Remote and cross-stack measurement of stack gas concentrations using a mobile FT-IR system.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Industrial emissions require accurate monitoring.
• Conventional extractive methods can be labor-intensive.
• Remote sensing offers a non-invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the EPA's Remote Optical Sensing of Emissions (ROSE) system.
• To assess its capability for analyzing smokestack emissions.
• To compare remote sensing data with extractive techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a van-mounted Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) system.
• Performed single-ended emission and cross-stack absorption spectral measurements.
• Analyzed stack gases using both ROSE and conventional extractive methods.

Main Results:

• Successfully detected NO, CO, CO2, NH3, HCl, H2CO, HF, and SO2.
• Emission and absorption concentrations were quantified.
• Temperature measurements agreed within +/-10%, and concentration measurements within +/-20% of in-stack data.

Conclusions:

• The ROSE system effectively measures industrial emissions.
• Remote sensing provides accurate and comparable results to extractive methods.
• Spectral signatures for various species were identified and validated.