How best management practices affect emissions in gas turbine power plants—An important factor to consider when strengthening emission standards

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) is considering strengthening the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Stationary Gas Turbines, originally published in 2011 (DB11/847–2011), with a focus on reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the current operation of 12 existing combined-cycle gas turbine power plants and the design of two new plants in Beijing and their emission reduction potential, in comparison with a state-of-the-art power plant in California. The study found that best management practices (BMPs) could potentially improve the emission level of the power plants, and should be implemented to minimize emissions under current design characteristics. These BMPs include (1) more frequent tuning of turbine combustors; (2) onsite testing of natural gas characteristics in comparison to turbine manufacturer’s specifics and tuning of turbine to natural gas quality; (3) onsite testing of aqueous ammonia to ensure adequate ammonia concentration in the mixed solution, and the purity of the solution; (4) more careful inspection of the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) during operation and maintenance; (5) annual testing of the catalyst coupon on the SCR to ensure catalyst effectiveness; and (6) annual ammonia injection grid (AIG) tuning. The study found that without major modification to the plants, improving the management of the Beijing gas turbine power plants may potentially reduce the current hourly average NOx emission level of 5–10 parts per million (ppm; ranges reflects plant variation) by up to 20%. The exact improvement associated with each BMP for each facility requires more detailed analysis, and requires engagement of turbine, HRSG, and SCR manufacturers. This potential improvement is an important factor to consider when strengthening the emission standard. However, note that with the continuous needs of improving air quality within the area, more expensive control measures, such as retrofitting the turbines or the HRSGs, may be considered.

Implications: This study analyzed the potential emission reductions associated with implementing the best management practices (BMPs) on the combined cycle and cogeneration power plants in Beijing. It determined that implementing the BMPs could potentially achieve up to 580 metric tonnes, or 0.6%, reductions of all NOx emissions in Beijing. Many other cities in China and Asia battling air quality issues may find the information useful in order to evaluate the emission reduction potential of their own gas turbine power plants.     

Optimizing best management practices to control anthropogenic sources of atmospheric phosphorus deposition to inland lakes

Excessive phosphorus loading to inland freshwater lakes around the globe has resulted in nuisance plant growth along the waterfronts, degraded habitat for cold-water fisheries, and impaired beaches, marinas, and waterfront property. The direct atmospheric deposition of phosphorus can be a significant contributing source to inland lakes. The atmospheric deposition monitoring program for Lake Simcoe, Ontario, indicates roughly 20% of the annual total phosphorus load (2010–2014 period) is due to direct atmospheric deposition (both wet and dry deposition) on the lake. This novel study presents a first-time application of the genetic algorithm (GA) methodology to optimize the application of best management practices (BMPs) related to agriculture and mobile sources to achieve atmospheric phosphorus reduction targets and restore the ecological health of the lake. The novel methodology takes into account the spatial distribution of the emission sources in the airshed, the complex atmospheric long-range transport and deposition processes, cost and efficiency of the popular management practices, and social constraints related to the adoption of BMPs. The optimization scenarios suggest that the optimal overall capital investment of approximately $2M, $4M, and $10M annually can achieve roughly 3, 4, and 5 tonnes reduction in atmospheric P load to the lake, respectively. The exponential trend indicates diminishing returns for the investment beyond roughly $3M per year and that focusing much of this investment in the upwind, nearshore area will significantly impact deposition to the lake. The optimization is based on a combination of the lowest cost, most beneficial and socially acceptable management practices that develops a science-informed promotion of implementation/BMP adoption strategy. The geospatial aspect to the optimization (i.e., proximity and location with respect to the lake) will help land managers to encourage the use of these targeted best practices in areas that will most benefit from the phosphorus reduction approach.

Implications: Excessive phosphorus loading to inland freshwater lakes around the globe has resulted in nuisance plant growth along the waterfronts, degraded habitat for cold water fisheries, and impaired beaches, marinas and waterfront property. This novel study presents a first-time application of the Genetic Algorithm methodology to optimize the application of best management practices related to agriculture and mobile sources to achieve atmospheric phosphorus reduction targets and restore the ecological health of the lake. The novel methodology takes into account the spatial distribution of the emission sources in the airshed, the complex atmospheric long-range transport and deposition processes, cost and efficiency of the popular management practices and social constraints related to the adoption of BMPs.     

