250-RICR-120-05-27
250-RICR-120-05-27. Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 27 - Control of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions (version Amendment, 01/09/2017 to 12/26/2018)
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
OFFICE OF AIR RESOURCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATION NO. 27
CONTROL OF NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS
Effective 1 February 1994
Last Amended: 9 January 2017
AUTHORITY: These regulations are authorized pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-
17.1-2(s) and 23-23, as amended, and have been promulgated pursuant to the
procedures set forth in the R.I. Administrative Procedures Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter
42-35.
RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
OFFICE OF AIR RESOURCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATION NO. 27
CONTROL OF NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
27.1
Definitions ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
27.2
Applicability and Exemptions ........................................................................................................................... 3
27.3
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Plan Requirements ........................................................... 3
27.4
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Requirements ................................................................... 6
27.5
Compliance Testing and Emission Monitoring Requirements ......................................................................... 10
27.6
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements .................................................................................................. 12
27.7
General Provisions ......................................................................................................................................... 16
APPENDIX A .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Page 1 of 21
RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
OFFICE OF AIR RESOURCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATION NO. 27
CONTROL OF NITROGEN OXIDES EMISSIONS
27.1
Definitions
Unless otherwise expressly defined in this section, the terms used in this regulation shall be
defined by reference to the Rhode Island Air Pollution Control General Definitions
Regulation. As used in this regulation, the following terms shall, where the context permits,
be construed as follows:
27.1.1
"Actual emissions" means the actual rate of emissions of a pollutant from a
piece of equipment or a pollutant-emitting activity as determined in
accordance with Subsections (a) through (c) below:
(a)
In general, actual emissions as of a particular date shall equal the
average rate, in tons per year, at which the unit actually emitted the
pollutant during a two year period which precedes the particular date
and which is representative of normal stationary source operation.
Actual emissions shall be calculated using the equipment's or
activity's actual operating hours, production rates and types of
materials processed, stored or combusted during the selected time
period;
(b)
The Director may presume that stationary source specific allowable
emissions for the equipment or activity are equivalent to the actual
emissions of the equipment or activity;
(c)
For any equipment or activity which has not begun normal
operations on the particular date, actual emissions shall equal the
potential to emit of the equipment or activity on that date.
27.1. 2
"Combined cycle gas turbine" means any stationary gas turbine which
recovers heat from the gas turbine exhaust gases to heat water or generate
steam.
27.1. 3
"Combustion turbine" means any simple cycle gas turbine or any
combined cycle gas turbine including the duct burner portion thereof.
27.1.4
"Emergency standby internal combustion engine" means an internal
combustion engine operated only as a mechanical or electrical power source
for a stationary source when the primary power source has been rendered
inoperable. This does not include power interruptions pursuant to an
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interruptible power service agreement.
27.1.5
"Equivalent control" means a control system that may be substituted for
the required control system(s). The stationary source applying to use an
equivalent control must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director and
EPA that the emission reductions achieved are equal to or greater than the
emission reductions required by the regulation. Appropriate test methods or
other replicable criteria in accordance with Department and EPA guidance
must be used to demonstrate equivalence.
27.1.6
"Industrial-Commercial-Institutional Boiler" means a device that
combusts any fuel and produces steam or heats water or any other heat
transfer medium. This term does not include utility boilers used by electric
utilities to generate electricity.
27.1.7
"Internal combustion engine" means any engine in which power,
produced by heat and/or pressure developed in the engine cylinder(s) by
burning a mixture of air and fuel, is subsequently converted to mechanical
work by means of 1 or more pistons.
27.1.8
"Lean-burn engine" means an internal combustion engine where the
amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases is 1% or more, by weight.
27.1.9
"Liquified petroleum (LP) gas" means liquified petroleum gas as defined
by the American Society for Testing and Materials in ASTM D1835-13,
"Standard Specification for Liquified Petroleum (LP) Gases".
27.1.10
"Low NOx burner" means a commercially available modified combustion
burner designed to minimize NOx formation through low excess air firing,
controlled mixing of primary combustion air and fuel (staged air or staged
fuel), reducing peak furnace temperature or other burner designs judged to
be low NOx burners by the Director and EPA based on a review of evidence
submitted by the subject stationary source.
27.1.11
"Rich-burn engine" means an internal combustion engine where the
amount of oxygen in the engine exhaust gases is less than 1% by weight.
