| Description |
Following nearly a decade of flare performance inquiry, modeling, and testing in the early 2000s, new United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) flare regulations have been enacted for the petroleum refinery sector in 2012 and 2015. The stated objective of these new regulations was the decrease of emissions such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and an improvement of combustion efficiency directed at reductions in volatile organic compounds (VOC). With six years of speciated emissions data now available from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as well as other publicly available sources, an introductory review of the impact of these new regulations can be assessed. The paper will present an overview of the flare related emissions from the 2,262 flares identified in the Texas dataset. Emphasis will be placed upon a discussion of four key topics: 1. 2015's NSPS subpart Ja regulation and reduction of SO2 emissions. With the use of frequent compressor-based Flare Gas Recovery Systems, might one expect to see Statewide SO2 numbers decrease substantially? 2. NOx - with USEPA's adjust and clarification of AP-42 emission factors in both 2015 and again in 2018 (based upon the prior decade of flare testing) would one expect to see flare related emissions increase, decrease, or remain consistent? 3. VOC emissions the essential aspect of the Refinery MACT Subpart CC rules in 2015 was the anticipated expansion of more instrumentation, minimization studies, more FGRS, all for the purpose of demonstrating improved and consistently better Combustion Efficiency and increased Destruction Removal Efficiency (DRE). 1 Troy M. Boley, Spectrum Environmental Solutions LLC 2340 West Braker Lane, Suite |
