CEM - Abstract

Abstract Information :

There are approximately 143,000 medium combustion plants (MCP) in the EU. They are operated for a wide variety of applications such as electricity generation, domestic or residential heating and cooling, providing heat or steam for industrial processes to name just a few. These plants are a significant source of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust emissions

Directive (EU) 2015/2193 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from MCPs known as the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) regulates pollutant emission levels from the combustion of fuels in plants with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 1 Megawatt thermal (MWth) and less than 50 MWth. This MCPD regulates emissions of SO2, NOx and dust to air. To comply, it is also necessary to monitor carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. The emission limit values set by the MCPD have applied since 20 December 2018 for new plants and from 2025 or 2030 for existing plants, depending on their size.

The MCPD addresses the potential need for member states to apply stricter emission limit values in areas where this can improve local air quality in a cost-effective way.

To meet with the requirements of the MCPD, ENVEA Group has launched a wide program of R&D to develop a new generation of NDIR (non-dispersive infrared) continuous emission monitoring analysers using the most advanced technology which will cost-effective whilst delivering a high level of precision and fast response times. These ‘eco-designed’ monitors use the latest optical and electronic technologies to provide greater precision and robustness, while requiring only limited maintenance. The instruments’ design (portable and fixed) enables simultaneous multi-gas measurement of NOx, SO2, CO, O2, residual H2O, and CO2, CH4 and N2O (greenhouse gases). The optimized design of the instrument’s converter offers operators a very flexible and dependable tool for providing reliable NOx measurements, as per most international CEMS regulations, using a standard NO analyser (be it multi gas or single gas). The APNOx, which is designed for the fixed model, facilitates globally compliant NOx measurement, without the need of direct NO2 measurement.

This paper presents from one side, the summary of the directive and the anticipated impact of this new MCPD over the coming 5 years with regards to the plants concerned (actual and future) and, from the other side, the technical solutions, both fixed and portable, provided with a smart compliant analyser including AMS (automatic measuring system) control functionalities QAL 1 certified: integrated sampling control, automatic zero and span gas injection, external pump control, system alarms display, remote control through an application, user embedded functionalities... The original approach to the metrology around this technology is also technically summarised within a specific case study in a European plant.