27.1.12
“Simple cycle gas turbine" means any stationary gas turbine which does
not recover heat from the gas turbine exhaust gases to preheat the inlet
combustion air to the gas turbine, or which does not recover heat from the
gas turbine exhaust gases to heat water or generate steam.
27.1.13
"Utility boiler" means a device, with a heat input capacity of 250 million
Btu per hour or greater, that combusts any fuel and produces steam for the
primary purpose of generating electricity. This term does not include
combustion turbines.
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27.2
Applicability and Exemptions
27.2.1
This regulation applies to all stationary sources which have or ever have had,
since 1 January 1990, the potential to emit 50 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
per year from all pollutant-emitting equipment or activities.
27.2.2
A stationary source with potential yearly emissions of 50 tons or more of
NOx, but with actual emissions not exceeding 50 tons per year of NOx any
time after 1 January 1990, may apply to the Director for an exemption from
Sections 27.4 and 27.5 of this regulation. Application for an exemption must
be submitted to the Director by 1 July 1994, and must include documentation
of previous yearly NOx emissions, in tons per year, since 1 January 1990.
Exemption from Section 27.4 of this regulation will be in the form of an
enforceable document issued by the Director which limits actual emissions
to less than 50 tons per year of NOx and shall include, but not necessarily be
limited, to the following conditions:
(a)
Actual annual emissions shall not exceed 50 tons of NOx per year,
and
(b)
The stationary source shall meet the emission cap over every
consecutive 12 month period. Recordkeeping to demonstrate
compliance shall be conducted as provided in Section 27.6.9 and
shall be kept on a monthly basis. The cap must be consistent with
the anticipated level of emissions in the approved State
Implementation Plan (SIP).
Any stationary source that has been issued an emissions cap and fails to meet
the requirements of the enforceable document must immediately be in
compliance with RACT.
27.2.3
Any emergency standby internal combustion engines which is operated less
than 500 hours during any consecutive twelve (12) month period is exempt
from Section 27.4 of this regulation. Recordkeeping shall be conducted as
provided in Subsection 27.6.10.
Any emergency standby internal combustion engine operated under the
provisions of this subsection must immediately be in compliance with RACT
if the hours of operation in any twelve (12) month period exceeds 500.
27.3
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Plan Requirements
27.3.1
Any stationary source subject to the provisions of Section 27.4 of this
regulation shall, by 3 October 1994 or six months after becoming a potential
50 tons per year NOx stationary source, whichever is later, submit to the
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Director a RACT proposal for approval which includes all information
specified in Subsections 27.3.2 or 27.3.3.
27.3.2
All RACT proposals submitted to comply with Subsection 27.4.1, 27.4.2 or
27.4.3 shall include the following information:
(a)
an inventory of all NOx - emitting equipment with a heat input
capacity greater than or equal to one million Btu per hour at the
stationary source
(b)
the maximum capacity, in millions of Btu per hour, of each piece of
NOx - emitting equipment
(c)
the type of fuel or fuels combusted in each piece of NOx - emitting
equipment
(d)
the maximum NOx emission rate for each piece of NOx - emitting
equipment in lbs per million Btu for each fuel burned
(e)
the actual amount of NOx emitted for each calendar year since 1
January 1990, from each piece of NOx - emitting equipment
(f)
a summary of the applicable emission limits and requirements of this
regulation and how the stationary source will comply
(g)
a schedule for the implementation of RACT, including dates for each
of the following where applicable: completion of engineering,
awarding of contracts, initiation of construction, completion of
construction and final compliance with RACT
(h)
any additional information requested by the Director
27.3.3
All RACT proposals submitted to comply with Subsection 27.4.4 or 27.4.9
shall include the following information:
(a)
an inventory of all NOx - emitting equipment with a heat input
capacity greater than or equal to one million Btu per hour at the
stationary source
(b)
the maximum capacity, in million of Btu per hour, of each piece of
NOx - emitting equipment
(c)
the type of fuel or fuels combusted in each piece of NOx - emitting
equipment
(d)
the maximum NOx emission rate for each piece of NOx - emitting
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equipment, in lbs per million Btu, for each fuel burned
(e)
the actual amount of NOx emitted for each calendar year since 1
January 1990, from each piece of NOx - emitting equipment
(f)
an examination of the technical and economic feasibility of available
NOx control techniques for each piece of NOx - emitting equipment
with the potential to emit 10 tons or more of NOx per year.
