scholarly journals Reduction in air pollution using the ‘basa njengo magogo’ method and the applicability to low-smoke fuels

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas J. Le Roux ◽  
Mark Zunckel ◽  
Shirley McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Volatile Content ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Cooking Temperature ◽  
Coal Fires ◽  
Orange Farm ◽  
Fire Ignition

The then Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) piloted the top-down Basa njengo Magogo alternative fire ignition method at Orange Farm dur-ing the winter of 2003. In total, 76% of households reported less smoke in their homes, while 67%reported less smoke in the streets after one month of using the method (Palmer Development Consulting, 2003). Work by Nova (Schoonraad & Swanepoel, 2003) in eMbalenhle (actual environ-mental tests) indicated up to a 60% reduction in smoke compared with the conventional method of bottom-up ignition. To support the findings of the environmental studies, the CSIR were appointed by the DME to conduct an experiment under con-trolled laboratory conditions to gather quantitative data on the reduction in particulate emissions asso-ciated with the Basa njengo Magogo method of lighting coal fires. The CSIR was further contracted to assess whether the Basa njengo Magogo technol-ogy was viable with low-smoke fuels.The experiment was conducted using traditional D-Grade coal in both the conventional bottom-up and the Basa njengo Magogo ignition techniques. Three low volatile fuels were also assessed using the Basa njengo Magogo method namely:•    Anthracite (volatile content of 10.6%)•    Anthracite (volatile content of 12%)•    Low volatile coal (volatile content of 20.8%), from Slater Coal in Dundee.All four fuels using the Basa njengo Magogo method recorded similar times of between 11 and 13 minutes from ignition to the fires reaching cook-ing temperature. The bottom-up fire for conven-tional D-Grade coal reached cooking temperature after 55 minutes.Particulate emissions from all the Basa njengo Magogo fires were similar and up to 92% lower in particulate emissions than that of the D-Grade coal in the bottom-up fire. SO2 emissions from the two D-Grade coal fires were the lowest and were identical. The highest SO2 emission resulted from the low volatile coal. The method of lighting the fire does not have a significant effect on the SO2 emissions. The Basa njengo Magogo method of ignition uses approximately 1 kg less coal to reach cooking temperature than the traditional bottom–up method. At a cost of approximately R1.00 per kilo-gram of coal, this translates into a cost savings of approximately R30 per month.

scholarly journals Updated SO<sub>2</sub> emission estimates over China using OMI/Aura observations

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1817-1832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elissavet Koukouli ◽  
Nicolas Theys ◽  
Jieying Ding ◽  
Irene Zyrichidou ◽  
Bas Mijling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Transport Modelling ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Beijing Area ◽  
Entire Domain ◽  
Particulate Matter Emissions

Abstract. The main aim of this paper is to update existing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission inventories over China using modern inversion techniques, state-of-the-art chemistry transport modelling (CTM) and satellite observations of SO2. Within the framework of the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) MarcoPolo (Monitoring and Assessment of Regional air quality in China using space Observations) project, a new SO2 emission inventory over China was calculated using the CHIMERE v2013b CTM simulations, 10 years of Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)/Aura total SO2 columns and the pre-existing Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China (MEIC v1.2). It is shown that including satellite observations in the calculations increases the current bottom-up MEIC inventory emissions for the entire domain studied (15–55° N, 102–132° E) from 26.30 to 32.60 Tg annum−1, with positive updates which are stronger in winter ( ∼  36 % increase). New source areas were identified in the southwest (25–35° N, 100–110° E) as well as in the northeast (40–50° N, 120–130° E) of the domain studied as high SO2 levels were observed by OMI, resulting in increased emissions in the a posteriori inventory that do not appear in the original MEIC v1.2 dataset. Comparisons with the independent Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, EDGAR v4.3.1, show a satisfying agreement since the EDGAR 2010 bottom-up database provides 33.30 Tg annum−1 of SO2 emissions. When studying the entire OMI/Aura time period (2005 to 2015), it was shown that the SO2 emissions remain nearly constant before the year 2010, with a drift of −0.51 ± 0.38 Tg annum−1, and show a statistically significant decline after the year 2010 of −1.64 ± 0.37 Tg annum−1 for the entire domain. Similar findings were obtained when focusing on the greater Beijing area (30–40° N, 110–120° E) with pre-2010 drifts of −0.17 ± 0.14 and post-2010 drifts of −0.47 ± 0.12 Tg annum−1. The new SO2 emission inventory is publicly available and forms part of the official EU MarcoPolo emission inventory over China, which also includes updated NOx, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter emissions.

