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N2O FIELD STUDY
Citation:
Clayton, R., A. Sykes, R. Machilek, K. Krebs, AND J. Ryan. N2O FIELD STUDY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-89/006 (NTIS PB89-166623), 1989.
Impact/Purpose:
Information.
Description:
The report gives results of measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from coal-fired utility boilers at three electric power generating stations. Six units were tested, two at each site, including sizes ranging from 165 to 700 MW. Several manufacturers and boiler firing types were represented. Continuous emissions monitor measurements were made for nitrogen oxide (NO), O2, CO2, and CO. On-line N2O measurements were made using a gas chromatograph (GC) with electron capture detection. On-line SO2 levels were measured on one unit using a GC with flame photometric detection. Stainless steel (SS) sample containers were used to collect flue gas samples for the evaluation of N2O formation as a function of time in the presence of NO, SO2, and water. The N2O on-line results were in the range from "not detectable" to 4.6 ppm. The results did not exhibit apparent differences related to different boiler types and load conditions. The SS container results showed a trend of immediate N2O formation when SO2 and water are present. The N2O concentration in all wet samples increased dramatically within the first hour to concentrations ranging from 9 to 120 ppm. The dry sample results showed a much smaller increase in N2O, ranging from 5 to 25 ppm over the 2 weeks after sampling.