Grant Hickson, Environmental Consultant, WorleyParsons

Examining Dust and Control Methods for Bulk Material Handling Systems

Contents

Examining Dust and Control Methods for Bulk Material Handling Systems

1.  Introduction to WorleyParsons Consulting

2.  Air Quality – Why is it Important?

3.  Regulatory Framework

4.  Regulatory Requirements

5.  Particulate Matter Impact Assessment a)  Overview b)  Inputs c)  Output / Impacts d)  Models

6.  Emission Mitigation Measures

7.  Particulate Matter Monitoring Methods

8.  Case Study: Air Quality Model Base Lining

9.  Case Study: Train Unloader – Particulate Matter Monitoring

10.  Case Study: Cumulative Impact Assessment – Port Hedland

11.  Case Study: Environmental Impact Assessment – Timor Lesté

12.  Summary

13.  Questions

“Our consultants combine proven project experience and leading edge skills with unorthodox and creative thinking to give our customers the competitive advantage.”

Introduction to WorleyParsons Consulting

We are driven by a commitment to four enduring principles: §  to build and sustain long-term relationships with our customers;

§  to continually enhance our world class expertise to support our customer’s challenges;

§  to provide an outstanding home for the best people to work and nurture their talents; and

§  to develop and maintain thought-leadership in all of our markets.

Consulting services include: §  Environmental – EIA, Approvals, EPs, Risk and Liability, Restoration, Heritage, Marine

§  Minerals and Metals

§  Advanced Analysis – Computational Fluid Dynamics, FEA and dynamic structural

§  Total Water Solutions – Hydrology and Hydrogeology

§  Geotechnical and Geomatics

Impacts

Air Quality – Why is it Important?

§  Human Health – Respiratory Illness

§  Vegetation – Reduced Photosynthesis

§  Heritage Degradation

(e.g. Rock Art in the Burrup Peninsula)

§  Amenity Issues

Pollutant Categories

§  Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) §  PM10 PM2.5 TSP Metals

§  Chemical Pollutants §  NOX SO2 VOCs §  Photochemical Smog as O3 §  Air Toxics

Governmental Approvals

Regulatory Framework

§  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) §  Air Quality is a key component for Bulk Materials

Handling facilities

Compliance Monitoring

§  Emissions Monitoring §  Stack Testing §  Dust Monitoring §  Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS)

§  Impact Monitoring §  Occupational Hygiene (Personal monitoring) §  Static Monitoring

National Level

Regulatory Requirements

§  National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (2003)

§  National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure (2011)

WA State Level

§  Environmental Protection (EP) Act 1986

§  Department of Environment Regulation (DER) Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (2004)

Specific Localities

§  Environmental Protection (Kwinana) (Atmospheric Wastes) Policy (1999) – Kwinana EPP

§  Port Hedland Air Quality and Noise Management Plan (2010)

§  Collie Air Quality Management Strategy

Other Guidance

When specific guidelines are not available in the jurisdiction, it is commonplace to approach well-known entities for guidance:

§  WHO, US EPA

Regulatory Requirements for Particulate Matter

Legislation Pollutant Averaging

Period Statistic Concentration Exceedence Goal /

Comments

AAQ NEPM

PM10 1 day Max 50 µg/m3 5 days per year

Lead 1 year Max 0.5 µg/m3 None

PM2.5

1 day Max 25 µg/m3 Advisory Standard

1 year Max 8 µg/m3

Kwinana EPP TSP

Policy Area 15 mins Limit 1,000 µg/m3

Applicable to Kwinana policy areas, but can be adopted as guidance values in other jurisdictions

Area A 24 hours

Standard 150 µg/m3

Limit 260 µg/m3

Area B 24 hours

Standard 90 µg/m3

Limit 260 µg/m3

Area C 24 hours

Standard 90 µg/m3

Limit 150 µg/m3

Port Hedland PM10 24 hours Max 70 µg/m3

10 days per year (Applies east of Taplin St, Port Hedland)