(g)
the control option or combination of control options selected as
RACT, including emission limits and the test methods to be used to
demonstrate compliance
(h)
the amount of reduction in NOx emissions that will be associated
with implementing the selected control option(s)
(i)
a schedule for the implementation of RACT, including dates for each
of the following where applicable: completion of engineering,
awarding of contracts, initiation of construction, completion of
construction and final compliance with RACT
(j)
the testing, monitoring, record keeping and reporting procedures to
be used to demonstrate continuous compliance
(k)
any additional information requested by the Director that is deemed
necessary to determine RACT
27.3.4
After reviewing a RACT proposal submitted to comply with Subsection
27.4.1, 27.4.2 or 27.4.3 the Director will issue a final approval or disapproval
of the proposal.
27.3.5
After reviewing a RACT proposal submitted to comply with Subsection
27.4.4, the Director, in consultation with the EPA, shall prepare a proposed
enforceable document specifying RACT for the stationary source. The
enforceable document shall be subject to a thirty day public comment period.
A public hearing for interested persons to appear and to submit written or
oral comments on the enforceable document shall be held upon request. The
Director may also hold a hearing at his or her discretion, whenever he or she
believes there is a significant degree of public interest in the proposed action.
If held, a hearing shall take place no earlier than thirty (30) days nor later
than sixty (60) days following initial public notice. Comments from the
stationary source and/or any interested persons shall be recorded at the
public hearing. Written comments, to be considered part of the record, must
be submitted during the public comment period. The public comment period
shall commence on the date of initial public notice. The public comment
period shall close thirty (30) days later, if no public hearing is held. If a
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public hearing is held, the public comment period shall close at the close of
the public hearing or on a later date set by the Director. The final
enforceable document shall be submitted to the EPA for approval as a source
specific revision to the State Implementation Plan.
27.4
Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Requirements
27.4.1
Utility Boilers
On and after 31 May 1995, no person shall cause or allow the emission of
NOx from any utility boiler in excess of the following emission limitations:
(a)
0.20 lbs per million Btu of actual heat input when operated on natural
gas or liquified petroleum gas (LP)
(b)
0.25 lbs per million Btu of actual heat input when operated on fuel
oil
27.4.2
Industrial - Commercial - Institutional Boilers
(a)
On and after 31 May 1995, no person shall cause or allow the
emission of NOx from any Industrial - Commercial - Institutional
boiler, fired with natural gas or distillate oil, with a heat input
capacity of 50 million Btu per hour or greater, in excess of the
following emission limitations:
1.
0.10 lbs per million Btu of actual heat input when operated
on natural gas
2.
0.12 lbs per million Btu of actual heat input when operated
on distillate oil or liquified petroleum gas (LP)
(b)
On and after 31 May 1995, no person shall cause or allow the
emission of NOx from any Industrial - Commercial - Institutional
boiler, fired with residual oil, with a heat input capacity of 50 million
Btu per hour or greater, unless the boiler is equipped with low - NOx
burners and flue gas recirculation (with a minimum of 10% flue gas
recirculation) or equivalent control.
(c)
On and after 31 May 1995, no person shall cause or permit the
emission of NOx from any Industrial - Commercial - Institutional
boiler, with a heat input capacity of 1 million Btu per hour or greater,
but less than 50 million Btu per hour, unless the boiler is tuned at
least once every two years in accordance with the procedure
described in Appendix A. The tune-up procedure specified in 40
CFR 63.11223 (b)(1) through (7) is an acceptable substitute
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procedure for the procedure specified in Appendix A.
The annual tune-up procedure specified in 40 CFR 63.7540(a)(10)(i)
through (vi) is an acceptable substitute procedure for the procedure
specified in Appendix A for those stationary sources subject to 40
CFR 63, Subpart DDDDD.
27.4.3
Internal Combustion Engines
On and after 31 May 1995, no person shall cause or permit the emission of
NOx from any internal combustion engine, capable of producing 400
horsepower (HP) or more, in excess of the following emission limitations:
(a)
Rich-burn Engines
1.
1.5 grams per brake horsepower-hour when operated on
natural gas
(b)
Lean-burn Engines
1.