An experimental investigation of incremental reactivities of volatile organic compounds

California has adopted a set of VOC reactivity factors for regulatory purposes that is based on a model of the ozone formation process. These incremental reactivity factors (derived by Carter) describe the amount of ozone each exhaust VOC will form under a certain set of conditions in an urban atmosphere. The main objective of this study is to measure reactivity factors using smog chamber experiments, and to compare the measurements to the Carter factors. A new facility was constructed explicitly for this study. The facility has four identical smog chambers and a temperature-controlled enclosure for the chambers. The chambers are irradiated using a set of filtered xenon arc lamps to approximate “sunlight”. The reactivities of 14 individual VOCs representative of those found in automobile exhaust and several mixtures of VOCs have been measured. The measured and Carter-reactivity factors were highly correlated, suggesting that the chemical model used by Carter accounts for the reactivities of a wide range of compounds with dramatically different uncertainties in their mechanisms. The measured results, in general, are consistent with the Carter-reactivity factors for comparing the relative reactivities of VOCs in the atmosphere. However, additional kinetic and mechanistic studies of many VOC species including aromatic isomers are needed to improve reactivity scales.     

Management-oriented sensitivity analysis for pesticide transport in watershed-scale water quality modeling using SWAT

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was calibrated for hydrology conditions in an agricultural watershed of Orestimba Creek, California, and applied to simulate fate and transport of two organophosphate pesticides chlorpyrifos and diazinon. The model showed capability in evaluating pesticide fate and transport processes in agricultural fields and instream network. Management-oriented sensitivity analysis was conducted by applied stochastic SWAT simulations for pesticide distribution. Results of sensitivity analysis identified the governing processes in pesticide outputs as surface runoff, soil erosion, and sedimentation in the study area. By incorporating sensitive parameters in pesticide transport simulation, effects of structural best management practices (BMPs) in improving surface water quality were demonstrated by SWAT modeling. This study also recommends conservation practices designed to reduce field yield and in-stream transport capacity of sediment, such as filter strip, grassed waterway, crop residue management, and tailwater pond to be implemented in the Orestimba Creek watershed.     

国外最佳管理措施在农业非点源污染防治中的应用

概述了国外最佳管理措施(BMPs)在农业非点源污染防治中的应用现状,工程措施有人工湿地、植被缓冲区和水陆交错带;管理措施有测土施肥、变量施肥、免耕-少耕法和生物篱等,以及它们所取得的成果,并展望其在国外和国内的发展趋势和前景.     

Performance comparison of structural stormwater best management practices.

This paper describes a method for comparing the pollutant removal of a number of structural stormwater treatment devices, commonly referred to as best management practices (BMPs). Historically, the pollutant removal ability of a BMP has been expressed as a percent reduction in concentration or load. Unfortunately, the calculated percent reduction in pollutant concentration is strongly affected by the influent concentration, with the calculated reduction generally being much lower when the event mean concentrations (EMCs) in the untreated runoff from the test watershed are low. The objective of the proposed methodology is to eliminate this problem by predicting BMP performance for an arbitrary influent concentration, so that BMPs evaluated in different watersheds can be compared as if the influent quality at all sites were the same. This method allows BMPs to be compared based on the quality of effluent produced and the mass reduction. The proposed method uses linear regression as the primary tool to compute the expected effluent concentration from a BMP, given a specific influent concentration of interest and was developed using data collected in the California Department of Transportation BMP Retrofit Pilot Program. This technique reveals that for media filters, the concentration of sediment and other particle-associated pollutants in treated runoff is generally unrelated to influent quality and is relatively constant. Wet basins with large permanent pool volumes also have effluent concentrations that are constant for most constituents and unrelated to influent concentrations. In these situations, the "percent reduction" in a pollutant EMC is not an inherent characteristic of the BMP, but a function of the influent EMC, because the quality of effluent produced is constant. Predicting the effluent quality of several types of conventional BMPs based on a common influent concentration allows an objective comparison of their performance and the selection of a BMP that addresses specific constituents of concern.     

Eutrophication assessment and management methodology of multiple pollution sources of a landscape lake in North China

Landscape lakes in the city suffer high eutrophication risk because of their special characters and functions in the water circulation system. Using a landscape lake HMLA located in Tianjin City, North China, with a mixture of point source (PS) pollution and non-point source (NPS) pollution, we explored the methodology of Fluent and AQUATOX to simulate and predict the state of HMLA, and trophic index was used to assess the eutrophication state. Then, we use water compensation optimization and three scenarios to determine the optimal management methodology. Three scenarios include ecological restoration scenario, best management practices (BMPs) scenario, and a scenario combining both. Our results suggest that the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem with ecoremediation is necessary and the BMPs have a far-reaching effect on water reusing and NPS pollution control. This study has implications for eutrophication control and management under development for urbanization in China.     

