacteria form colonies within the zeolite using the
ammonia as the food source.
Experimental Setup
The setup of the beam geometry and upwind area source in this experiment is illustrated in Figure
1. The beam geometry is in a vertical plane downwind from the lagoon area source. The beam
geometry consists of five beam paths, three scanning the OP-FTIR device to ground level
retroreflectors, and two slanted beam paths scanning to elevated (5 and 9 m heights)
~ Retroreflectors
Finishing Barn
Lagoon
Wind Vecto
Scanning
OP-FTIR
Figure 1 - Field configuration and OP-FTIR beam geometry.
9
-------
retroreflectors mounted on a tower. Establishing this plane across the plume allows measurement
of the flux through it.17 North is parallel to the y-axis. A Midac OP-FTIR mounted on an EPA
designed and built two axis scanner moves among the beam paths. The spectral data are collected
following EPA guidelines.18 Spectral interpretation and quality assurance follow techniques
developed specifically for open-path spectrometry.19 Each path is sampled for 1 minute per scan
with the total sampling period at least 20 minutes long to minimize data variations and to allow a
buildup of an approximate Gaussian plume. Ethylene is released from the southeast corner of the
barn to indicate scans containing barn emissions, which are not used in the analysis. Wind speed
and direction data are collected and averaged over the same time interval.
The SBFM reconstruction approach used a two-dimensional smooth basis function (bivariaie
Gaussian) in order to reconstruct the smoothed mass equivalent concentration map. In the SBFM
approach, a smooth basis function is assumed to describe the distribution of concentrations, and
the search is for the unknown parameters of the basis function. Since the interest is in the plane-
integrated concentration and not the exact map of concentrations in the plane, only one smoothed
basis function (one bivariate Gaussian) is used to reconstruct the smoothed map. However, this
methodology docs not assume that the true distribution of concentration in the vertical plane is a
bivariate Gaussian. Earlier computational studies showed that one may fit a single bivariate
Gaussian function to many kinds of skewed distributions and still retrieve a reasonably good
estimate of the plane-integrated concentration. Examination of the fit of a single bivariate
Gaussian function to a multiple mode distribution finds that the reconstructed plane-integrated
concentration conserved the test input plane-integrated concentration. In each iterative step of the
SBFM-CT search procedure, the measured PIC values are compared with assumed PIC values,
calculated from the new set of parameters. In order to compute the assumed PIC values, the
basis function is integrated along the beam path's direction and length. The concordance
correlation factor (CCF) is used as a measure of the goodness-of-fit of the reconstructed
concentrations with the measured PIC values.
Once the parameters of the function are found for a specific run, the concentration values are
calculated for every 2x2 m square elementary unit in a vertical domain size of 1 OOx 15 m and
then integrated incorporating wind speed data at each height level to compute the flux. The
concentration values arc converted from parts per million by volume to micrograms per cubic
meter using the molecular weight of the gas and ambient temperature. Using wind speed data in
meters per second, this enables the calculation of the fluxes in grams per second.
Results and Discussion
Average results over 2 hours of data collection for methane and ammonia emission fluxes, from
the first field campaign prior to the installation of the bioactive cover (July 2000), are given in
Figure 2. Both the methane and ammonia reconstructed plumes are from the same data set.
Figure 3 presents data from the second field campaign, about a week after the installation
(August 2000). For an average wind speed of 1.5 m/sec for the day, the emissions of 72
kg/ha/day are more than the 57.6 kg/ha/day calculated from Aneja et al.20 and the 2.9-10.5
kg/ha/day reported by Harper et al.21 Comparing the two figures, substantial reduction in
ammonia emission fluxes occurs between the two visits, while the methane emission flux
actually went up by 20%. It is not clear whether the reduction in ammonia release results from
3
-------
the bioactivity or just the reduction in liquid surface area. It has been noted that the concentration
of nitrogen compounds increased in the lagoon liquor in this same time period. This suggests that
at least some of the reduction can be attributed to sequestering of the ammonia in the liquor.
10
9
Tn 8
Jacksonville 7/11/00 Flux = 0.25 g/s
Ammonia concentrations are in micrograms/m
Q)
0
E
7
6
5
D) 4
"
3
2
1
202.7
¦- 405.4—„ •
— ^08. f
0
-------
10
9
In 8
CD
«i—'
CD
E
7
6
x: ^
D) 4
"(D
w
i_
(D
0
E
D)
"
-------
The rise in methane may be related to a rise in wind speeds as shown in Table 1. Looking at time
series of emissions, high positive correlations between the flux and the average wind speed are
observed as suggested by lagoon ammonia mass transfer models.22 Seasonal measurements will
be made to determine if the covered lagoon emissions are variable, as has been found for
uncovered lagoons.