2.5 grams per brake horsepower-hour when operated on
natural gas
2.
9.0 grams per brake horsepower-hour when operated on fuel
oil
27.4.4
Miscellaneous Stationary Sources
(a)
Any stationary source, equipment or pollutant emitting activity, with
the potential to emit 10 tons or more of NOx per year, that is not
covered by Subsection 27.4.1, 27.4.2 or 27.4.3 shall install and
operate in compliance with RACT, as specified in an enforceable
document issued by the Director, by 31 May 1995.
(b)
Any stationary source that becomes a potential 50 ton per year NOx
stationary source after 30 November 1993 shall install and operate in
compliance with RACT, within 18 months of the date that the
stationary source first becomes a potential 50 ton per year NOx
stationary source. RACT shall be specified in an enforceable
document issued by the Director.
27.4.5
The RACT requirements in Subsections 27.4.1 - 27.4.4 do not apply to
equipment and pollutant - emitting activities that have been determined to be
BACT or LAER in any permit issued by the Director pursuant to Air
Pollution Control Regulation No. 9 since 15 November 1992.
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27.4.6
The RACT requirements in Subsection 27.4.3 or 27.4.4 do not apply to
equipment and pollutant emitting activities listed below, that have been
issued a permit for the construction/installation of new equipment by the
Director, pursuant to Air Pollution Control Regulation No.9, since the
indicated date.
(a)
Combustion turbine facilities - 6 January 1989
(b)
Internal combustion engines - 28 September 1989
(c)
Fluidized bed boilers - 11 March 1991
27.4.7
The RACT requirements in Subsection 27.4.1 do not apply to any utility
boiler that commits, by 3 October 1994, in an enforceable document, to
either permanently shut down and dismantle that existing utility boiler by 31
May 1995 or replace that existing utility boiler by 31 December 1996 as part
of a repowering project. The repowered emissions unit(s) must meet a NOx
emission limitation that has been determined to be BACT or LAER in a
permit issued by the Director pursuant to Air Pollution Control Regulation
No. 9. In addition to the commitment, the source must comply with the
alternative RACT requirements of 27.4.8. The final enforceable document
and the alternative RACT determination shall be submitted to the EPA for
approval as a source specific revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP).
27.4.8
Alternative RACT
(a)
The RACT requirements in Subsection 27.4.1 -27.4.3 may be relaxed
on a case-by-case basis, if by 3 October 1994 or six months after
becoming a potential 50 ton per year NOx stationary source, the
owner or operator makes application to the Director for an alternative
RACT determination. An application for an alternative RACT
determination must include the following:
1.
an inventory of all NOx - emitting equipment with a heat
input capacity greater than or equal to one million Btu per
hour at the stationary source
2.
the maximum capacity, in million of Btu per hour, of each
piece of NOx - emitting equipment
3.
the type of fuel or fuels combusted in each piece of NOx -
emitting equipment
4.
the maximum NOx emission rate for each piece of NOx -
emitting equipment, in lbs per million Btu, for each fuel
burned
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5.
the actual amount of NOx emitted for each calendar year
since 1 January 1990, from each piece of NOx - emitting
equipment
6.
economic and/or technical documentation that demonstrates
to the satisfaction of the Director and EPA that the applicable
emission limitations cannot feasibly be met.
7.
an examination of the technical and economic feasibility of
alternative NOx control techniques for each piece of NOx
emitting equipment
8.
The control option or combination of control options
proposed as alternative RACT, including emission limits and
test methods to demonstrate compliance.
9.
The amount of reduction in NOx emissions that will be
associated with implementing the selected control option(s).
10.
A schedule for the implementation of alternative RACT,
including dates for each of the following where applicable:
completion of engineering, awarding of contracts, initiation
of construction, completion of construction and final
compliance with alternative RACT by 31 May 1995.
11.
The testing, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting
procedures to be used to demonstrate continuous compliance.
12.
Any additional information requested by the Director that is
deemed necessary to determine alternative RACT.
(b)
Any alternative RACT determination will not become final until
approved by EPA as a source specific State Implementation Plan
(SIP) revision;
(c)
The stationary source shall conduct a RACT review every three years
after the final compliance date until the RACT requirements in
Subsections 27.4.1, 27.4.2 or 27.4.3 are achieved. This RACT
review must include the same information required in an application
for an alternative RACT determination. This RACT review will not
become final until approved by EPA as a source specific State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision.
