Sunday, September 29, 2013

Learn More About The EPA Method 9 Training

By Marla Mills


Method 9 training is basically a referential technique of quantifying all visible emissions of smoke. Smoke is discharged in the shape of a plume every time it comes from a stationary source. This method is designed to get the level of opacity of a plume by observers who are professionals more accurately. Smoke schools are the providers of such services. For the best results there are procedures and variations that you have to consider.

For you to be recognized as a professional observer there are some tests you should pass. One is determining the opacity of the visible emissions from a scale of 0 to 100% and correctly feed the information into the VEO form. You also have to be able to evaluate 25% plumes of both the black smoke and the white smoke to the nearest 5%. This method requires quality training and certification of the observers in order to come up with more accurate records of the plume.

The first smoke evaluation system was developed from a concept by one Mr. Maximillian Ringelman. Ringelman found out that the poor combustion efficiency in the charcoal heated boilers was caused by the dark smoke. Since he knew that the darker the smoke meant the less the efficiency of combustion he invented a chart which could be used to see how dark the smoke was. This chart had four black grids on the white background.

A couple of decades later, many larger municipalities started using this system in estimating the level of darkness in the smoke. Decades after this there were two major adjustments made on the Maximillian charts. One of them was the addition of white smoke to be used for equivalent opacity. The other adjustment was the addition of the opacity meter. This could estimate the darkness of the smoke and made it unnecessary to have the white card.

The kind of observation made by observers depends on a several variables. In these variables some can be controlled while others cannot. One of the variables is the angle from where the observer is watching the plume from. The other variable is the angle of the observer in relation to the sun and the plume. A third variable is the point of observation of the detached steam plume. These are however not all the variables.

The first system for smoke evaluation came from a concept that was developed by Maximillian Ringelman. He had found out that black smoke from boilers were the reason of poor combustion efficiency. The darker the smoke the poorer the efficiency and thus he devised a chart with four different black grids on a white background to measure the darkness of the smoke.

The other procedure is concerned with the storage of the data and the findings after the field work is completed. The observer should ensure they record the name of the plant, the type of facility used and the location of the emission among other things. The records should always be put in the data sheet before and after the field work is done with.

You can find the best smoke school for Method 9 training easily. Ensure that you do everything it takes to find the best and be the best. This is a short course.




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