scholarly journals Updated SO<sub>2</sub> emission estimates over China using OMI/Aura observations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Elissavet Koukouli ◽  
Nicolas Theys ◽  
Jieying Ding ◽  
Irene Zyrichidou ◽  
Bas Mijling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Transport Modelling ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Beijing Area ◽  
Entire Domain ◽  
North East ◽  
The North

Abstract. The main aim of this paper is to update existing sulphur dioxide (SO2), emission inventories over China using novel inversion techniques, state-of-the-art chemistry transport modelling (CTM), and satellite observations of SO2. Within the framework of the EU FP7 Monitoring and Assessment of Regional air quality in China using space Observations, MarcoPolo project, a new SO2 emission inventory over China was calculated using the CHIMERE v2013b CTM simulations, ten years of OMI/Aura total SO2 columns and the pre-existing Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China (MEIC v1.2). It is shown that including satellite observations in the calculations increases the current bottom-up MEIC inventory emissions for the entire domain studied [102° to 132° E and 15° to 55° N] from 26.30 Tg/annum to 32.60 Tg/annum, with positive updates which are stronger in winter [~ 36 % increase]. New source areas where identified in the South West [25–35° N and 100–110° E] as well as in the North East [40–50° N and 120–130° E] of the domain studied as high SO2 levels were observed by OMI, resulting in increased emissions in the aposteriori inventory that do not appear in the original MEIC v1.2 dataset. Comparisons with the independent Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research, EDGAR v4.3.1, show a satisfying agreement since the EDGAR 2010 bottom-up database provides 33.30 Tg/annum of SO2 emissions. When studying the entire OMI/Aura time period [2005 to 2015 inclusive], it was shown that the SO2 emissions remain nearly constant before year 2010 with a drift of −0.51 ± 0.38 Tg/annum and show a statistically significant decline after year 2010 of −1.64 ± 0.37 Tg/Annum for the entire domain. Similar findings were obtained when focusing on the Greater Beijing Area [110° to 120° E and 30° to 40° N] with pre-2010 drifts of −0.17 ± 0.14 and post-2010 drifts of −0.47 ± 0.12 Tg/annum. The new SO2 emission inventory is publicly available and forms part of the official EU MarcoPolo emission inventory over China which also includes updated NOx, VOCs and PM emissions.

Seawater Scrubbing for the Removal of Sulfur Dioxide in a Steam Turbine Power Plant

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akili D. Khawaji ◽  
Jong-Mihn Wie
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Sulfur Dioxide ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Flue Gas ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Heavy Fuel Oil

The most popular method of controlling sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in a steam turbine power plant is a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process that uses lime/limestone scrubbing. Another relatively newer FGD technology is to use seawater as a scrubbing medium to absorb SO2 by utilizing the alkalinity present in seawater. This seawater scrubbing FGD process is viable and attractive when a sufficient quantity of seawater is available as a spent cooling water within reasonable proximity to the FGD scrubber. In this process the SO2 gas in the flue gas is absorbed by seawater in an absorber and subsequently oxidized to sulfate by additional seawater. The benefits of the seawater FGD process over the lime/limestone process and other processes are; 1) The process does not require reagents for scrubbing as only seawater and air are needed, thereby reducing the plant operating cost significantly, and 2) No solid waste and sludge are generated, eliminating waste disposal, resulting in substantial cost savings and increasing plant operating reliability. This paper reviews the thermodynamic aspects of the SO2 and seawater system, basic process principles and chemistry, major unit operations consisting of absorption, oxidation and neutralization, plant operation and performance, cost estimates for a typical seawater FGD plant, and pertinent environmental issues and impacts. In addition, the paper presents the major design features of a seawater FGD scrubber for the 130 MW oil fired steam turbine power plant that is under construction in Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah, Saudi Arabia. The scrubber with the power plant designed for burning heavy fuel oil containing 4% sulfur by weight, is designed to reduce the SO2 level in flue gas to 425 ng/J from 1,957 ng/J.