27.4.9
Fuel Switching
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Any facility subject to the RACT requirements in Subsections 27.4.1 - 27.4.4
may propose to comply with those requirements by fuel switching. Fuel
switching refers to instances where a piece of NOx emitting equipment
historically burned one primary fuel, such as residual oil, and under a fuel
switching program, the equipment would burn a cleaner fuel, such as natural
gas, during the ozone season (May 1 - September 30) and may switch back
to the historic fuel for some or all of the non-ozone season.
(a)
The owner or operator of a stationary source proposing a fuel
switching program must file an application with the Office of Air
Resources for approval of a fuel switching program no later than 3
October 1994 or six months after becoming a potential 50 ton per
year NOx facility, whichever is later.
(b)
An application for approval of a fuel switching program must
demonstrate that the NOx reductions achieved will be the equivalent
of that which would be achieved if the stationary source were
operating in compliance with its applicable emission limitations
throughout the year.
(c)
An application for approval of a fuel switching program must
demonstrate that the program uses a long term emissions averaging
approach consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency's
guidance. This guidance is contained in a 30 July 1993 memo from
Michael Shapiro entitled "Fuel Switching to Meet the Reasonably
Available Control Technology Requirements for Nitrogen Oxides".
(d)
Any fuel switching program will not become final until approved by
EPA as a source specific State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision.
27.5
Compliance Testing and Emission Monitoring Requirements
27.5.1
Compliance with Subsections 27.4.1 and 27.4.9 shall be demonstrated by
installation calibration, maintenance and operation of a continuous emission
monitoring system for NOx and O2 or CO2.
27.5.2
Compliance with Subsections 27.4.2(a) - (b), 27.4.3, 27.4.4, and 27.4.8 shall
be demonstrated either by emission testing or by installation calibration,
maintenance and operation of a continuous emission monitoring system for
NOx and O2 or CO2.
27.5.3
Compliance with Subsection 27.4.2 (c) shall be demonstrated by record
keeping as specified in Subsection 27.6.8.
27.5.4
Compliance with the emission limitations in Subsections 27.4.1 shall be
based on 24 hour average concentrations.
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27.5.5
Compliance with the emission limitations in Subsections 27.4.2 and 27.4.3
shall be based on one hour average concentrations. Emission testing shall
consist of 3 - one hour test runs. Compliance with the emission limitation
must be demonstrated utilizing the arithmetic mean of the three test runs.
27.5.6
Continuous emission monitoring systems shall comply with the following
requirements:
(a)
Performance specification, monitor location, calibration and
operating procedures, quality assurance procedures for each monitor
and a sample calculation showing how the concentrations from the
NOx CEMs will be converted in to the applicable units and averaging
time of the emission limit must be submitted to the Office of Air
Resources for review and approval at least 180 days prior to expected
installation.
(b)
All emission data shall be continuously monitored and recorded.
(c)
The continuous emission monitors must satisfy the requirements of
40 CFR 60 Appendix B, Performance Specification 2.
(d)
The continuous emission monitors must satisfy the quality assurance
requirements of 40 CFR 60, Appendix F.
(e)
The continuous emission monitoring system will be used to
determine compliance with the applicable allowable NOx emission
rates.
(f)
The stationary source shall have the capability of transmitting all of
the collected continuous emission monitoring data to the Office of
Air Resources via a telemetry system.
(g)
Each continuous emission monitoring system shall be operated at all
times except for periods of CEMs calibration checks, zero and span
adjustment and preventative maintenance. Notwithstanding such
exceptions, in all cases valid CEMs data shall be obtained for at least
75% of the hours per day, 75% of the days of the month and 90% of
the hours per quarter that the stationary source is operating.
27.5.7
Emissions testing shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)
Emissions testing shall be conducted by 30 November 1995, initially
and at least once every five years thereafter to demonstrate
compliance with the applicable NOx emission limitation
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(b)
An emissions testing protocol shall be submitted to the Office of Air
Resources for review a minimum of sixty days (60) prior to the
performance of any tests. The Office of Air Resources shall be
notified at least 60 days prior to any emissions test.
(c)
All test procedures used for emissions testing shall be in accordance
with the methods set forth in Appendix A of 40 CFR 60 or another
method approved by the Director and the EPA.
