34 Air Monitoring


Precision thermal air/gas fl ow meters with global Haz-ex approvals for oil and gas industry and EPA methane reduction criteria Petrochemical engineers responsible for meeting new methane (CH4


) reduction regulations from


the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under “40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO” will fi nd that the ST80 & ST100A Gas Flow Meters from Fluid Components International (FCI) meet the EPA’s accuracy requirements and feature global Haz-ex safety approvals for demanding fl are gas and emission control systems. According to the EPA, the Infl ation Reduction Act, under Section 136 of the Clean Air Act, will provide new regulatory requirements to reduce CH4


emissions from the petroleum


and natural gas industries through a Methane Emissions Reduction Program. This program includes fi nancial and technical assistance that will eventually provide over $1 billion in aid designated to reduce CH4


emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sector. The EPA is also now planning new oil/gas industry CH4 waste emission charges. The waste emissions charge will affect facilities reporting over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 )


equivalents per year. The charges will start at $900 per metric ton in 2024, $1,200 per ton in 2025 and $1,500 per ton for 2026 and beyond. They also require control devices to prevent the waste of saleable gas, while also reducing emissions.


FCI’s proven thermal dispersion, EPA Quad O compliant, ST80 Series and ST100A Series CH4 Flow


Meters offer highly accurate and repeatable gas fl ow measurement in hazardous areas to assist in compliance with environmental mandates. They are direct mass fl ow measuring, producing fl ow rate and totalised fl ow output signals and readouts in pounds or tons (kg, tonne) of emitted gases for monitoring and reporting. Their sensitivity can detect even slight changes in fl ow, making them ideal for use in leak detection applications.


FCI’s versatile thermal mass gas fl ow meters are internationally deployed in air pollution monitoring and other industrial air/gas measurement and control applications across many different industries. These precision gas mass fl ow measurement instruments rely on FCI’s decades of innovative thermal dispersion sensing technology, as well as offering ease of installation, virtually no maintenance and a long-life that provides for an exceptionally low cost of ownership. The ST80 and ST100A Series Flow Meters combine ultra-reliable, feature- rich electronics, and FCI innovations such as patented Adaptive Sensing Technology™ (AST™), for fast response and range-ability. They operate over a wide range: the insertion style measures fl ow from 0.25 to 1000 SFPS (0,07 to 305 NMPS); the inline meter measures fl ow from 0.0062 to 838 SCFM (0,01 to 1425 Nm3


/h) with turndown ratios up to 1000:1.


The ST80 and ST100A transmitter’s outputs are a match to existing plant DCS, PLC, SCADA, recorder, or alarm systems. Whether the output requirements are: traditional 4-20 mA analog or advanced digital bus communications such as HART, Foundation Fieldbus, PROFIBUS PA, PROFIBUS DP, or Modbus, these meters are compatible. Then for local display, the Models ST80 and ST100A feature a graphical, backlit LCD that is unmatched in showing what’s happening in the pipe. Flow rate, totalised fl ow, and temperature are continuously displayed in both a digital and bar graph presentation, while alarms and/or diagnostic messages will display as needed to alert operators. Their large screens and intuitive displays make it easy for fi eld technicians to perform instrument set-up and continuously monitor the process data.


Essential for pollution monitoring applications, a unique in-situ calibration self-test feature is built-in standard with all ST80 and ST100A meters and distinguishes them from many others. There is no need to retract or remove the meter from the process piping or to suspend operations. This self-test feature initiates an electronic, three-point calibration drift self-test. In the test mode, the meter automatically and sequentially substitutes three precision resistors into the measuring circuit and compares the resulting measurements against the same measurements at factory calibration. This calibration drift check feature can be initiated upon demand or scheduled to run automatically based on the operator’s preference or local regulatory requirements.


The ST80 and ST100A meters generally require only a simple, single insertion point into a pipe or stack to install. Instruments are available for installation in line sizes from 0.25 to more than 100 inches. Furthermore, FCI’s accuracies of ±1% reading, ±0.5% of full scale exceed the stated acceptable accuracy within the newest EPA regulations and reporting requirements. FCI’s precision factory calibrations of the ST80 and ST100A meters are matched to the user’s actual installation application, conditions, and gas properties. FCI has extensive experience in producing high accuracy, highly repeatable fl ow meters for CH4


, SF6


reporting mandates affecting multiple industries. For More Info, email:


Despite improvements, much of Europe still struggles to reduce air pollution TALKING POINT


email:


New data suggests that the vast majority of the European population, around 98%, live in areas where air pollution levels exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) latest guidelines. This data, extracted from satellite imagery courtesy of the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), underscores an alarming situation: many Europeans are inhaling air that has the potential to be lethal over time.


