Batch reactor emissions
Batch reactor emissions
(OP)
If you were starting from scratch, how would you approach evaluating the amount of emissions occuring from a batch reactor that processed different chemicals?
I have about a dozen reactors to do this for, each of which produce several different chemicals throughout the year. I'm starting small and doing one reactor. I have a production number of total pounds made last year, and the number of days each reactor was used per chemical. I figure if I get the typical lb/batch, I can calculate how many batches there are made. Would then doing a material balance around the reactor be a sufficient estimate?
We don't have source test information on all of the reactors for emission factors.
I have about a dozen reactors to do this for, each of which produce several different chemicals throughout the year. I'm starting small and doing one reactor. I have a production number of total pounds made last year, and the number of days each reactor was used per chemical. I figure if I get the typical lb/batch, I can calculate how many batches there are made. Would then doing a material balance around the reactor be a sufficient estimate?
We don't have source test information on all of the reactors for emission factors.





RE: Batch reactor emissions
We just recently went through this with our plant. We run multiple processes in multiple reators as well. Our approach was to develop an emmision factor based on the major solvents we buy. So for solvent B I know that it is unloaded from the truck, loaded into a reactor, distilled and then drummed, etc. So I developed a factor for all the common processing steps that all my solvent went through. Then I added a product specific factor I know that at my plant solvent A is used in Reaction 1 and Reaction 2. Last year 50% of the solvent was used for reaction #1 so I am going to develop an emmision factor for Rx1 and Rx2 and give them each a 50% weighting in the final emmission factor. Then you just sum all the differnt steps up and get a factor. The final factor is easy to manage because you just track the amount of solvents you buy. You can do the same thing for all your hazardous materials. Just make the factors work on the amount of material you buy. That makes it easy to keep track of your emmisions because almost everyone knows what they buy.
Regards
StoneCold
RE: Batch reactor emissions
RE: Batch reactor emissions
We have a large number of products, intermediates etc so we grouped our factors in ways that made sense for us. I think in the end we have only ten factors that when multiplied by a bulk solvent or HAP of a large size give us our tons of emmisions. Our total VOC emmisions are only about 25 tons and our HAPs are about 16 tons if that gives you any comparison to your own project.
Goodluck I hope I answered more questions than I raised.
Regrards
StoneCold
RE: Batch reactor emissions