scholarly journals A 15-year record (2001–2015) of the ratio of nitrate to non-seasalt sulfate in precipitation over East Asia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syuichi Itahashi ◽  
Keiya Yumimoto ◽  
Itsushi Uno ◽  
Hiroshi Hayami ◽  
Shin-ichi Fujita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Deposition Amount ◽  
Long Term Trend

Abstract. Acidifying species in precipitation can cause severe impacts on ecosystem. The chemical concentration of precipitation is directly related to the precipitation amount, so it is partly difficult to identify the long-term variation from precipitation concentration. The ratio of nitrate (NO3−) to non-seasalt sulfate (nss-SO42−) concentration in precipitation on an equivalent basis (hereinafter, Ratio) will be a useful index. To identify the long-term record of acidifying species in precipitation over East Asia, where is the highest emission region in the world, we have compiled the ground-based observations of the chemical concentration of precipitation over China, Korea, and Japan from 2001 to 2015 based on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). The period was partly limited but other monitoring data in Japan, southern China, and northern China around Beijing were additionally utilized. The analyzed period was categorized into three phases: Phase I (2001–2005), Phase II (2006–2010), and Phase III (2011–2015). The behavior of NO3− and nss-SO42− concentration, and hence Ratio in precipitation will be related to these precursors. The anthropogenic NOx and SO2 emission amount, and NOx/SO2 emission ratio are analyzed. Further, satellite observations of NO2 and SO2 column density to capture the variation in emission was applied. We found that the long-term trend of NO3− concentration in precipitation was not related to the variation in NOx emission and the NO2 column. In comparison, the nss-SO42− concentration in precipitation over China, Korea, and Japan was partly connected to the changes in SO2 emission from China, but the trends were not significant. The long-term trend of Ratio over China, Korea, and Japan were nearly flat during Phase I, increasing significantly during Phase II, and almost flat again during Phase III. These variations of Ratio in East Asia clearly corresponded to the NOx/SO2 emission ratio and the NO2/SO2 column ratio in China. The first flat trend during Phase I was due to both increases in NOx and SO2 emissions in China, the significant increasing trend during Phase II was triggered by the increase in NOx emission and decrease in SO2 emission in China, and the returned flat trend during Phase III was caused by both declines in NOx and SO2 emissions in China. This suggests that China’s emission has a significant impact not only on China but also on downwind precipitation chemistry during the analyzed 15–year period of 2001–2015. In terms of wet depositions, the NO3− wet deposition amount over China, Korea, and Japan has not changed dramatically, but the nss-SO42− wet deposition amount declined over China, Korea, and Japan from Phase II to III. These declines were caused by a strong decrease in nss-SO42− concentration in precipitation accompanied by a reduction in SO2 emission from China, which counteracted an increase in precipitation amount. It was indicated the decision on the acidity of precipitation would be shift from sulfur to nitrogen.

scholarly journals The Impact of Foreign SO2 Emissions on Aerosol Direct Radiative Effects in South Korea

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 887
Author(s):  
Jung-Woo Yoo ◽  
Wonbae Jeon ◽  
Hwa Woon Lee ◽  
Jeonghyeok Mun ◽  
Soon-Hwan Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Radiative Effects ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Concentration Difference ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pm2.5 Concentration

This study examined the impact of foreign SO2 emission changes on the aerosol direct radiative effects (ADRE) in South Korea. Simulations that applied basic emissions (BASE) and simulations that applied reduced SO2 emissions from foreign sources (R_FSO2) were performed, respectively, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) two-way coupled model. In addition, the difference between the two experimental results was calculated (i.e., R_FSO2 minus BASE) to quantitatively identify the impact of foreign SO2 emission reduction. The reduction in foreign SO2 emissions caused a decrease in the concentration of SO2 flowing in from overseas to South Korea. As a result, a clear decrease in SO42− concentration was shown mainly in the southwest coast of South Korea. The difference in PM2.5 concentration in South Korea according to the foreign SO2 emission reduction did not correspond to the difference in SO42− concentration; it was determined in a complex way by the changes in SO42− concentration caused by SO2 concentration changes, and the subsequent series of changes in NO3− and NH4+ concentrations. The differences in SO42− and PM2.5 concentrations caused by the foreign SO2 reduction also affected the ADRE changes in South Korea. The distribution of ADRE difference between the two experiments was not consistent with the distribution of PM2.5 concentration difference, but it was very similar to the distribution of SO42− concentration difference. These results imply that the ADRE of South Korea is not simply proportional to PM2.5 concentration and may be determined by concentration changes of SO42−.