(d)
The owner or operator of the stationary source shall install any and
all test ports or platforms necessary to conduct the required emissions
testing, provide safe access to any platforms and provide the
necessary utilities for sampling and testing equipment.
(e)
All testing shall be conducted under operating conditions deemed
acceptable and representative for the purpose of assessing
compliance with the applicable emission limitation.
(f)
All emissions testing must be observed by a representative of the
Office of Air Resources to be considered acceptable, unless the
Office of Air Resources provides prior written authorization to the
owner or operator to conduct the testing without an observer present.
(g)
A final report of the results of emissions testing shall be submitted to
the Office of Air Resources no later than 60 days following
completion of the testing.
27.6
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
27.6.1
A record of all measurements, performance evaluations, calibration checks,
and maintenance or adjustments for each continuous emission monitor shall
be maintained.
27.6.2
A written report of excess emissions, as measured by a continuous emission
monitor shall be submitted to the Office of Air Resources for every calendar
quarter. All quarterly reports shall be received no later than 30 days
following the end of each calendar quarter and shall include the following
information:
(a)
The date and time of commencement and completion of each period
of excess emissions and the magnitude of the excess emissions
(b)
Identification of the suspected reason for the excess emissions and
any corrective action taken.
(c)
The date and time period any continuous emission monitor was
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inoperative, except for zero and span checks and the nature of system
repairs or adjustments.
(d)
The date and time periods of any missing data or periods where
compliance could not be determined and the steps taken to cure the
cause of the missing data.
In the event none of the above items have occurred such information shall be
stated in the report.
27.6.3
The fuel used in each combustion unit subject to RACT must be measured
and recorded monthly.
As an alternative to measuring and recording fuel used in each combustion
unit, a stationary source may petition the Director to use one of the following
methods to demonstrate compliance with RACT:
(a)
The fuel used in multiple combustion units which have equivalent
NOx emission rates may be measured and recorded monthly using a
single metering device. If more than one type of fuel is used in the
multiple combustion units the amount of each type fuel must be
measured and recorded monthly;
(b)
The fuel used in multiple combustion units which have different NOx
emission rates may be measured and recorded monthly using a single
metering device. If more than one type of fuel is used in the multiple
combustion units the amount of each type fuel must be measured and
recorded monthly. The total NOx emissions for these units will be
determined using the emission rate of the highest NOx emitting
combustion unit.
27.6.4
Stationary sources subject to Subsection 27.4.2 (a)(2) shall obtain a
certification from the fuel supplier for each shipment of distillate oil that
includes the following information:
(a)
The name of the oil supplier, and;
(b)
That the oil complies with the specification for fuel oil numbers 1 or
2, as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials in
ASTM D396-13c "Standard Specification for Fuel Oils"
27.6.5
All stationary sources combusting residual fuel oil shall obtain a certification
from the fuel supplier for each shipment of residual oil that includes the
following information:
(a)
The name of the oil supplier;
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(b)
The nitrogen content of the oil from which the shipment came or of
the shipment itself;
(c)
The method used to determine the nitrogen content of the oil. ASTM
test methods D3228-08, D4629-12, or any other method approved by
the Director and the EPA may be used; and,
(d)
The location of the oil when the sample was drawn for analysis to
determine the nitrogen content of the oil, specifically including
whether the oil was sampled as delivered to the stationary source or
whether the sample was drawn from oil in storage at the oil supplier's
or oil refiner's facility or another location.
27.6.6
As an alternative to the fuel supplier certification required in Subsection
27.6.5, a stationary source may elect to sample the fuel oil prior to
combustion. Sampling and analysis shall be conducted after each new
shipment of residual oil is received. Samples shall be collected from the fuel
tank immediately after the fuel tank is filled and before any oil is combusted.
The residual oil must be sampled and analyzed according to ASTM methods
which have the prior approval of or are required by the Director.
27.6.7
Copies of all fuel supplier certifications or fuel oil analyses shall be
maintained at the facility and be made accessible for review by the Director
or the designated personnel of the Director and EPA. These records shall
include a certified statement, signed by the owner or operator of the
stationary source, that the records represent all of the fuel combusted during
the quarter.