A stochastic stormwater quality volume-sizing method with first flush emphasis

A Monte Carlo simulation technique was applied to assess the effect of stormwater quality volume captured by best management practices (BMPs) on the frequency of discharging concentrations of constituents above certain designated threshold limits. The method used an assumption of a power law relationship between the cumulative load and flow to incorporate the first flush effect. The exponent of this relationship was considered a random variable and its frequency distribution was obtained from 78 measured pollutographs from three urban highway sites in West Los Angeles, California. Although the effect of rain depth captured by BMPs is site-specific, the method offered here provides a systematic approach to evaluate the effect of selecting various regulatory guidelines for controlling urban stormwater pollution on the overall discharge of pollutants into waterways. This allows selecting the requirements for capturing runoff volume by BMPs based on the tradeoff between the probability of concentration criteria violation and economic factors.     

生物滞留池改善城市雨水径流水质的研究进展

如何有效控制城市雨水径流所带来的面源污染已成为城市管理工作所面临的重要难题之一.作为城市暴雨最佳管理措施(BMPs)中的技术之一,生物滞留池可有效控制城市面源污染.总结了生物滞留池在改善城市雨水径流水质方面的研究进展,简要分析了生物滞留池去除污染物的机制.研究结果表明,生物滞留池对雨水径流中的总悬浮颗粒物(TSS)、重...     

Waste Reduction Practices at Two Chromated Copper Arsenate Wood-Treating Plants

Abstract

Two chromated copper arsenate (CCA) wood-treating plants were assessed for their waste reduction practices. The objectives of this study were to estimate the amount of hazardous wastes that a well-designed and well-maintained CCA treatment facility would generate and to identify waste reduction opportunities. These practices have been reflected in several areas, including facility designs, process controls, and management practices. The facility designs included enclosed treatment buildings, covered drip pads, a drip pan, an automatic lumber handling system, power rollers, computerized chemical mixing systems, spill containments, and air ventilation systems to minimize mist or droplet emissions from cylinders and work tanks. Management practices have included pretreatment quality control, improved housekeeping, resource recovery and recycling, and operator training.     

Trace metal accumulation in sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates before and after maintenance of a constructed wetland

Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) require regular maintenance. The impact on trace metal concentrations in a constructed stormwater wetland BMP on Staten Island, New York, was investigated by analyzing sediment concentrations and tissue residues of the dominant macroinvertebrates (Tubifex tubifex) prior and subsequent to maintenance. Trace metal concentrations were assessed using standard serial extraction (for sediment) and acid digestion (for tissue burdens) techniques, followed by quantitative determination using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, respectively. The results suggest that disturbance of sediment during maintenance of the BMP resulted in an increase in the most mobile fraction of trace metals, especially those associated with finer grained sediments (< 63 tm), and as a consequence, measured metal concentrations in macroinvertebrates increased. Regressions of a subset of metal concentrations (copper, lead, and zinc) in sediment and the macroinvertebrate tissue burden samples generally increased as a result of maintenance. A follow-up sampling event 9 months after maintenance demonstrated that the most readily available form of trace metal in the BMP was reduced, which supports (1) long-term sequestration of metals in the BMP and (2) that elevated bioavailability following maintenance was potentially a transient feature of the disturbance. This study suggests that in the long-term, performing sediment removal might help reduce bioavailability of trace metal concentrations in both the BMP and the receiving water to which a BMP discharges. However, alternative practices might need to be implemented to reduce trace metal bioavailability in the short-term.     

Modeling Municipal Solid Waste Management System under Uncertainty

Abstract

In this study, a dynamic inexact waste management (DIWM) model is developed for identifying optimal waste-flow-allocation and facility-capacity-expansion strategies under uncertainty and is based on an inexact scenario-based probabilistic programming (ISPP) approach. The DIWM model can handle uncertainties presented as interval values and probability distributions, and it can support assessing the risk of violating system constraints. Several violation levels for facility-capacity and waste-diversion constraints are examined. Solutions associated with different risks of constraint violation were generated. The modeling results are valuable for supporting the planning of the study city’s municipal solid waste (MSW) management practices, the long-term capacity expansion for waste management system, and the identification of desired policies regarding waste diversion. Sensitivity analyses are also undertaken to demonstrate that the violations of different constraints have varied effects on the planning of waste-flow allocation, facility expansion, and waste management cost.     