scholarly journals A new global anthropogenic SO<sub>2</sub> emission inventory for the last decade: a mosaic of satellite-derived and bottom-up emissions

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 16571-16586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Liu ◽  
Sungyeon Choi ◽  
Can Li ◽  
Vitali E. Fioletov ◽  
Chris A. McLinden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
The Us

Abstract. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite sensor have been used to detect emissions from large point sources. Emissions from over 400 sources have been quantified individually based on OMI observations, accounting for about a half of total reported anthropogenic SO2 emissions. Here we report a newly developed emission inventory, OMI-HTAP, by combining these OMI-based emission estimates and the conventional bottom-up inventory, HTAP, for smaller sources that OMI is not able to detect. OMI-HTAP includes emissions from OMI-detected sources that are not captured in previous leading bottom-up inventories, enabling more accurate emission estimates for regions with such missing sources. In addition, our approach offers the possibility of rapid updates to emissions from large point sources that can be detected by satellites. Our methodology applied to OMI-HTAP can also be used to merge improved satellite-derived estimates with other multi-year bottom-up inventories, which may further improve the accuracy of the emission trends. OMI-HTAP SO2 emissions estimates for Persian Gulf, Mexico, and Russia are 59 %, 65 %, and 56 % larger than HTAP estimates in 2010, respectively. We have evaluated the OMI-HTAP inventory by performing simulations with the Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS-5) model. The GEOS-5 simulated SO2 concentrations driven by both HTAP and OMI-HTAP were compared against in situ measurements. We focus for the validation on 2010 for which HTAP is most valid and for which a relatively large number of in situ measurements are available. Results show that the OMI-HTAP inventory improves the agreement between the model and observations, in particular over the US, with the normalized mean bias decreasing from 0.41 (HTAP) to −0.03 (OMI-HTAP) for 2010. Simulations with the OMI-HTAP inventory capture the worldwide major trends of large anthropogenic SO2 emissions that are observed with OMI. Correlation coefficients of the observed and modeled surface SO2 in 2014 increase from 0.16 (HTAP) to 0.59 (OMI-HTAP) and the normalized mean bias dropped from 0.29 (HTAP) to 0.05 (OMI-HTAP), when we updated 2010 HTAP emissions with 2014 OMI-HTAP emissions in the model.

The effect of SO2 emission controls on critical load exceedances for lakes in Southeastern Canada

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Jeffries ◽  
D. C. L. Lam ◽  
M. D. Moran ◽  
I. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Critical Load ◽  
Damage Threshold ◽  
Integrated Assessment Model ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
So2 Emission ◽  
Emission Controls ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Function

The UN ECE definition of critical load (CL) involving protection of aquatic ecosystem structure and function was adopted by using pH 6.0 as a damage threshold. Critical loads were determined for 4 lake clusters in SE Canada. An Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) was used to estimate steady-state lake pH distributions for each cluster for steps of wet sulphate (SO42−) deposition in the range 6 to 30 kg.ha−1.yr−1. The CLs were interpolated from the damage vs deposition relationships and are, if anything, over-estimated for a number of reasons. Critical load values were &lt;6, 6.9, 8.0 and 13.2 kg wet SO42−.ha−1.yr−1 for the Kejimkujik (Nova Scotia), Montmorency (Québec), Algoma (Ontario), and Sudbury (Ontario) clusters, respectively. Wet SO2−4 deposition presently exceeds the CLs for all Canadian clusters by ∼7 to 12 kg.ha−1.yr−1. Moreover, it is also expected to exceed them by ∼6 to 10 kg wet SO2−4.ha−1.yr−1 even after all SO2 emission controls required by the Canada/US Air Quality Agreement are finally implemented. Further control of both Canadian and US SO2 emissions to achieve lower SO42− deposition will be needed to reduce the magnitude of the CL exceedances.

