DOE/ORO/2327 Oak Ridge Reservation Annual Site Environmental ...

Oak Ridge Reservation
Table 4.7. Actual vs allowable air emissions from the
Oak Ridge Y-12 Steam Plant, 2009
Emissions
Pollutant
(tons/year) a Percentage of allowable
Actual Allowable
Particulate 38 945 4.0
Sulfur dioxide 2,337 20,803 11.2
Nitrogen oxides b 584.9 5,905 9.9
Nitrogen oxides (ozone season only) 126.1 c 174 72.5
Volatile organic compounds b 3 41 7.3
Carbon monoxide b a
1 ton = 907.2 kg.
25 543 4.6
b
When there is no applicable standard or enforceable permit condition for some pollutants, the
allowable emissions are based on the maximum actual emissions calculation as defined in Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation Rule 1200-3-26-.02(2)(d)3 (maximum design capacity for
8760 h/year). The emissions for both the actual and allowable emissions were calculated based on the
latest EPA compilation of air pollutant emission factors. (EPA 1995 and 1998. Compilation of Air
Pollutant Emission Factors AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume 1: Stationary Point and Area Sources.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C. January 1995 and September 1998.)
c
Monitored emissions.
air permit for the Y-12 Steam Plant requires the opacity monitoring systems to be fully operational 95%
of the operational time of the monitored units during each month of the calendar quarter. During 2009, the
opacity monitoring systems were operational for more than 95% of the operational time of the monitored
units during each month. During 2009, 26, 6-min periods of excess emissions occurred. Quarterly reports
of the status of the Y-12 Steam Plant opacity monitors are submitted to TDEC personnel. Table 4.8 is a
record of excess emissions and inoperative conditions for the east and west stack opacity monitors for
2009. Visible emission evaluations are also conducted at the steam plant semiannually to demonstrate
compliance. The Y-12 Title V operating air permit also requires continuous monitoring of NOx mass
emissions during the ozone season (May 1 through September 30). The cumulative NOx mass emissions
measured from the steam plant for the 2009 ozone season was 114,396 kg (126.1 tons) of NOx, the limit
being 157,850 kg (174 tons), as shown in Fig. 4.20. Boiler 3 was shutdown and its tonnage was removed
from the total NOx limit for the steam plant.
Particulate emissions from point sources result from many operations throughout Y-12. Compliance
demonstration is achieved via several activities, including monitoring the operations of control devices,
limiting process input materials, and using certified readers to conduct stack-visible emission evaluations.
Emissions of SO2 are primarily from the combustion of coal at the steam plant. Sulfur in coal is
analyzed, and calculations are performed to ensure that emissions remain below permit limits.
Use of Solvent 140 and methanol throughout the complex along with use of acetonitrile at a single
source are primary sources of VOC emissions. Material mass balances and engineering calculations are
used to determine annual emissions.
The results of monitoring a number of process parameters along with stack-monitoring results are
provided in reports to TDEC quarterly, semiannually, and annually. All monitored results were in
compliance with the Title V permit in 2009.
4.4.1.5 Quality Control
Calibration error tests of the opacity monitoring systems are performed on a semiannual basis as
required by the permit. The calibration error tests for the steam plant opacity monitors were performed
two times for both the west and east stack opacity monitors. The first semiannual calibration error tests
were conducted on April 11 and 12, 2009, for the west and east opacity monitors, respectively. The
second semiannual calibration error tests were conducted on December 12 and 17, 2009, for the west and
4-38 The Y-12 National Security Complex