Use of amendments to reduce leaching loss of phosphorus and other nutrients from a sandy soil in Florida

Goal, Scope and Background Transport of P from agricultural land contributes to the eutrophication of surface waters. Soil amendment is considered one of the best management practices (BMPs) to reduce P loss from sandy soils. Laboratory column leaching experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different soil amendments in reducing P leaching from a typical sandy soil in Florida. Methods The tested amendments were CaCl₂, CaCO₃, Al(OH)₃, cellulose, and mill mud, and applied at the rate of 15 g/kg for a single amendment and each 7.5 g/kg if two amendments were combined. Leaching was conducted every four days for 32 days, 250 mL of deionized water being leached for each column per leaching event. Leachates were collected from each leaching event and analyzed for reactive P, PO₄-P, and macro and micro-elements. Results and Discussion Except for the soils amended with CaCl₂, or CaCl₂+CaCO₃, reactive P and PO₄-P leaching losses mainly occurred in the first three leaching events. Phosphorus leaching from the soils amended with CaCl₂ or CaCl₂+CaCO₃ was less but more persistent than that of other amendments. Reactive Pleaching loss was reduced by 36.0% and 40.4% for the amendments of CaCl₂, and CaCl₂+CaCO₃, respectively, as compared with chemical fertilizer alone, and the corresponding values for PO₄-P were 70.8% and 71.9%. The concentrations of K, Mg, Cu, and Fe in leachate were also decreased by CaCl₂ or CaCl₂+CaCO₃ amendment. Among the seven amendments, CaCl₂, CaCO₃, or their combination were most effective in reducing P leaching from the sandy soil, followed by cellulose and Al(OH)₃, the effects of mill mud and mill mud + Al(OH)₃ were marginal. Conclusions These results indicate that the use of CaCl₂, CaCO₃, or their combination can significantly reduce P leaching from sandy soil, and should be considered in the development of BMPs for the sandy soil regions. Recommendations and Outlook Most agricultural soils in south Florida are very sandy with minimal holding capacities for moisture and nutrients. Repeated application of fertilizer is necessary to sustain desired yield of crops on these soils. However, eutrophication of fresh water systems in this area has been increasingly concerned by the public. Losses of P from agricultural fields by means of leaching and surface runoff are suspected as one of the important non-point contamination sources. The benefits and effectiveness of soil amendment in reducing P losses from cropping production systems while sustaining desired crop yield need to be demonstrated. Calcium chloride, CaCO₃, or their combination significantly reduce Pleaching from sandy soil, and should be considered in the development of BMPs for the sandy soil regions.     

汽车制造项目环境影响评价技术要点分析

本文在实际开展汽车制造项目环境影响评价的基础上,对汽车制造项目生产工艺及产污环节进行梳理,重点对废气、废水、固废、噪声源强核算过程和方法进行解析,对污染防治措施论证内容进行探讨,同时从清洁生产水平分析、政策相符性分析等方面的技术要点进行总结整理,梳理了目前汽车制造项目环评文件编制的要点核心,指出汽车整车制造项目环境影响评价中应关注的重点问题,主要在于挥发性有机废气源强和含氮、磷及重金属废水源强核算、物料平衡等,为下阶段汽车制造项目建设和环境管理提供参考。     

Phase-in of nonpoint sources in a transferable discharge permit system for water quality management: setting permit prices

The composite market design is a proposal for a transferable discharge permit system that specifically includes agricultural non-point-source dischargers and addresses both property rights and transaction cost problems. The first step to implementation of a composite market scheme is the estimation of a supply curve for abatement measures in the catchment area. Estimation is performed by combining costs with modeled loss reductions from selected best management practices and then using this information to estimate the supply curve for abatement, which in turn can then be used to set permit prices. The R?nne? catchment in southern Sweden is used as a pilot study area for making this type of estimate. Costs for existing measures that reduce nutrient losses from farmland (catch crops and spring planting) are based on existing programs financed by the Swedish Agricultural Board. A set of supply curves is calculated for these measures using retention estimates for seven subcatchments and three soil types in the area. Although existing information is sufficient to calculate partial supply curves and may be used to set permit prices, additional measures should be included as well as an increased number of variables for differentiating site specific reduction costs.     

