Reference method for measuring emissions of vinyl chloride from manufacturing: introduction


Introduction and Application

Interpretation

For the purpose of section 8(2) of the Vinyl Chloride Release Regulations, published in the Canada Gazette Part I, on December 21, 1991, "Normal Operating Conditions" are deemed to exist when:

  1. in the case of vinyl chloride plants:

    1. the daily (24 consecutive hours) production rate of hydrochloric acid produced by thermal destruction devices during the destruction of gaseous or liquid by-products is greater than or equal to 75% of the average of the daily hydrochloric acid production rate (excluding shutdowns) for the 3 months preceding the taking of samples, and
    2. gaseous and/or liquid by-products from the vinyl chloride production process are being fed to the thermal destruction devices;
  2. in the case of polyvinyl chloride plants:

    1. the daily production rate for polyvinyl chloride is greater than or equal to 75% of the average of the daily production rate (excluding shutdowns) for the 3 months preceding the taking of samples, and
    2. no resin grade change took place within the 8 hours preceding the taking of samples for polymerization reactors, resin strippers and slurry strippers.

Introduction and Application

The sampling and analysis methods presented in this Standard Reference Method (as amended front time to tinte) are to be used to determine the releases of vinyl chloride from vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride plants.

For the purpose of section 8 in the Vinyl Chloride Release Regulations, the number of samples required and the procedures to be used to determine vinyl chloride releases are given below.

  1. To test compliance with the limits established under subsections 4(1)and 4(3), three separate samples front each process vent shall be taken using Method S-1. Each sample shall be analyzed using Method A-1. The vinyl chloride concentration for each sample will be calculated on a dry and undiluted basis according to the procedures established in Method C-1. The arithmetic average of the three vinyl chloride concentrations will determine compliance.
  2. For the limit stated in paragraph 4(2)(a), compliance will be based on the calculated concentration of emissions for a selected number of reactors in service using procedures specified in Method C-3. If there are three or fewer reactors in operation in the polyvinyl chloride plant, one opening of each reactor is to be sampled using Method S-2. If there are more than three reactors, the number of reactors to be sampled shall be three, plus one for each additional three reactors. Exemptions from sampling all reactors, when there are more than three reactors, shall apply only when the same exhausting, purging and preparation procedures are used for all reactors. If different procedures are used, then those reactors with similar procedures shall be grouped and the rules in this paragraph shall apply to each group. Every reactor must comply with the limit.
    1. For the standards stated in subsections 4(2)(b) and (d), where a stripping operation is used to reduce emissions to meet the standard, the residual vinyl chloride in the resin or resin slurry shall be measured to determine the total vinyl chloride emissions downstream from the stripper.

      The residual vinyl chloride in the resin or resin slurry shall be determined by three tests done on separate plant operation shifts. Method S-3 is to beused to take the samples for each test. The samples are analyzed for residual vinyl chloride using Method A-2, and Method C-4.2 is used to calculate the vinyl chloride emissions for each test.

      The results from the three tests are averaged to determine the emission rate.

    2. Where the stripping operation does not sufficiently reduce the releases to meet the limit and supplementary control measures are applied to release points downstream from the stripper, the gaseous releases shall be measured at all points downstream from the stripper. The sampling and analytical procedures to be used are those specified in Methods S-1 and A-1.

      All release points shall be identified before a release test, and all points shall be measured simultaneously if possible; if this is not possible, then they should be measured during the same shift. The releases shall be calculated on the basis of mass release per unit of production according to the calculations in Method C-4.3. The releases from all sources following the stripper are to be summed and the total reported for each test. Three tests are required and the results of the three are to be averaged to establish compliance.

  3. To test compliance with thé limit established under paragraph 4(2)(c), the releases of vinyl chloride following the stripper shall be determined by measuring the residual vinyl chloride in the product resin(s) after milling and classification and by measuring the gaseous releases of all release points between the resin stripper and thé product storage.

    The resins shall be sampled and analyzed using methods S-3 and A-2. Sampling and analytical methods S-1 and A-1 shall be used to measure the gaseous emissions.

    All release points to be sampled shall be identified before a release test. If possible, these points shall be sampled simultaneously, and if not possible, during the same shift. The product resin samples shall be taken concurrently with the gaseous samples.

    The releases of vinyl chloride shall be calculated using C-4.4 and a total release rate shall be reported for each test. Three tests are required and the results of the three are to be averaged to establish compliance.

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