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Overview

Modelling Method

Topo. / Land Use

Met. Conditions

Emissions

Primary Input Information

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Inputs

§  Emission Sources (Majority of the effort involved) §  Particulate Matter categories §  Physical Locations / Sizes §  Mobile (e.g. Wheel-generated) vs Static (e.g. Transfer Point) Sources §  Erosion

§  Meteorological Conditions §  Wind Speed / Direction §  Atmospheric Stability / Turbulence / Mixing Height §  Temperature §  Precipitation

§  Topography and Land Use §  Obstacles (e.g. Mountains, natural / man-made valleys, etc.) §  Influences plume behaviour down-wind §  Deposition

Types of Emission Sources

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Emission Sources

§  Stackers / Reclaimers

§  Ship Loaders

§  Wind Erosion from Stockpiles (big contributor)

§  Transfer Points / Chutes

§  Train Loaders / Unloaders

§  Wheel-generated dust from heavy vehicles

§  Processing (i.e. Crushing, Blending, Screening, etc.)

Example Sources of Emissions – Bulk Materials Handling

§  Point Sources – Stacks (Not usually applicable to Bulk Materials Handling)

§  Fugitive Sources – Area and Volume Sources (No single source point) §  Neutrally buoyant, ambient temperature / pressure, low altitude releases, diffuse source §  Can be mobile or static depending on the relevant equipment §  Emissions can vary wildly over time and are often influenced by the environment

Primary Factors

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Meteorological Conditions

§  Wind Speed / Wind Direction

§  Atmospheric Stability / Turbulence

§  Mixing Layer

§  Temperature

§  Precipitation

Primary Factors

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Topography / Land Use

§  Obstacles

§  Roughness Length §  Open land §  Forest §  Cities / Towns

§  Mountains

§  Valley Channelling

Not much of an issue in WA!

Output Information

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Output

§  Ambient Concentration §  Human Health Impacts §  PM10 (µg/m3)

§  PM2.5 (µg/m3)

§  TSP (µg/m3)

§  Deposition Rate §  Vegetation / Heritage / Amenity Impacts §  Grams per square metre per month (g/m2/month) §  Differential Analysis

DER – Required Information

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Impacts

§  Ground-Level Concentration (GLC) Contour Plots

§  Numeric Data for GLCs at maximum impact locations and specific receptors

§  Comparison against relevant assessment criteria

Location Assessment

Criterion GLC (µg/m3)

Maximum

30 µg/m3

24 hour average

(Example)

115

Receptor A 15

Receptor B 22

Receptor C 16

Receptor D 29

Particulate Matter Impact Assessment – Models

Most conventional regulatory models used in Australia are based on either:

§  Gaussian distribution/statistical relations (Ausplume or AERMOD); or

§  Dynamic “puff” (Lagrangian) models (CalPuff)

Note: Ausplume is as of 1st January 2014 no longer the EPA Victoria preferred model.

Other options are more advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling

§  TAPM (developed by CSIRO); or

§  CFD itself for detailed modelling (useful for localised impacts or source characterisation)

Regulatory Model Selection

Note: All models require some form of output data post processing and validation to evaluate applicability and to provide context to results.

Common Mitigation Measures

Emission Mitigation Measures

§  Extinction Moisture Level (Suppression) §  Water Cannons §  Road Watering

§  Water with additives §  Crusting Agents §  Saline Water

§  Chute Design

§  Encapsulation §  Shrouds / Hoods §  Enclosures §  Sheds

§  Dust Extraction Systems §  Negative Pressure §  Vacuum Systems

§  Wind Breaks

Particulate Matter Monitoring Methods

Method Attended / Unattended

Pros Cons Suitable

Application

TEOM Unattended

§ Accurate measurement § Near real-time data § Telemetry option § Low maintenance

§ Moderate capital outlay for setup § Only one size of PM at a time § Requires permanent power source § No sample collection

