Environmental protection : wider use of advanced technologies can improve emissions monitoring : report to Congressional requesters /

"GAO-01-313."

Deep Learning Architectures for time of arrival detection in Acoustic Emissions Monitoring

Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring can be used to detect the presence of damage as well as determine its location in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applications. Information on the time difference of the signal generated by the damage event arriving at different sensors is essential in performing localization. This makes the time of arrival (ToA) an important piece of information to retrieve from the AE signal. Generally, this is determined using statistical methods such as the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) which is particularly prone to errors in the presence of noise. And given that the structures of interest are surrounded with harsh environments, a way to accurately estimate the arrival time in such noisy scenarios is of particular interest. In this work, two new methods are presented to estimate the arrival times of AE signals which are based on Machine Learning. Inspired by great results in the field, two models are presented which are Deep Learning models - a subset of machine learning. They are based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Capsule Neural Network (CapsNet). The primary advantage of such models is that they do not require the user to pre-define selected features but only require raw data to be given and the models establish non-linear relationships between the inputs and outputs. The performance of the models is evaluated using AE signals generated by a custom ray-tracing algorithm by propagating them on an aluminium plate and compared to AIC. It was found that the relative error in estimation on the test set was < 5% for the models compared to around 45% of AIC. The testing process was further continued by preparing an experimental setup and acquiring real AE signals to test on. Similar performances were observed where the two models not only outperform AIC by more than a magnitude in their average errors but also they were shown to be a lot more robust as compared to AIC which fails in the presence of noise.

Development of Cookstove Emissions and Performance Testing Suite with Time-resolved Particulate Matter Analysis and Excess Air Estimation

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Análise do sistema de tratamento de efluentes gasosos de uma central de valorização energética de resíduos sólidos urbanos

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre Em Engenharia Química e Biológica Ramo de processos Químicos

Rinnakkaispolttolaitoksen ympäristöntarkkailusuunnitelma

Diplomityössä päivitetään voimalaitoksen ympäristöntarkkailusuunnitelma vastaamaan uudistuneen ympäristöluvan ja lainsäädännön edellytyksiä. Työssä tutkitaan leijupetikatti-loiden tulipesän lämpötiloja, savukaasun viipymäaikoja tulipesässä, leijukerroskattiloiden päästöjä, päästöjen jatkuvatoimista mittaamista sekä päästöjen seurantaa ja raportointia. Tulipesän lämpötiloja mitattiin kupla- ja kiertoleijukattiloilla. Tuloksien perusteella havait-tiin kiertoleijukattilan tulipesän alaosan lämpötilojen olevan lähes riippumaton pedin lämpötilasta ja höyrykuormasta. Tulipesän yläosassa lämpötilat nousevat höyrykuorman kasvaessa, mutta pedin lämpötilalla ei havaittu vaikutusta tulipesän yläosassakaan. Molemmilla kattiloilla havaittiin voimakas vaakatasoinen lämpötilaprofiili. Kuplaleijukattilalla sekä höyrykuorma että pedin lämpötila vaikuttivat tulipesän lämpötilaan. Savukaasun teoreettiset viipymäajat laskettiin kiertoleijukattilalle. Laskelmien ja mittauksien perusteella havaittiin kattilalla mahdollisuus saavuttaa savukaasun kahden sekunnin viipymäaika 850 ºC lämpötilassa. Kattilan käyttäytymisen aukottomaksi selvittämiseksi kaikilla polttoaineseoksilla ja höyrykuormilla tarvitaan lisää toimenpiteitä kattilalla ja lisää tulipesän lämpötilamittauksia. Leijukerroskattiloiden päästöjen syntymistä ja hallintaa tutkittiin teoreettisesti kirjallisuustutkimuksena. Tutkittuihin päästöihin kuuluivat typen oksidit, rikkidioksidi, hiukkaset, hiilimonoksidi, orgaaninen kokonaishiili, suolahappo, fluorivety, raskasmetallit sekä dioksiinit ja furaanit. Jatkuvatoimisten päästömittausmittauslaitteiden toimintaperiaatteita selvitettiin kirjalli-suustutkimuksena. Samoin selvitettiin jatkuvatoimisten päästömittauslaitteiden virhelähtei-tä. Päästömittauslaitteille laadittiin pitkän ja lyhyen ajan laadunvarmistussuunnitelma. Ha-vaittiin, että nykyiset jatkuvatoimiset päästömittauslaitteet eivät täytä kaikkia uusia laatu-kriteereitä. Päästöjen jatkuvatoimiseen seuraamiseen työssä suunniteltiin uusi valvomonäyttö. Uuden näytön avulla tehostetaan päästöjen valvontaa. Päästöjen raportointiin työssä suunniteltiin vuorokausiraportti. Raporttiin kerätään jatkuva-toimisten päästömittauslaitteiden puolen tunnin keskiarvot. Raportin tarkastaa, allekirjoittaa ja arkistoi vuorossa oleva operaattori.

