POWER December 2012 - 82

MERCURY EMISSIONS
Table 3. Alternate emission limitations for existing EGUs. Source: EPA
Solid
Subcategory/
pollutant
SO2
Total nonmercury
metals
Antimony, Sb
Arsenic, As
Beryllium, Be
Cadmium, Cd
Chromium, Cr
Cobalt, Co
Lead, Pb
Manganese,
Mn
Mercury, Hg
Nickel, Ni
Selenium, Se
Coal-fired
EGUs
2.0 E-1 lb/MMBtu
(1.5 E0 lb/MWh)
5.0 E-5 lb/MMBtu
(5.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
8.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
1.1 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
3.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
2.8 E0 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
8.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
1.2 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
4.0 E0 lb/TBtu
(5.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
NA
3.5 E0 lb/TBtu
(4.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
5.0 E0 lb/TBtu
(6.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
Note: E = exponent
Table 4. Alternate emission limitations for new EGUs. Source: EPA
Subcategory/
pollutant
SO2
Total non-mercury
metals
Antimony, Sb
Arsenic, As
Beryllium, Be
Cadmium, Cd
Chromium, Cr
Cobalt, Co
Lead, Pb
Manganese, Mn
Mercury, Hg
Nickel, Ni
Selenium, Se
Coal-fired
EGUs
IGCC
4.0 E-1 lb/MWh 4.0 E-1 lb/MWh
6.0 E-2 lb/GWh
4.0 E-1 lb/GWh
Liquid oil,
Continental
N/A
2.0 E-4 lb/MWh
Liquid oil, nonContinental
N/A
7.0
E-3 lb/MWh
Solid oilderived
4.0
E-1 lb/MWh
6.0 E-1 lb/GWh
8.0 E-3 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/GWh 1.0 E-2 lb/MWh 8.0 E-3 lb/MWh 8.0 E-3 lb/GWh
3.0 E-3 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/GWh 3.0 E-3 lb/MWh 6.0 E-2 lb/MWh 3.0 E-3 lb/GWh
6.0 E-4 lb/GWh
IGCC
NA
6.0 E-5 lb/MMBtu
(5.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
1.4 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
1.5 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
1.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(1.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
1.5 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
2.9 E0 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
1.2 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
1.9 E+2 lb/TBtu
(1.8 E0 lb/GWh)
2.5 E0 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
NA
6.5 E0 lb/TBtu
(7.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.2 E+1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
Liquid oil,
continental
NA
8.0 E-4 lb/MMBtu
(8.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
1.3 E+1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
2.8 E0 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
3.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
5.5 E0 lb/TBtu
(6.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.1 E+1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
8.1 E0 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.2 E+1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
2.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
1.1 E+2 lb/TBtu
(1.1 E0 lb/GWh)
3.3 E0 lb/TBtu
(4.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
Liquid oil,
non-continental
NA
6.0 E-4 lb/MMBtu
(7.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
2.2 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
4.3 E0 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
6.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
3.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
3.1 E+1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
1.1 E+2 lb/TBtu
(1.4 E0 lb/GWh)
4.9 E0 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.0 E+1 lb/TBtu
(3.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
4.0 E-2 lb/TBtu
(4.0 E-4 lb/GWh)
4.7 E+-2 lb/TBtu
(4.1 E0 lb/GWh)
9.8 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
oil-derived
3.0 E-1 lb/MMBtu
(2.0 E0 lb/GWh)
4.0 E-5 lb/MMBtu
(6.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
8.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(8.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
3.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(5.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
6.0 E-2 lb/TBtu
(6.0 E-4 lb/GWh)
3.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(4.0 E-3 lb/GWh)
8.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
1.1 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
8.0 E-1 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
2.3 E0 lb/TBtu
(4.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
NA
9.0 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-1 lb/GWh)
1.2 E0 lb/TBtu
(2.0 E-2 lb/GWh)
coal or those that might consider switching
fuels, it is common to utilize the EPA's
Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors,
or AP-42, to determine emission rates
of nonmercury metals. This set of data, published
since 1972, has been developed from
source test data, material balance studies,
and engineering estimates (Tables 3 and 4).
