CAPABILITIES

Testing Types

There are a number of source testing types that ESS is qualified to conduct.  The testing types we use for a particular project depends on the project scope, the industry and the air emission source.

Isokinetic

The purpose of isokinetic sampling is to capture  particulates or aerosols that pass through a defined area over a given time  period without altering their travel paths. The velocity of the stack gas going  into the sampling probe's nozzle is equal to the velocity of the moving stack  gas at that point in the stack cross-sectional area. The moving stack gas is  disturbed as little as possible so that the same amount of particles and  aerosols go into the probe nozzle as would have passed the area of the nozzle  had it not been there.

Wet Chemistry Methods

Wet chemistry methods employ either isokinetic, non-isokinetic,  proportional or non-proportional integrated sample techniques. These methods  are used to determine various flue gas components such as sulfur dioxide,  sulfur trioxide, dioxins and furans, hydrochloric acid, chlorine and multimetals.  These wet chemistry methods collect the targeted contaminant in specific  chemical solutions held in the sample train's impingers. After the samples are  collected, the impinger contents are analyzed using a variety of advanced  laboratory techniques (GC/MS, IC, GFASS, ICP, and others).

Capture/Control Efficiency

We perform pollution control efficiency testing for scrubber  inlet & outlets, electostatic precipitators, baghouses, cyclone collectors,  thermal, catalytic and regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) for VOC capture, removal  and destruction efficiency instrumental.

Instrumental analyzers are used in conjunction with EPA  Protocol 1 calibration standard gases to determine gaseous emissions from stationary  and mobile sources. A variety of analyzer technologies are employed to  accomplish this, including non-dispersive infrared, gas chromatography (with flame  ionization and thermal conductivity detectors), chemiluminescence, hand-held portable  monitors, and other techniques determined to be equivalent and approved by state  and federal regulatory authorities. We also provide Performance Specification  Testing (PST), Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATA), opacity audits, and  Calibration Gas Audits (CGA) for SO2, CO, NOx, THC/VOC, O2,  CO2 and opacity CEM or COM systems regulated by CFR Title 40 Part 60  and Part 75 standards.

Gas Flow Distribution Studies (3-D Flow)

A 3-D pitot is used to determine the velocity pressure, yaw,  and pitch angles of the flow velocity vector in a stack or duct. Yaw angle is  determined directly by rotating the probe to null the pressure across a pair of  symmetrically placed ports (2 & 3) on the probe head. The pitch angle is  calculated using probe-specific calibration curves. From these values, and a  determination of stack gas density, the average axial velocity of the stack gas  is calculated. The average gas volumetric flow rate in the stack or duct can  then be determined from the average axial velocity.

Contact ESS to learn more about the types of source testing we conduct: 888-363-0039.