ENVE 4003 Air Pollution and Emissions Control - Laboratory Experiment II

Stationary combustion and Emissions Control

Friday, November 18, 2016

Burak Oztaner and Robyn Chatwin-Davies
Carleton University

Dear Burak Oztaner and Robyn Chatwin-Davies,

Please find attached our ENVE 4003 (Air Pollution & Emissions control) lab report on
Stationary combustion and Emissions Control (Experiment 2). The experiment, performed on
Friday, November 4th 2016, was carried out to determine the composition of NOx emissions
from the Carleton university heating plant, with the use of basic material and energy balance
methods. This report includes our data, calculations, and the discussion of results.

If you have any questions regarding the report, please do not hesitate to contact any member of
our team.

Sincerely,

Saptak Dutta (saptakdutta@cmail.carleton.ca)

Rosalia Hembe (rosaliahembe@cmail.carleton.ca)
Hirlatu Peruga (hirlatuperuga@cmail.carleton.ca)
Jordan Gerber (jordangerber@cmail.carleton.ca)

Report Rules (overall report, 5 p.):

1. Justify the texts
2. Times New Roman, 12 font size and double-spaced

2
 3. Figures, Tables and Equations must be centered and numbered
4. Captions also justified
5. Page numbered
6. Reference list must be prepared according to APA standards
7. Section titles bold and numbered and double-spaced
8. Do not allow the word processor to split a table or a caption
9. Indicate each section written by whom

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND (written by Rosalia Hembe, edited by Saptak Dutta)

Fossil fuels are important for electricity generation, as they can be burned to yield large

amounts of energy. The combustion process of electricity generation entails the burning of fuels

in oxygen to produce CO2 and water [2]. Sources of fossil fuels may include coal, petroleum, and

natural gas in form of methane. Depending on the working fluid and the capacity of electricity

generation, the type of boiler used may differ from one application to another. Incomplete

combustion results in the generation of unburned hydrocarbons, the formation of CO, and the

generation of NOx compounds (NO and NO2). On the other hand, complete combustion results

in reduced concentrations of pollutants, and a more improved efficiency of electricity generation

[3]. The amount of air required for complete combustion to take place is referred to as the

theoretical air, and any amount of air above this threshold is considered excess air [6].

METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE (written by Rosalia Hembe, edited by XXX)

The experiment was carried out at the Carleton University maintenance building, where data on

the inlet and exit steam characteristics were obtained for the D-type watertube boilers at the

universitys central heating plant. The plant operates by emitting flames upwards into a cavity

comprising of a water tube layer, in order to allow hot gases to flow through the vertical tubes.

The heat generated from the flame, and the combustion gases are then transferred to the water

tubes through radiation and the water leg (convection) with both processes occurring

simultaneously. The transferred heat then converts the water to steam in the water tubes which is

3
then used to generate heat for the University [4]. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of

the universitys heating plant.

RESULTS (Written by Hirlatu Peruga, edited by Jordan Gerber)

Table 1: Volume of natural gas consumption 2001/2002 fiscal year (Nm3)

Volume of natural gas consumption (2001/2002)

May June July Aug Sep Oct

338,360 359,456 396,183 501,494 421,159 518,824

Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr

747,767 978,664 1,148,821 1,101,819 1,101,560 668,479

Table 2: D-type boiler parameters at the university heating plant

Parameter Unit Value

Steam flow kp/h 37.72

Steam pressure psi 122

Feed water temperature F 224.3

Make up water flow GPM 0

Make up water temperature C 0

Stack temperature F 409

O2 concentration in exhaust gases % 3.0

Outside air temperature C 6

4
Figure 3: Parameters obtained for the D-type boilers

Figure 4: Schematic representation of the universitys heating plant [4]

DISCUSSION (Written by XXX, edited by XXX)

Using the value obtained for the oxygen concentration, with the assumption that natural gas

consists only of methane, the excess air ratio for the plant was calculated to be 16.76%. The

values from table 1 for october were also used to determine the daily CO2 production in the plant

to be roughly 32,874.19 kg/day. Material and energy balance methods were used to calculate the

efficiency of the boiler, which was determined to be 91.4%.