In order to meet the prescribed regulations,
direct measurement of nonmercury
metals will be necessary. EPA Test Method
29 is required to measure either total nonmercury
metals or individual nonmercury
metals. If direct measurement shows that
nonmercury metal emissions are higher than
EPA estimation equations, very little can be
done to mitigate this problem. Upgrades to
filterable particulate control devices will be
required to achieve higher efficiency rates
that drive down the nonmercury metal emission
rates. The result is no more of an economic
advantage than if the facility were to
have chosen a filterable particulate emission
limitation to begin with.
Looking Forward
As the compliance date for the MATS
regulation continues to creep closer, facilities
using coal, solid oil-derived fuel,
or oil must start taking affirmative action
to comply. A significant amount of capital
investment followed by years of additional
operating expenditures will be required to
remain operational. Understanding how
this affects the future of coal-powered generation
is difficult, and multiple plant closures
will most likely occur as a result of
this regulation.
Confusion is added to the compliance
1.0 E-3 lb/GWh 5.0 E-4 lb/MWh 2.0 E-3 lb/MWh 6.0 E-4 lb/GWh
4.0 E-4 lb/GWh 2.0 E-3 lb/GWh 2.0 E-4 lb/MWh 2.0 E-3 lb/MWh 7.0 E-4 lb/GWh
7.0 E-3 lb/GWh
2.0 E-3 lb/GWh
2.0 E-3 lb/GWh
NA
NA
4.0 E-2 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/MWh 2.0 E-2 lb/MWh 6.0 E-3 lb/GWh
4.0 E-3 lb/GWh 3.0 E-2 lb/MWh 3.0 E-1 lb/MWh 2.0 E-3 lb/GWh
9.0 E-3 lb/GWh 8.0 E-3 lb/MWh 3.0 E-2 lb/MWh 2.0 E-2 lb/GWh
4.0 E-3 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/MWh 1.0 E-1 lb/MWh 7.0 E-3 lb/GWh
1.0 E-4 lb/MWh 4.0 E-4 lb/MWh 2.0 E-3 lb/GWh
4.0 E-2 lb/GWh 7.0 E-2 lb/GWh 9.0 E-2 lb/MWh 4.1 E0 lb/MWh 4.0 E-2 lb/GWh
6.0 E-3 lb/GWh 3.0 E-1 lb/GWh 2.0 E-2 lb/MWh 2.0 E-2 lb/MWh 6.0 E-3 lb/GWh
Note: E = exponent
the EPA has produced an equivalent emission
standard for sulfur dioxide. If a facility
cannot meet the filterable PM emission
standards, then the EPA has also developed
equivalent standards for total non-mercury
metals and individual non-mercury metals.
Individual non-mercury metals include the
following hazardous air pollutants: antimony,
December 2012 | POWER
arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt,
lead, manganese, nickel, and selenium.
If a facility were to elect to meet an alternative
emission limitation based on total
nonmercury metals or individual nonmercury
metals, some measurement or baseloaded
emission issues may need to be
addressed. For new units looking to utilize
www.powermag.com
timeline as the EPA issued a stay on the effective
dates for new facilities while holding
steady on the effective dates of some
existing facilities with equivalent emission
limitations.
Measurement techniques are extensive
and require sensitivity not previously obtainable.
Litigation continues, which may
further change what has been promulgated.
The recent vacating of CSAPR leads to
questions about the future of MATS, although
how the court rules on the EPA's petition
is anyone's guess. Further appeals are
also possible.
All of these circumstances make it difficult
to predict if the final rule is truly
" final. " What is certain is that there are no
easy off-the-shelf solutions. While the court
juggles CSAPR, it is critical for facilities to
evaluate their operations and start down the
path toward MATS compliance. ■
-Brandon Bell, PE (brandon.bell@
kbr.com) is a principal mechanical engineer
with KBR Power and Industrial, Chicago.
77
http://www.powermag.com
POWER December 2012

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