Siting a Fully Integrated Waste Management Facility in Alberta

The development of a special (hazardous) waste management system is well under way in Alberta, Canada, and completion of an integrated treatment and disposal facility near Swan Hills is expected in 1988. The facility will handle both inorganic and organic waste streams in a physical/chemical treatment plant and high temperature incinerator. Treated liquid residues will be disposed of in a deep well, and treated solid residues in a secure landfill. The chosen treatment technology and the established hydrogeological conditions of the site ensure the maintenance of environmental quality. An intensive site selection and public participation program provided that only locations which were environmentally and socially suitable for this development were considered. Through awareness of the problems of waste and the solutions for its management, and full citizen involvement in the site selection process, the siting and public participation programs accomplished the difficult task of selecting a location for North America’s first fully integrated special waste treatment and disposal facility.     

Development of a hazardous air pollutants monitoring program using the Data Quality Objectives process

To effectively reduce the environmental compliance costs associated with meeting hazardous air pollutant emission requirements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Data Quality Objective (DQO) process has been proposed as a suitable framework for establishing a defensible monitoring program. Through the use of a hazardous materials pilot study, the variability in the composite vapor pressure for regulated handwipe cleaning solvents was established. These results served as inputs to the DQO process, which identified that for facility decision-makers to claim with a 99% confidence level that the facility is in compliance with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), a minimum of 12 handwipe cleaning solvent compliance samples (taken at random every 6 months) must have a composite vapor pressure equal to or below the regulatory limit of 45 mmHg at 20 degrees C. Implementation of the DQO-based compliance-sampling plan eliminates the need for an affected facility to sample all regulated handwipe cleaning solvents while still maintaining a reasonably high level of confidence in the compliance status of its regulated sources. The approach described for designing a defensible compliance sampling plan can be extended to other aspects of the aerospace NESHAP rule, including compliance sampling for surface coating, chemical depainting, and hazardous waste disposal.     

Intellectual capital,financial resources,and green supply chain management as predictors of financial and environmental performance

This research examines the influence of intellectual capital on financial and environmental performance with a mediating role of green supply chain management and a moderating role of financial resources. Structural model estimation was conducted on the data set of 324 Pakistani manufacturing SMEs and showed that intellectual capital significantly encourages green supply chain management as well as significantly contributes to financial and environmental performance. Green supply chain management partially mediates the relationship between intellectual capital and performance both the financial and environmental. Financial resources significantly strengthen the relationship between intellectual capital and green supply chain management. In light of the results, we suggest that firms should encourage intellectuality among their managers and employees to adopt green practices that can improve their financial and environmental performance. In addition, it is also suggested for managers and CEOs to effectively manage financial resources that are necessary for green practices.

     

Recycling research on spent fluorescent lamps on the basis of extended producer responsibility in China

Mercury is a physiological toxin released by spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) and is considered a serious pollutant. As the world’s largest producer of fluorescent lamps, China suffers from SFL pollution because of inefficient recycling and management of SFLs. Drawing upon the most successful practices worldwide, this paper suggests the recycling of SFLs on the basis of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) system in China. Manufacturers and importers are the main parties responsible for the take-back, recycling, and disposal of SFLs in the EPR system. In view of the situation in China and to address the objectives of the EPR system, this paper recommends the implementation of a third-party take-back mode for small- and medium-scale enterprises and of a take-back mode for large enterprises to be carried out by original equipment manufacturers. This paper suggests an extended responsibility fund to finance and support the SFL recycling system and discusses in detail the different recycling network systems and fund flows of the two take-back modes. By conducting a case study, the authors determine that the subsidy rate for SFLs that a recycling company can obtain from the extended responsibility fund for recycling and disposing of lamps can be set at $1.35/kg. The authors also predict the levy level that fluorescent lamp manufacturers must submit.

Implications:For policymakers, a proper and effective way to manage and recycle spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs) is necessary. The recommended system and the predicted number values of the subsidy rate and levy level can be the basis in practice. For people, the proper management measures will reduce exposure from SFLs effectively, especially the risk of exposure to mercury. For society, the measures can help increase resource utilization rate. For manufacturers, an effective extended responsibility fund will motivate them to improve processing technique and green design.