Table 1 - Summary of ammonia and methane emissions along with meteorological data
Ammonia Flux
Methane Flux
Average
Wind Speed
Wind Direction
(R/s)
m
CCF
(m/s)
(degrees)
7/11/00
0.25
0.46
0.74
2.1
254
8/16/00
0.061
0.56
0.82
3.0
254
CONCLUSIONS
The combined OP-FTIR/CT method has demonstrated it can be used to determine emissions
from actual area sources. Though applied to a small source, the technique should be useful for larger
sites by substituting the appropriate optical source.
REFERENCES
1. Scotto, R.L.; Minnich, T.R.; Leo, M.R. "A method for estimating VOC emission rates
from area sources using remote optical sensing," In Proceedings of the EPA/AWMA
International Symposium on the Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollution,
Raleigh, NC,( 1991), 698.
2. Minnich, T.R.; Scotto, R.L.; Leo, M.R.; Sanders, B.C.; Perry, S.H.; Pritchett, T.H. "A
practical methodology using open-path FTIR spectroscopy to generate gaseous fugitive-
source emission factors at industrial facilities," In Proceedings of the Optical Remote
Sensing, Application to Environmental and Industrial Safety Problems, Houston, TX, SP-
81, (1992), 513.
3. Milton, M.J.T.; Partridge, R.H.; Goody, B.A. "Minimum emission rates detectable from
landfill sites using optical integrated-path techniques," In Proceedings of the A&WMA
Internationa] Specialty Conference on Optical Sensing for Environmental and Process
Monitoring, San Francisco, CA, VIP-55, (1995), 393.
4. Piccot, S.D.; Masemore, S.S.; Lewis-Bevan, W.; Ringler, E.S.; Harris, D.B. "Field
assessment of a new method for estimating emission rates from volume sources using
open-path FTIR Spectroscopy," J. Air & Waste Management Assoc.. 46, (1996), 159.
6
-------
5. Piccot, S.D.; Masemore, S.S.; Ringler, E.S.; Srinivasan, S.; Kirchgessner, D.A.; Hergct,
W.F. "Validation of a method for estimating pollution emission rates from area sources
using open-path FUR spectroscopy and dispersion modeling techniques," J. Air & Waste
Management Assoc., 44, (1994). 271.
6. Kirchgessner, D.A.; Piccot, S.D.; Chadha, A. "Estimation of methane emissions from a
surface coal mine using open-path FTIR spectroscopy and modeling techniques,"
Chemosphere, 26(1-4), (1993), 23.
7. Simpson, O.A.; Kagan, R.H. "Measurements of emissions at a chemical waste water site
with an open path remote Fourier transform interferometer," In Proceedings of the
EPA/A&WMA International Symposium on the Measurement of Toxic and Related Air
Pollution, Raleigh, NC, (1990), 937.
8. Whitcraft, W.K.; Wood, K.N. "Use of remote sensing to measure wastewater treatment
plant emissions," In Proceedings of the 83rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the
A&WMA, Pittsburgh, PA, (1990).
9. Hashmonay, R.A.; Yost, M.G.; Mamane, Y.; Benayahu, Y. "Emission Rate'
Apportionment from Fugitive Sources Using Open-Path FTIR and Mathematical
Inversion," Atmospheric Environment, 33(5). 735-743 (1999).
10. Hashmonay, R.A.; Yost, M.G. "Innovative Approach for Estimating Gaseous Fugitive
Fluxes Using Computed Tomography and Remote Optical Sensing Techniques," J.
A&WM A, 49, 966-972, August 1999.
11. Hashmonay, R.A.; Yost, M.G.; Harris, D.B.; Thompson, E.L., Jr. "Simulation Study for
Gaseous Fluxes from an Area Source Using Computed Tomography and Optical Remote
Sensing," Proceedings of SPIE Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technologies
Conference, November 1998, Boston, MA, 405-410.
12. Hashmonay, R.A.; Natschke, D.F.; Wagoner, K.; Harris, D. B.; Thompson, E.L. "Field
Evaluation of a Method for Estimating Gaseous Fluxes from Area Sources Using Open-
Path Fourier Transform Infrared," Accepted by ES&T Journal, January 2001.
13. Hashmonay, R.A.; Yost, M.G.; Wu, C.F. "Computed tomography of air pollutants using
radial scanning path-integrated optical remote sensing," Atmospheric Environment,
33(2), 267-274(1999).
