CEM India - Abstract

Abstract Information :

The use of continuous emission monitors has developed over a number of years primarily driven by the need to demonstrate compliance with environmental legislation, devised to improve air quality.

In the United Kingdom the Environment Agency has driven the quality of measurement through the Monitoring certification scheme MCERTs. MCERTS was launched in 1998 at CEM 98 with a scheme for continuous emission monitors. The scheme was developed on the basis of performance specifications found in international standards and recognised best available technologies of the time. The objective was to show that CEMs were capable operating in process situations and provide data of sufficient quality to demonstrate compliance with legislation. Specifically meeting the availability of data and uncertainty of measurement requirements given in regulation. In addition to provide confidence in CEMS as there were concerns over the capabilities of CEMS on the market at the time to operate reliably.

There are other schemes relating to CEMS in Europe the longest established being the German TUV scheme. There is an agreement between this and the MCERTS schemes now supported by both being based on performance standards provided by a CEN standard. In years following the launch of MCERTS, European Union regulation has increased the need to monitor processes continuously. In conjunction a number of CEN standards have been developed and introduced to support these requirements. These have included standards specifically including performance standards for CEMS, quality assurance and quality control of CEMS, requirements for monitoring, standard reference methods. In addition to these standards the EA has provided additional guidance on the interpretation and implementation of standards. Also supporting this has been an increased scope of the MCERTS scheme to include; Data capture and reporting systems, testing organisations, testing personal and the portable CEMS that these testing organisations use to calibrate installed CEMS. All these components are designed to ensure that the data provided by CEMS enable the process operator to demonstrate compliance and the regulator to have confidence in the data presented to them.

In addition to the changes in legalisation there has been significant improvement in the design, quality, performance and operation of CEMS.

CEMS are a significant investment and to offset this, they are used to assist in the efficient operation of a plant. Specifically controlling process abatement to ensure compliance whilst controlling the quantities of dosing media such as lime for acid gas control and urea for control of oxides of nitrogen. PM CEMS are used to monitor the performance of filtration plant such as bag filters by showing when there is an issue and assist in isolating location of the failure to enable repair.