Ympäristömittausten laadun varmentaminen Porvoon jalostamolla

Diplomityön tarkoituksena on selvittää tämänhetkiset Fortum Oil and Gas Oy:n Porvoon öljynjalostamolla suoritettavat ympäristömittaukset ja –määritykset. Samalla arvioidaan täyttävätkö ympäristömittaukset ja –määritykset niille ympäristölainsäädännössä jo asetetut ja lähiaikoina voimaan tulevat vaatimukset. Työssä esitetyissä jalostamoa koskevissa uusissa lainsäädännön velvoitteisssa päästötiedontuotannon laadun varmennuksella on suuri rooli. Työn ensimmäisessä osassa selvitetään ympäristömittausten nykykäytäntö Porvoon jalostamolla. Nykykäytännön selvitys perustuu jalostamon olemassa oleviin toimintajärjestelmän ohjeisiin ja henkilöhaastatteluihin. Samalla tarkastellaan jalostamon toimintaa koskevia uusia lainsäädännön tuomia velvoitteita päästöjen tarkkailulle ja raportoinnille. Työn toisessa osiossa esitetään käytetyt laadunvarmennusmenetelmät mittausten ja määritysten eri tiedontuotantoketjujen vaiheissa. Samalla verrataan toteutettuja päästö- ja ympäristömittauksia uusiin lainsäädännön tuomiin vaatimuksiin, toimintajärjestelmän ohjeistukseen, standardeihin ja tarkkailun parhaan käyttökelpoisen tekniikan vertailuasiakirjaan (Monitoring-BREF). Selvityksen tuloksia voidaan käyttää jalostamon päästötietojen keräysmenetelmien ja tiedontuotantoketjujen laadun varmentamisen saattamiseksi vastaamaan niille asetettuja vaatimuksia. Selvityksen perusteella lupaehdoissa Porvoon jalostamolle asetetut nykyiset vaatimukset päästöjen ja ympäristövaikutusten seurannalle täyttyvät. Jalostamolla on tehtävä parannuksia päästöjentarkkailu ja –raportointimenetelmiin, jotta tulevat lainsäädännön vaatimukset tulevat täytetyksi. Jalostamon päästömittausten tiedontuotantoketjut eivät kaikissa määrityksissä täytä tarkkailun BREF-asiakirjassa esitettyjä vaatimuksia määritysten laadunvarmennukselle ja läpinäkyvyydelle. Työssä on esitetty korjaavat toimenpiteet.

Remote Sensing Detection of atmospheric pollutants using Lidar, Sodar and correlation with air quality data in an industrial area

Optical remote sensing techniques have obvious advantages for monitoring gas and aerosol emissions, since they enable the operation over large distances, far from hostile environments, and fast processing of the measured signal. In this study two remote sensing devices, namely a Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) for monitoring the vertical profile of backscattered light intensity, and a Sodar (Acoustic Radar, Sound Detection and Ranging) for monitoring the vertical profile of the wind vector were operated during specific periods. The acquired data were processed and compared with data of air quality obtained from ground level monitoring stations, in order to verify the possibility of using the remote sensing techniques to monitor industrial emissions. The campaigns were carried out in the area of the Environmental Research Center (Cepema) of the University of São Paulo, in the city of Cubatão, Brazil, a large industrial site, where numerous different industries are located, including an oil refinery, a steel plant, as well as fertilizer, cement and chemical/petrochemical plants. The local environmental problems caused by the industrial activities are aggravated by the climate and topography of the site, unfavorable to pollutant dispersion. Results of a campaign are presented for a 24- hour period, showing data of a Lidar, an air quality monitoring station and a Sodar. © 2011 SPIE.

Simulação da dispersão de poluentes atmosféricos e avaliação da qualidade do ar na área de abrangência do Distrito Industrial de Barcarena-PA

A poluição atmosférica é considerada atualmente um dos maiores problemas da sociedade contemporânea, por ameaçar sua qualidade de vida, pois gera impactos negativos no meio ambiente natural e antrópico. Dentre as formas de controle da poluição atmosférica de fontes fixas podem-se destacar a diluição das emissões na atmosfera devido aos efeitos de dispersão, a adoção de equipamentos de controle antes do lançamento dos gases ou a realocação de fonte, visto ser uma possibilidade a ser sugerida durante o procedimento de licenciamento ambiental de empreendimentos com potencial poluidor do ar. Atualmente modelos computacionais de dispersão de poluentes na atmosfera vêm sendo amplamente utilizados na simulação da concentração de poluentes, visando auxiliar órgãos ambientais no prognóstico da qualidade do ar ou suprir deficiências de monitoramento de emissões atmosféricas. O presente trabalho estudou a qualidade do ar e avaliou a dispersão de poluentes atmosféricos sobre Vila do Conde e áreas de influência do Distrito Industrial de Barcarena, no município de Barcarena, estado do Pará, com auxílio do modelo AERMOD View, visto a possibilidade de se estabelecer uma relação entre os níveis de emissões dos poluentes na fonte, com as concentrações dos mesmos no ar, bem como identificar pontos críticos de poluição. O Índice de Qualidade do Ar – IQA e as fragilidades das populações humanas das áreas afetadas pelos poluentes atmosféricos, também foram mensurados na pesquisa. A metodologia empregada permitiu mensurar a concentração média de poluentes atmosféricos durante um determinado tempo de modelagem, informações quanto ao alcance da pluma de poluentes foram alcançados também. São fornecidos ainda informações quanto à relação entre o valor de pico e o valor médio da concentração nas áreas receptoras, provocadas por empreendimentos com características operacionais similares ao modelado. Os resultados demostram que a influência de parâmetros meteorológicos, na dispersão de poluentes são indispensáveis e determinantes na previsão do impacto na qualidade do ar e no planejamento do uso e ocupação do solo de áreas que abrigam atividades poluidoras da atmosfera.

