Experimental

Design

Conclusions

• EPA Method 301 “Collect Multiple,

Collocated, Simultaneous Samples…”:

9 sets of 24 Reading Observations Gathered

by 2 Pairs of Cameras and EPA Method 9

Observers, Collocated, with Observations

Time-Synchronized

• 3 Sites With Stacks >7 Feet Operating

Within Generally Accepted Regulatory

Range (20%)

• Field Quality Measures:

Position and Orientation of Observers and

Cameras Relative to the Sun

Geo-Location and Offsets of All Required Points

Metrology Data

Collocated and Time-Synchronized Observations

Digital Direct Connect to DOCS II Server

• Data Quality Measures:

DOCS II Analyst’s were Geographically Separated,

and Performed Analysis without Visibility, to

Method 9 Reading Results or the Other Analyst’s

Results

Validated Results Exported into Spreadsheet

by QA Person Who was Not Involved in Any

Other Part of The Process

Analysis in Spreadsheets Validated by Third

Party

EPA ALTERNATE METHOD 082 301 Study For Large Diameter Stationary Sources

Does Size Matter?

Shawn Dolan

Virtual Technology LLC

888-872-3836

www.virtuallc.com

Objective

Utilize EPA Method 301 to Assess EPA

Alternate Method 082 Suitability for

Determining Plume Opacities on Large

Diameter Stationary Sources

Introduction

Results

• ASTM-D7520 Published in ’09 :

Digital Camera based EPA Method 9

Camera and Software Replace Observer Eyes

The Primary Disagreement in ASTM Work

Group:

Some Contend Stack Diameter Irrelevant,

thus Smoke School Generators are a

Suitable Surrogate for All Sources,

Citing:

I = Io(-T)

Where:

I0 is the incident radiance

I is the transmitted radiance

and τ is the path length

Some Contend Large Diameter Stacks are

Different and Require Separate Supporting

Analysis and Data.

ASTM Work Group and Committee

Compromised by Application of an Arbitrary 7ft

Limitation to ASTM-D7520-09

• EPA Recognized ASTM-D7520-09 via

EPA Alternative Method 082:

EPA Was Silent on 7ft Limit

Certification Requirements Were Clarified and

Enhanced

Industry Lawyers Responded Resulting In

EPA Recognition of the 7ft Limit in Lieu of

a Method 301 Study Supporting Its Removal

• Virtual Technology LLC Performed a

Series of EPA Method 301 Studies:

Compare Alternative Test Method to The

Current Compliance Test Method.

EPA Alternate Method 082 Compliant System

(DOCS II) vs. Human EPA Method 9

Observers Reading Large Diameter Sources ( > 7ft).

EPA Alternate Method 082 Compliant System

(DOCS II) Determined Avg. Opacities Do Not Vary

from EPA Method 9 Observer Determined Avg.

Opacities in a Statistically Significant Way When

Observing Emissions From Stationary Sources

> 7ft

Beer–Lambert–Bouguer Collectively Smile !

CalPortland Mojave,CA

Precision - .88

Bias - .50

KGS Tempe, AZ

Precision - .25

Bias – 1.24

NGS Page, AZ

Precision - .69

Bias – 1.34

301 Study Precision Limit - 3.179 301 Study Bias Limit - 2.262

Method 9 Alt Method 082

Validation

Method 9 Alt Method 082 Validation

Method 9 Alt Method 082

Validation

Basic Performance Summary Basic Performance Summary Basic Performance Summary

Legend

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

CAP 301 Study 6 Minute Averages M9

DOCSII

0

1

2

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

KGS 301 Study 6 Minute Averages

M9

DOCSII

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

NGS 301 Study 6 Minute Averages M9

DOCSII

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

KGS Max. Deviation Per Set

Max. Deviation

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

CAP Max. Deviation Per Set Max. Deviation

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

NGS Max. Deviation Per Set

Max. Deviation

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

0.45

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

DOCSIIa

DOCSIIb

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

Set 7

Set 8

Set 9

M9a

M9b

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

DOCSIIa

DOCSIIb

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

KGS NGS CAP

Comparison of Methods

M9

DOCS

Average of the Average Opacities (Set 1-9) at Each Location

Analysis

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

DOCSIIa

DOCSIIb

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

M9a

M9b

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9

M9a

M9b