14. Price, P.N. "Pollutant tomography using integrated concentration data from non-
intersecting optical paths," Atmospheric Environment, 33(2), 275-280 (1999).
15. Drescher, A.C.; Gadgil, A.J.; Price, P.N.; Nazaroff, W.W. 1996: "Novel Approach for
Tomographic Reconstruction of Gas Concentration Distributions in Air: Use of Smooth
Basis Functions and Simulated Annealing," Atmospheric Environment, 30(6), 929-940.
7
-------
16. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Agricultural Statistics
Division - Livestock Statistics, http://www.agr.state.nc.us/stats/livestoc/livestoc.htm.
17. Hashmonay, R.A.; Yost, M.G. "Localizing Gaseous Fugitive Emission Sources by
Combining Real Time Optical Remote Sensing and Wind Data," J. A&WMA, 49, 1374-
1379, November 1999.
18. Russwurm, G.M.; Childers, J.W. "FT-IR Open-Path Monitoring Guidance Document,"
EPA-600/R-96-040 (NTIS PB96-170477), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, April 1996.
19. Childers, J.W.; Thompson, E.L.; Jr.; Harris, D. B.; Kirchgessner, D. A.; Clayton, M.;
Natschke D.F.; Phillips, W.J. (2001) "Multi-Pollutant Concentration Measurements
Around a Concentrated Swine Production Facility Using Open-Path FTIR Spectrometry,"
In Press, Atmospheric Environment.
20. Aneja, V.P.; Chauhan, J.P.; Walker, J.T. "Characterization of Atmospheric Ammonia
Emissions from Swine Waste Storage and Treatment Lagoons," J. Geophysical Research,
105, 11535-11545, May 16,2000.
21. Harper, L.A.; Sharpe, R.R. Ammonia Emissions from Swine Waste Lagoons in the
Southeastern U.S. Coastal Plains. Final Grant Report to Division of Air Quality, North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC, USDA-ARS
Agreement N. 58-6612-7M-022, December, 1998.
22. Argo, J.; Westerman, P.W. "Conceptual Model for Ammonia and Odor Production and
Ammonia Emissions from Swine Anaerobic Lagoons," Proceedings of the 2nd
International Conference on Air Pollution from Agricultural Operations, October 2000,
Des Moines, IA, ASAE publication 701P0003, 132-140.
8
-------
M di\/i dt - T3T V>- v>- Rftfi TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
iNruvirU-j xt -1 1 ^ OOV (Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
—
1. REPORT NO, 2.
EPA/60Q/A-01/059
3. RECIf
4, TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Innovative Approach for Measuring Ammonia and
Methane Fluxes from a Hog Farm Using Cpen-path
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
5. REPORT DATE
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION COOE
i. author(sjHarris, E. L. Thompson, Jr., C. A. Vogel
(EPA); R. A. Hashmonay, D. Natschke, K. Wagoner
(ARCAniS)
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. Nerforming cSrOanization name and address
A RCADIS Geraghty and Miller, Inc.
P. O. Box 13109
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
68- C- 99-201
12, SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
EPA, Office of Research and Development
Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Published paper; 6-10/00
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/13
15.supplementary notes APPCD project officer is D. Bruce
7807. For presentation at AWMA Annual Meeting, Orl
larris, Mail Drop 61, 919/541-
ando, FL, 6/24-28/01.
i6.abstractTjhe paper describes a new approach to quantify emissions from area air
pollution sources. The approach combines path-integrated concentration data
acquired with any path-integrated optical remote sensing (PI-ORS) technique and
computed tomography (CT) technique. In this study, and open-path Fourier trans-
form infrared (CP-FTIR) instrument sampled path-integrated concentrations along
five radial beam paths, in a vertical plane downwind from an area source. The in-
novative CT technique, which applies the smooth basis function minimization (SBFM„
method to the beam data in conjunction with measured wind data, was used to esti-
mate the total flux from the area source. Results are presented from a field exper-
iment designed for quantifying ammonia and methane emissions before and after a
bioactive cover was added to control odors from a hog farm waste lagoon near Jack-
sonville, NC. This field study provides new insight to the processes taking place in
these facilities. The suggested technologies may provide robust and real-time esti-
mates of gaseous emission fluxes and near-field dispersion parameters for near-
ground-level area sources.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS
b. IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Pollution Spectroscopy
Measurement Fourier Analysis
Ammonia
Methane
Swine
Hog Houses
Pollution Control
Stationary Sources
Tomography
13B 14B
14G 12 A
07B
07C
02E
02C
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report/
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
8
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220 1 (9-73)
------- |