Clean Coal Technologies Scenario and Evaluation of Present CO2 Dwindling Initiatives to Approach Zero Emission Power Stations By Coal Combustion. Deployment Situation and Evaluation Study

In the present uncertain global context of reaching an equal social stability and steady thriving economy, power demand expected to grow and global electricity generation could nearly double from 2005 to 2030. Fossil fuels will remain a significant contribution on this energy mix up to 2050, with an expected part of around 70% of global and ca. 60% of European electricity generation. Coal will remain a key player. Hence, a direct effect on the considered CO2 emissions business-as-usual scenario is expected, forecasting three times the present CO2 concentration values up to 1,200ppm by the end of this century. Kyoto protocol was the first approach to take global responsibility onto CO2 emissions monitoring and cap targets by 2012 with reference to 1990. Some of principal CO2emitters did not ratify the reduction targets. Although USA and China spur are taking its own actions and parallel reduction measures. More efficient combustion processes comprising less fuel consuming, a significant contribution from the electricity generation sector to a CO2 dwindling concentration levels, might not be sufficient. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies have started to gain more importance from the beginning of the decade, with research and funds coming out to drive its come in useful. After first researching projects and initial scale testing, three principal capture processes came out available today with first figures showing up to 90% CO2 removal by its standard applications in coal fired power stations. Regarding last part of CO2 reduction chain, two options could be considered worthy, reusing (EOR & EGR) and storage. The study evaluates the state of the CO2 capture technology development, availability and investment cost of the different technologies, with few operation cost analysis possible at the time. Main findings and the abatement potential for coal applications are presented. DOE, NETL, MIT, European universities and research institutions, key technology enterprises and utilities, and key technology suppliers are the main sources of this study. A vision of the technology deployment is presented.

Use of short-term breath measures to estimate daily methane production by cattle

Methods to measure enteric methane (CH4) emissions from individual ruminants in their production environment are required to validate emission inventories and verify mitigation claims. Estimates of daily methane production (DMP) based on consolidated short-term emission measurements are developing, but method verification is required. Two cattle experiments were undertaken to test the hypothesis that DMP estimated by averaging multiple short-term breath measures of methane emission rate did not differ from DMP measured in respiration chambers (RC). Short-term emission rates were obtained from a GreenFeed Emissions Monitoring (GEM) unit, which measured emission rate while cattle consumed a dispensed supplement. In experiment 1 (Expt. 1), four non-lactating cattle (LW=518 kg) were adapted for 18 days then measured for six consecutive periods. Each period consisted of 2 days of ad libitum intake and GEM emission measurement followed by 1 day in the RC. A prototype GEM unit releasing water as an attractant (GEM water) was also evaluated in Expt. 1. Experiment 2 (Expt. 2) was a larger study based on similar design with 10 cattle (LW=365 kg), adapted for 21 days and GEM measurement was extended to 3 days in each of the six periods. In Expt. 1, there was no difference in DMP estimated by the GEM unit relative to the RC (209.7 v. 215.1 g CH4/day) and no difference between these methods in methane yield (MY, 22.7 v. 23.7 g CH4/kg of dry matter intake, DMI). In Expt. 2, the correlation between GEM and RC measures of DMP and MY were assessed using 95% confidence intervals, with no difference in DMP or MY between methods and high correlations between GEM and RC measures for DMP (r=0.85; 215 v. 198 g CH4/day SEM=3.0) and for MY (r=0.60; 23.8 v. 22.1 g CH4/kg DMI SEM=0.42). When data from both experiments was combined neither DMP nor MY differed between GEM- and RC-based measures (P>0.05). GEM water-based estimates of DMP and MY were lower than RC and GEM (P<0.05). Cattle accessed the GEM water unit with similar frequency to the GEM unit (2.8 v. 3.5 times/day, respectively) but eructation frequency was reduced from 1.31 times/min (GEM) to once every 2.6 min (GEM water). These studies confirm the hypothesis that DMP estimated by averaging multiple short-term breath measures of methane emission rate using GEM does not differ from measures of DMP obtained from RCs. Further, combining many short-term measures of methane production rate during supplement consumption provides an estimate of DMP, which can be usefully applied in estimating MY.

Emissions of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a cement kiln using a continuous monitoring system

Resumen de la comunicación presentada en PIC2015 – the 14th International Congress on Combustion By-Products and Their Health Effects, Umeå, Sweden, 14-17 June 2015.