27.6.8
All stationary sources subject to Subsection 27.4.2 (c) shall maintain records
verifying that a tune-up has been performed in accordance with the
procedure described in Appendix A that includes the following information:
(a)
The date the tune-up was performed;
(b)
The name of the person who performed the tune-up; and,
(c)
The final excess oxygen setting.
(d)
The O2/CO curve or O2/smoke curve that has been developed as part
of this procedure.
27.6.9
Stationary sources subject to an emissions cap pursuant to the provisions of
Subsection 27.2.2 shall:
(a)
Measure and record monthly the fuel used in each combustion unit
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with a heat input capacity greater than or equal to one million Btu per
hour;
(b)
On a monthly basis, no later than fifteen (15) days after the first of
each month, determine the fuel usage and quantity of NOx emitted
for the previous twelve (12) month period for each combustion unit
or for the stationary source;
(c)
Notify the Office of Air Resources, in writing within 30 days of the
end of the month, whenever NOx emissions exceed the emissions
cap; or,
(d)
As an alternative to measuring and recording fuel used in each
combustion unit as required in 27.6.9 (a), a stationary source may
petition the Director to use one of the following methods to
demonstrate compliance with an emissions cap:
(1)
The fuel used in multiple combustion units which have
equivalent NOx emission rates may be measured and
recorded monthly using a single metering device. If more
than one type of fuel is used in the multiple combustion units
the amount of each type fuel must be measured and recorded
monthly;
(2)
The fuel used in multiple combustion units which have
different NOx emission rates may be measured and recorded
monthly using a single metering device. If more than one
type of fuel is used in the multiple combustion units the
amount of each type fuel must be measured and recorded
monthly. The total NOx emissions for these units will be
determined using the emission rate of the highest NOx
emitting unit.
27.6.10
All stationary sources with emergency standby internal combustion engines
satisfying the provisions of Subsection 27.2.3 shall:
(a)
Notify the Office of Air Resources, in writing, by 31 May 1995 of:
(1)
the maximum capacity, in millions of Btu per hour, of each
emergency standby internal combustion engine at the
stationary source; and,
(2)
the type of fuel or fuels combusted in each engine;
(b)
Install and maintain a non-resetable elapsed time meter to indicate, in
cumulative hours, the elapsed engine operating time;
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(c)
On a monthly basis, no later than fifteen (15) days after the first of
each month, determine and record the hours of operation for each
engine for the previous twelve (12) month period; and
(d)
Notify the Office of Air Resources, in writing, whenever the hours of
operation in any twelve (12) month period exceeds 500 hours.
27.6.11
All records required in this Subsection shall be maintained at the stationary
source for a minimum of five (5) years and shall be made available to
representatives of the Department or EPA upon request.
27.7
General Provisions
27.7.1
Purpose
The purpose of this regulation is to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides from
stationary sources
27.7.2
Authority
These regulations are authorized pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-17.1-2(s)
and 23-23, as amended, and have been promulgated pursuant to the
procedures set forth in the R.I. Administrative Procedures Act, R.I. Gen.
Laws Chapter 42-35
27.7.3
Application
The terms and provisions of this regulation shall be liberally construed to
permit the Department to effectuate the purposes of state law, goals and
policies.
27.7.4
Severability
If any provision of this regulation or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
validity of the remainder of the regulation shall not be affected thereby.
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27.7.5
Effective Date
The foregoing regulation, "Control of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions”, as
amended, after due notice, is hereby adopted and filed with the Secretary of
State this 20th day of December, 2016, in accordance with the provisions
of Chapters 23-23, 42-35, 42-17.1, 42-17.6, of the General Laws of Rhode
Island of 1956, as amended.
Janet Coit, Director
Department of Environmental Management
Notice Given on:
May 5, 2016
Filing Date:
December 20, 2016
Effective Date:
January 9, 2017
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APPENDIX A
EQUIPMENT TUNING PROCEDURE1
Nothing in this Equipment Tuning Procedure shall be construed to require any act or omission that
would result in unsafe conditions or would be in violation of any regulation or requirement
established by Factory Mutual, National Fire Prevention Association, the Rhode Island Department
of Labor (Division of Occupational Safety), the Federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration or other relevant regulations or requirements.
1.
Operate the unit at the firing rate most typical of normal operation. If the unit experiences
significant load variations during normal operation, operate it at its average firing rate.
2.