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Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5 , is a major concern. These


are tiny particles, nearly 30 times fi ner than human hair, originating from various sources like vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and domestic heating. PM2.5


is


particularly dangerous because of its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, causing various respiratory and heart diseases, and ultimately reducing life expectancy.


In areas like Central Europe, the Po Valley in Italy, and large cities such as Paris, Athens, and Barcelona, the situation is particularly severe. For instance, the PM2.5


levels in some


European regions hover around 25 micrograms per cubic meter – fi ve times higher than WHO’s recommendation.


Historically, European cities have been fl agged for their deteriorating air quality. But this recent data is the fi rst to provide a comprehensive, pan-European comparison, highlighting regions where conditions have improved and


IET NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023


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those which have deteriorated.


Interestingly, two regions with comparable pollution challenges, Northern Italy and Southern Poland, are on divergent paths. The Po Valley in Northern Italy remains a hotspot. In February 2023, cities like Milan and Verona recorded PM2.5


was often dismissed.


However, Europe’s proposed air quality rules are still a topic of debate. While the European Parliament’s Environment Committee leans towards the WHO’s strict guidelines of fi ve micrograms of PM2.5


per cubic meter, the new European


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levels surging past 75 micrograms per cubic


meter. The region’s topography, ensconced by mountains, inadvertently traps pollution. On the other hand, despite starting with similar high pollution levels, Southern Poland has shown noticeable improvement.


Poland’s strategy, especially around Krakow, off ers a glimmer of hope. A signifi cant dip in PM2.5


levels in the region can be


attributed to Poland’s commitment to modernising home heating systems. Since 2018, levels have dropped by over 20%. The government’s ten-year-long initiative to replace old, smoke-producing furnaces, colloquially termed “smokers”, has paid off . As Polish journalist Piotr Siergiej reports, nearly 800,000 old furnaces have been replaced, and while 3 million remain, it’s a step in the right direction. But it’s not just about regulations and technology; public perception plays a signifi cant role. “After years of constant eff ort,” Siergiej writes, “the biggest achievement has been the shift in people’s mindset.” A decade ago, discussing air pollution in Poland


rules consider a slightly relaxed ten micrograms. Though stricter than the current standards, many health experts and environmentalists urge for alignment with the WHO. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health emphasises that while the WHO focuses purely on health, European Union standards also consider economic implications.


Still, Europe’s air quality is comparatively better than other global regions. Places in northern India, for example, see values soaring to 100 micrograms per cubic meter. But even Europe’s relatively better air has profound health implications. Adopting the WHO’s stringent standards could potentially prevent 100,000 pollution-induced deaths annually.


So, Europe is at a crucial juncture. There’s evidence of progress, as seen in Poland, but regions like Northern Italy remain concerning. The path forward requires not just stringent policies but also a collective change in perception and sustained commitment to a cleaner future.


61394pr@reply-direct.com , HFCs, CO2 , and other gases as called out in EPA greenhouse gas


The topic for the GASG December meeting this year is something that affects everybody - air quality. Levels of outdoor pollution in urban environments, and the measures taken to abate them, are major political issues and this meeting will provide updates on the impacts of poor air quality and discuss the state of the art in air quality monitoring.


Among the expert presenters will be Frank Kelly (Imperial College) who will explain the effect of specifi c pollutants on the human body and Nick Martin (NPL) speaking on the validation of fi eld sampling methods. Ehsan Danesh (Adsentec) will describe best practice in the design of sensor networks and Iq Mead (Imperial College London) will explain the Breathe London sensor model and experience. David Hagan (Quant AQ) will discuss the role and capabilities of particle sensors in air quality monitoring.


The meeting will be held in the Northampton Suite at City, University of London and promises to be a vibrant and informative day with plenty of opportunity to interact with the presenters and fellow attendees.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/Ke4Z 61569pr@reply-direct.com


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86th GASG Meeting to examine developments in air quality monitoring


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