Long-term industrial ambient

monitoring

Hi-Vol Unattended § Accurate data § Precise measurement § Sample collection

§ Uses filter paper requiring ongoing maintenance

§ Only one size of PM at a time § Requires permanent power source

Long-term urban/town

ambient monitoring

E-BAM Unattended

§ Inexpensive § Can run on solar power § Telemetry option § Low maintenance

§ Radiation measurement less accurate § No sample collection

Long-term remote ambient

monitoring

DustTrak Attended / Short-term Unattended

§ Cheap § Portable / Hand held § Can run on solar power § Low maintenance

§ Laser measurement less accurate § No sample collection § Only one size of PM at a time

Short-term compliance monitoring

Comparison of Methods

Particulate Matter Monitoring Methods

Method Attended / Unattended

Pros Cons Suitable

Application

Personal monitors

Short-term Unattended

§ Personal dosimetry § Occupational exposure § Attached to worker § Collects samples § Multiple applications: Indoor AQ / Hazmat

§ Less accurate / reliable § Samples are only measurement § Requires laboratory analysis § Requires regular maintenance

Daily occupational

exposure monitoring

Dust Deposition

Gauge Unattended

§ Measures dust deposition § Passive measurement – no power requirement

§ Collects samples § Low tech / Easily deployed

§ Requires laboratory analysis § Monthly sample collection § Sample quality subject to rainfall § Can be fragile

Dust deposition

measurement medium-long

term

Comparison of Methods

Particulate Matter Monitoring Methods TEOM E-BAM Hi-Vol (TSP) Hi-Vol (PM10)

DustTrak Personal Monitoring

Dust Deposition Gauge

Modelling for Current and Future

Case Study: Air Quality Model Base Lining AQ Study for Plant Modifications

Existing facility treating significant amount of heavy and precious metals

Notable Features: §  Compared to significant amount of

measured data from: §  TEOM §  Hi-Vol §  On Site AWS

§  Dust from roads and stockpiles significant

§  Significant community impact due to heavy metals

Occupational Risk Assessment

Case Study: Train Unloader – Particulate Matter Monitoring Indoor and Ambient Dust Monitoring

Field investigation to assess the risk of indoor and ambient particulate matter concentrations on construction contractors during commissioning of the first of two connected train unloaders.

Using an existing operating train unloader as an analogue for anticipated operating conditions.

Notable Features: §  Dust Extraction System

§  Construction workers adjacent to plant being commissioned

§  DustTrak utilized for short-term exposure monitoring

Case Study: Train Unloader – Particulate Matter Monitoring Construction Area Analogue Area during Operation

Air Quality Impact Assessment

Case Study: Cumulative Impact Assessment – Port Hedland Particulate and Pollutant Impact Study

Cumulative air quality impact assessment incorporating previously modelled data to determine the impact from a proposed power station.

Notable Features: §  Simulation and validation of a 3D

meteorological model for the Port Hedland airshed

§  Incorporation of existing modelling data

§  Particulate matter and chemical transport

§  Civil Aviation Safety Authority Plume Rise Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment

Case Study: Environmental Impact Assessment – Timor Lesté Particulate Baseline Study

Environmental Impact Assessment of three sites along the southern coast of Timor Lesté. This was the first stage of a multi-year development of industrial clusters that will form the backbone of the developing Timor Lesté petroleum industry

Notable Features: §  Baseline ambient particulate monitoring

§  Regional area

§  Logistical challenges with transportation

§  Meteorological data analysis

Summary §  Air Quality can impact: Human health, ecology, cultural heritage and amenities

§  Pollutant Categories: Particulate matter and chemical pollutants

§  Legislation: National → State →   Specific Localities → Other entities Approvals require an environmental impact assessment to be conducted Bottom Line: It’s the law

§  Particulate matter impact assessments: §  Input Data → Model → Post Processing → Output

§  Emissions mitigation measures: Can vary and need to be suitable for purpose

§  Particulate matter monitoring methods: Also vary and need to be suitable for conditions

§  Case Studies: §  Air Quality Model Base Lining §  Train Unloader – Particulate matter monitoring §  Cumulative Impact Assessment – Port Hedland §  Environmental Impact Assessment – Timor Lesté