At this firing rate, record stack gas temperature, oxygen concentration and CO concentration
(for gaseous fuels) or smoke-spot number2 (for liquid fuels) and observe flame conditions
after the unit stabilizes at the firing rate selected. If the excess oxygen in the stack gas is at
the lower end of the range of typical minimum values3, and if the CO emissions are low and
there is no smoke, the unit is probably operating at near optimum efficiency - at this
particular firing rate. However, complete the remaining portion of this procedure to
determine whether still lower oxygen levels are practical.
3.
Increase combustion air flow to the furnace until stack gas oxygen levels increase by one to
two percent over the value measured in Step 2. As in Step 2, record the stack gas
temperature, CO concentration (for gaseous fuels) or smoke-spot number (for liquid fuels)
and observe flame conditions for these higher oxygen levels after boiler operation stabilizes.
4.
Decrease combustion air flow until the stack gas oxygen concentration is at the level
measured in Step 2. From this level gradually reduce the combustion air flow in small
increments. After each increment, record the stack gas temperature, oxygen concentration,
CO concentration (for gaseous fuels) and smoke-spot number (for liquid fuels). Also
observe the flame and record any changes in its condition.
5.
Continue to reduce combustion air flow stepwise until one of these limits is reached:
a.
Unacceptable flame conditions - such as flame impingement on furnace walls or
burner parts, excessive flame carryover or flame instability.
b.
Stack gas CO concentration greater than 400 ppm.
c.
Smoking at the stack.
d.
Equipment related limitations - such as low windbox/furnace pressure differential,
built in air flow limits, etc.
6.
Develop an O2/CO curve (for gaseous fuels) or O2/smoke curve (for liquid fuels) similar to
those in Figures 1 and 2 using the excess oxygen and CO or smoke-spot number data
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obtained at each combustion air flow setting.
7.
From the curves prepared in Step 6, find the stack gas oxygen levels where the CO
emissions or smoke-spot number equal the following values:
Fuel
Measurement
Value
Gaseous
CO emissions
400 ppm
#1 & #2 oils
smoke-spot number
number 1
#4 oil
smoke-spot number
number 2
#5 oil
smoke-spot number
number 3
#6 oil
smoke-spot number
number 4
The above conditions are referred to as CO or smoke threshold, or as the minimum excess
oxygen level.
Compare this minimum value of excess oxygen to the expected value provided by the
combustion unit manufacturer. If the minimum value found is substantially higher than the
value provided by the combustion unit manufacturer, burner adjustments shall be made to
improve fuel and air mixing, thereby allowing operation with less air.
8.
Add 0.5 to 2.0 percent to the minimum excess oxygen level found in Step 7 and reset burner
controls to operate automatically at this higher stack gas oxygen level. This margin above
the level accounts for fuel variations, variations in atmospheric conditions, load changes and
non repeatability or play in automatic controls.
9.
If the load of the combustion unit varies significantly during normal operation, repeat Steps
1-8 for firing rates that represent the upper and lower limits of the range of the load.
Because control adjustments at one firing rate may affect conditions at other firing rates, it
may not be possible to establish the optimum excess oxygen level at all firing rates. If this is
the case, choose the burner control settings that give the best performance over the range of
firing rates. If one firing rate predominates, settings should optimize conditions at that rate.
10.
Verify that the new settings can accommodate the sudden changes that may occur in daily
operation without adverse affects. Do this by increasing and decreasing load rapidly while
observing the flame and stack. If any of the conditions in Step 5 result, reset the combustion
controls to provide a slightly higher level of excess oxygen at the affect firing rates. Next,
verify these new settings in a similar fashion. Then make sure that the final control settings
are recorded at steady state operating conditions for future reference.
_________________________________________________________________
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1.
This tuning procedure is based on a tune-up procedure developed by KVB Inc. for the EPA.
2.
The smoke-spot number can be determined with ASTM Test Method D-2156 or with the
Bacharach method. ASTM Test Method D-2156 is included in a tune-up kit that can be
purchased from the Bacharach Company
3.
Typical minimum oxygen levels for boilers at high firing rates are:
For natural gas: 0.5% - 3.0%
For liquid fuels: 2.0% - 4.0%
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Figure 1
Oxygen/CO Characteristic Curve
Figure 2
Oxygen/Smoke Characteristic Curve