MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

Note: the following is an example of the type of calculation you may be asked to perform in the TE1 narrative paper. Please note this is not the complete exam paper. Calculation questions typically make up 20 out of the 40 marks for the paper.

EXAMPLE CALCULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICULATE MONITORING USING ISOKINETIC SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
The following calculations are used in conjunction with method BS EN 13284-1 and the associated Environment Agency Method Implementation Document (MID). Raw data from an assumed scenario are provided in the tables below:
General information Daily average ELV Expected particulate concentration Uncertainty of weighing procedure Duct dimensions and velocity Duct Diameter Duct Area Average stack velocity Nozzle diameter and sample time Nozzle diameter Total sample time Duct and reference conditions for the duct Temperature Pressure Oxygen concentration Moisture content Gas meter volumes (dry) Gas meter initial Gas meter final Gas Meter Temperature Particulate collection Filter weight initial Filter weight final Mass of particulate in rinsing solution
o

mg/m3 mg/m3 mg

20 10 0.35

m m2 m/s

1.2 1.13 14.3

mm min

8 60

C kPa % %

Duct 165 101.3 10 13 m3 m3 C

Reference 0 101.3 11 0

1.3 2.94 17

g g mg

4.0 4.018 1.3

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to evaluate the relationship between the weighing uncertainty and the daily average ELV The weighing uncertainties shall be less than 5% of the daily ELV. Daily average ELV is 20 mg/m3 The uncertainty of the weighing procedure is 0.35 mg 5% of the daily ELV = (20/100) x 5 = 1 mg

In this case the criterion is satisfied.

You may be asked to calculate the minimum mass to be collected The uncertainty of the weighing procedure is 0.35 mg The minimum mass must be at least 20 times greater than the weighing uncertainty Minimum mass to be collected = 20 x uncertainty of weighing procedure = 20 x 0.35 mg = 7 mg

You may be asked to calculate the minimum sampling volume required The minimum mass to be collected is 7 mg Daily average ELV is 20 mg/m3 Minimum sampling volume required = minimum mass to be collected daily average ELV = 7 mg 20 mg/m3 = 0.35 m3

You may be asked to calculate the expected minimum volume The minimum mass to be collected is 7 mg Expected concentration is 10 mg/m3 Actual minimum volume required = minimum mass to be collected expected concentration = 7 mg 10 mg/m3 = 0.7 m3

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to calculate the volumetric flow rate in the stack. Duct diameter is 1.2m Duct cross sectional area = r2 = 3.14 x 0.62 = 1.13 m2

Duct cross sectional area (csa) is 1.13 m2 Average velocity of stack gases is 14.3 m/s Volumetric flow rate = duct csa x average velocity of stack gases = 1.13 m2 x 14.3 m/s = 16.16 m3/s

You may be asked to calculate the cross sectional area of the nozzle Nozzle diameter is 8mm (radius = 4mm) Nozzle cross sectional area = r2 = 3.14 x 42 = 50.29 mm2 (0.0000503 m2) = 50.29 mm2 / 1000000 = 0.0000503 m2

Convert from mm2 to m2

You may be asked to calculate the volumetric flow rate through the nozzle Cross sectional area (csa) of nozzle is 0.0000503 m2 Average velocity of stack gases is 14.3 m/s Volumetric flow rate through nozzle = csa of nozzle x average velocity of gases = 0.0000503 m2 x 14.3 m/s = 0.0007192 m3/s

You may be asked to calculate the predicted sample volume Volumetric flow rate is 0.0007192 m3/s Sampling time is 60 minutes (3600 seconds) Predicted sample volume sampling time = volumetric flow rate through nozzle x = 0.0007192 m3/s x 3600 = 2.589 m3

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to calculate the predicted sample volume at reference conditions Stack temperature is 165 oC Stack pressure is 101.3 kPa Stack moisture is 13% Stack oxygen is 10% Temperature correction factor Reference temperature is 0 oC (273K) Reference pressure is 101.3 kPa Reference moisture is dry Reference oxygen is 11% = reference temperature stack temperature

= 273 K 273 +165 K = 0.623 Pressure correction factor = stack pressure reference pressure = 101.3 kPa 101.3 kPa =1 Moisture correction factor = (100 stack moisture) 100 = (100 13) 100 = 0.87 Oxygen correction factor = (21 stack oxygen) (21 reference oxygen) = (21 10) (21 11) = 1.1

Predicted sample volume at reference conditions = predicted volume at stack conditions x correction factors for temperature, pressure, moisture and oxygen = 2.589 m3 x 0.623 x 1 x 0.87 x 1.1 = 1.544 m3

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to calculate the sample volume at the dry gas meter Initial meter reading is 1.3 m3 Final meter reading is 2.94 m3 Sample volume at dry gas meter = Final reading initial reading = 2.94 m3 1.3 m3 = 1.64 m3

You may be asked to calculate the actual sample volume at reference conditions Sample volume at dry gas meter is 1.64 m3 Gas meter temperature is 17oC Reference temperature is 0 oC (273K) Stack oxygen is 10% Reference oxygen is 11% Temperature correction factor = reference temperature dry gas meter temperature = 273 K 273 + 17 K = 0.94 = (21 dry gas meter oxygen) (21 reference oxygen) = (21 10) (21 11) = 1.1 Actual sample volume at reference conditions = sample volume at dry gas meter x correction factors for temperature and oxygen = 1.64 m3 x 0.94 x 1.1 = 1.696 m3

Oxygen correction factor

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to calculate the isokinetic rate Isokinetic rate = actual sample volume at reference conditions predicted sample volume at reference conditions = 1.696 m3 1.544 m3 = 109.8% x 100 x 100

You may be asked to calculate the mass of particulate collected on the filter Initial filter weight is 4.0 g Final filter weight is 4.018 g = final filter weight initial filter weight = 4.018 g 4.0 g = 0.018 g (18 mg)

Mass of particulate collected on filter

You may be asked to calculate the total mass of particulate collected Mass collected on filter is 18 mg Mass collected from rinsing solution is 1.3 mg Total mass of particulate collected = mass collected on filter + mass collected from rinsing solution = 18 mg + 1.3 mg = 19.3 mg

December 2012 Form 1325 Issue 2

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MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring Personnel Certification Scheme

Technical Endorsement 1 Example calculations

You may be asked to calculate the particulate concentration at reference conditions Sample volume at reference conditions is 1.696 m3 Total mass of particulate collected is 19.3 mg Particulate concentration at reference conditions = mass of particulate collected sample volume at reference conditions = 19.3 mg 1.696 m3 = 11.4 mg/m3 You may be asked to calculate the particulate blank concentration Mass of particulate recovered from blank is 0.7 mg Sample volume at reference conditions is 1.696 m3 Particulate blank concentration = mass of particulate recovered from blank sample volume at reference conditions = 0.7 mg 1.696 m3 = 0.41 mg/m3

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