scholarly journals Particulate emissions from large North American wildfires estimated using a new top-down method

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 6423-6438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadas Nikonovas ◽  
Peter R. J. North ◽  
Stefan H. Doerr
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Optical Thickness ◽  
North American ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Total Particulate Matter ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Aerosol Emission

Abstract. Particulate matter emissions from wildfires affect climate, weather and air quality. However, existing global and regional aerosol emission estimates differ by a factor of up to 4 between different methods. Using a novel approach, we estimate daily total particulate matter (TPM) emissions from large wildfires in North American boreal and temperate regions. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fire location and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) data sets are coupled with HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) atmospheric dispersion simulations, attributing identified smoke plumes to sources. Unlike previous approaches, the method (i) combines information from both satellite and AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) observations to take into account aerosol water uptake and plume specific mass extinction efficiency when converting smoke AOT to TPM, and (ii) does not depend on instantaneous emission rates observed during individual satellite overpasses, which do not sample night-time emissions. The method also allows multiple independent estimates for the same emission period from imagery taken on consecutive days. Repeated fire-emitted AOT estimates for the same emission period over 2 to 3 days of plume evolution show increases in plume optical thickness by approximately 10 % for boreal events and by 40 % for temperate emissions. Inferred median water volume fractions for aged boreal and temperate smoke observations are 0.15 and 0.47 respectively, indicating that the increased AOT is partly explained by aerosol water uptake. TPM emission estimates for boreal events, which predominantly burn during daytime, agree closely with bottom-up Global Fire Emission Database (GFEDv4) and Global Fire Assimilation System (GFASv1.0) inventories, but are lower by approximately 30 % compared to Quick Fire Emission Dataset (QFEDv2) PM2. 5, and are higher by approximately a factor of 2 compared to Fire Energetics and Emissions Research (FEERv1) TPM estimates. The discrepancies are larger for temperate fires, which are characterized by lower median fire radiative power values and more significant night-time combustion. The TPM estimates for this study for the biome are lower than QFED PM2. 5 by 35 %, and are larger by factors of 2.4, 3.2 and 4 compared with FEER, GFED and GFAS inventories respectively. A large underestimation of TPM emission by bottom-up GFED and GFAS indicates low biases in emission factors or consumed biomass estimates for temperate fires.

scholarly journals Mobile measurements of ship emissions in two harbour areas in Finland

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Pirjola ◽  
A. Pajunoja ◽  
J. Walden ◽  
J.-P. Jalkanen ◽  
T. Rönkkö ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The City

Abstract. Four measurement campaigns were performed in two different environments – inside the harbour areas in the city centre of Helsinki, and along the narrow shipping channel near the city of Turku, Finland – using a mobile laboratory van during winter and summer conditions in 2010–2011. The characteristics of gaseous (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, NO2, NOx) and particulate (number and volume size distributions as well as PM2.5) emissions for 11 ships regularly operating on the Baltic Sea were studied to determine the emission parameters. The highest particle concentrations were 1.5 × 106 and 1.6 × 105 cm−3 in Helsinki and Turku, respectively, and the particle number size distributions had two modes. The dominating mode peaked at 20–30 nm, and the accumulation mode at 80–100 nm. The majority of the particle mass was volatile, since after heating the sample to 265 °C, the particle volume of the studied ship decreased by around 70%. The emission factors for NOx varied in the range of 25–100 g (kg fuel)−1, for SO2 in the range of 2.5–17.0 g (kg fuel)−1, for particle number in the range of (0.32–2.26) × 1016 # (kg fuel)−1, and for PM2.5 between 1.0–4.9 g (kg fuel)−1. The ships equipped with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) had the lowest NOx emissions, whereas the ships with DWI (direct water injection) and HAMs (humid air motors) had the lowest SO2 emissions but the highest particulate emissions. For all ships, the averaged fuel sulphur contents (FSCs) were less than 1% (by mass) but none of them was below 0.1% which will be the new EU directive starting 1 January 2015 in the SOx emission control areas; this indicates that ships operating on the Baltic Sea will face large challenges.

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