5
 1. (Saptak) Using the measured oxygen concentration and assuming natural gas only
consists of methane, calculate the excess air ratio the plant is operating at

From table 2, O2 concentration in the exhaust gas= 3%

Fuel used = CH4 (methane/natural gas)
Excess air ratio = [(100*20.9)/(20.9-E)] - 100 [6]
= [(100*20.9)/(20.9-3)] - 100
= 16.7%

2. (Saptak) Using the values from table 1 of october, find the daily CO2 production in the
plant

Natural gas consumption in october = 518,824 m3

Natural gas consumption per day = 518,824 / 31
= 16,736.26 m3
P= 1 atm = 101,325 Pa
V= 16,736.26 m3
R = 8.314
T = 273 K
n = (PV/RT)
= [(101,325*16736.26)/(273*8.314)]
= 747140.64 mols CH4

CH4 + O2 = CO2 + H2O

Molar mass of CO2 = 12+32

= 44 g/mol
From the stoichiometry, 1 mol CH4 produces 1 mol CO2.
Therefore, 747140.64 mols CO2 are produced
Mass of CO2 produced = 747140.64 mols CO2 * (44g/mol)*(1g/1000kg)
= 32874.19 kg/day

3. (Jordan) Calculate the efficiency of the boiler with basic material and energy balance
methods. Also find the rate of energy lost via stack (as exhaust gases)

All heat was assumed to exit the boiler through exhaust air and steam.
The efficiency of the boiler was determined by:

The energy of each assumed component of the boiler process was determined by:

6
Therefore, the efficiency of the boiler is 91.4%.

4. (Hirlatu) Utilizing the emission factors from reference 3, estimate the total emissions of
NOx and CO from natural gas combustion at the universitys heating plant, compare the
number with those reported by Carleton University to NPRI for 2003

The total volume of Natural gas consumption in 2001/2002 fiscal year = 8291586 m3/yr

Emission factors of NOx and CO found in reference 3:

NOx = 140 lb/106 scf = 2.243 10-3 kg/m3
CO = 84 lb/106 scf = 1.346 10-3 kg/m3

Total emission of NOx = Emission factor total volume of Natural gas consumption
= 2.243 10-3 kg/m3 8291586 m3/yr = 18598.03 kg/yr
Total emission of CO = 1.346 10-3 kg/m3 8291586 m3/yr = 11160.47 kg/yr
The value that was reported to NPRI by Carleton University for 2003 = 43 tonnes of NOx =
43000 kg of NOx. The value for total emission of NOx calculated above is lower than the value
of NOx reported to NPRI by Carleton University for 2003. In addition, there is no value for CO
found in the NPRI but it is reasonable to assume that the value will be higher than the calculated
value too.

5. (Hirlatu) What would be the concentration of NOx and CO in the stack gas, based on the
emission factor mentioned above?

Concentration = Mass/Volume

Concentration of NOx = (18598.03kg/yr) / (8291586 m3/yr) = 2.243 10-3 kg/m3 = 2.243ppm

Concentration of CO = (11160.47 kg/yr) / (8291586 m3/yr) = 1.346 10-3 kg/m3 = 1.346 ppm

Based on the emission factor above, the emission factor of NOx is slightly higher than the
emission factor of CO. In addition, the concentration of NOx was found to be 2.243 ppm is
slightly higher than the concentration of CO, which was found to be 1.346 ppm. Therefore, this
can be concluded that the the higher the emission factor, the higher the concentration.

6. (Rosalia) What are your suggestions for reduction of CO2 production and emission of
NOx and CO?
In comparison with coal fired plants, natural gas plants are considered more beneficial to climate

change, owing to the fact that they tend to produce roughly 34 to 50 percent less emissions than

7
the former [2]. Considering that less CO2 emissions is beneficial for the environment, a few

suggestions can be considered to further reduce the production of CO2 and NOx. Through a

process known as carbon capture sequestration, carbon can be collected and returned to the earth

crust to prevent it from getting into the atmosphere [3]. The technology entails a three-step

process beginning with capturing CO2, transporting it, and then storing it securely in

underground formations such as deep aquifers, and depleted oil fields [1]. Experiments have

proven that from this process, a natural gas plant is capable of emitting CO2 of roughly 5 percent

of the amount that would be emitted from a coal plant without the technology [5]. Another

approach to curb the amount of GHG emissions (particularly NOx) would be to install a selective

catalytic reduction system (SCR). It is essentially a technology that works through the injection

of a reactant such as ammonia, alongside a catalyst, to treat and remove the exhaust gases from

the boiler after combustion takes place in the plant[7].

REFERENCES
[1]"What is CCS? The Carbon Capture & Storage Association (CCSA)", Ccsassociation.org,
2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.ccsassociation.org/what-is-ccs/. [Accessed: 18- Nov-
2016].

[2]"Does Natural Gas Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions? | ConocoPhillips",

Conocophillips.com, 2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.conocophillips.com/sustainable-
development/common-questions/Pages/does-natural-gas-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions.aspx.
[Accessed: 18- Nov- 2016].

[3]"3 Ways to Reduce Emissions from Coal Plants",

http://www.canadiancleanpowercoalition.com/, 2016. [Online]. Available:
http://www.canadiancleanpowercoalition.com/files/2912/7299/7032/3%20Ways%20to%20Redu
ce%20Emissions%20from%20Coal%20Plants%20-%20Factsheet.pdf. [Accessed: 18- Nov-
2016].

[4] ENVE 4003 Lab 2 Instructions. (Carleton University, Ottawa) Fall 2016

8
[5] "Natural Gas with CCS - Fossil Transition Project", Fossiltransition.org, 2016. [Online].
Available: http://www.fossiltransition.org/pages/_copy_of__natural_gas_w_ccs/182.php.
[Accessed: 18- Nov- 2016].

[6] "How is excess air calculated? | Kane International Ltd", Kane International Ltd, 2016.
[Online]. Available: https://www.kane.co.uk/knowledge-centre/how-is-excess-air-calculated.
[Accessed: 16- Nov- 2016].

[7] Boiler NOx emissions and Energy Efficiency, Enovity Inc., 2010. [Online]. Available:
http://www.boilerenergyefficiency.com/forms/Boiler_NOx_and_Energy_Efficiency_2010.pdf
[Accessed: 15 - Nove-2016].

APPENDIX (Calculations go here)

Assumptions made:
Feed water temp = 106.8 oC
All heat generated through combustion exits through exhaust and steam
Complete combustion present as per:
CH4 + O2 CO2 + H2O + heat
1 mol of CH4
Hrxn of methane = -802.3 kJ/mol
Stack temperature = 209.44 oC
Cp,steam = average Cp between 5 oC and 209.44 oC = 1.8845 kJ/kg K
Cp,CO2 = 0.844 kJ/kg K (Engineering Toolbox, 2016)
Cp,air = 1.01 kJ/kg K

mCO2 * Cp,CO2 * T + mH2O * Cp,H2O * T = (0.844 kJ/kg K)*(0.044 kg/mol)*(209.44-5 K) +

(1.8845 kJ/kg K)*(0.018 kg/mol)*(209.44-5 K)
= 14.5 kJ

Heat in exhaust gas (including exhaust air (16.7%) and N2 that did not react:

(17.17 g air/g CH4)*(16 g CH4/mol CH4)*(0.79+0.167)*(1 kg/1000 g) = 0.263 kg air/mol CH4

mair * Cp,air * T = (0.263 kg air) * (1.01 kJ/kg K) * (209.44 - 5 K) = 54.3 kJ

Efficiency:

= (802.3 kJ - 54.3 kJ - 14.5 kJ) / 802.3 kJ = 0.914 = 91.4%