Research Article
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A Modeling Framework to Quantify Routine VOC Emissions and Concentrations from Organic Liquid Tanks

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 11 - 17, 06.03.2022
https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.943706

Abstract

The oil industry has been a primary source of energy for years but it can also lead to the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs play a major role in the formation of photochemical oxidants and can be harmful to the ecosystem. Thereupon, effective mitigation and control strategies of air pollution have recently become more prominent for the oil industry. To orchestrate these strategies, the understanding of how air pollutants disperse from organic storage tanks should be improved. In this study, a modeling framework was developed to estimate in-field two-month average VOC concentrations caused by crude oil tanks. Firstly, United States Environmental Protection Agency's (US-EPA) Tanks 9b software was used to estimate emission rates from tanks. Then, Gaussian Dispersion Formulation was applied to simulate VOC dispersion. Following this, an in-house equation was used to represent the average VOC concentration at selected receptor locations. Moreover, in-field VOC measurement (passive sampling method) was also conducted to evaluate model performance. The normalized root-mean-square deviation between the measured and estimated VOC concentration was found to be 0.15. There was also a strong correlation between the two data with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. Overall, the results suggest the model statistically performed well with a 95% confidence interval. Due to its effectiveness and time-saving application, the method described in this study can be used to develop air pollution mitigation plans for organic storage facilities.

Supporting Institution

Turkish Petroleum Corporation

Thanks

The author gratefully acknowledge support provided by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation.

References

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  • Barthe, P., Chaugny, M., Roudier, S., & Delgado Sancho, L. (2015). Best available techniques (BAT) reference document for the refining of mineral oil and gas. European Commission, 754. Retrieved from https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/f59cda44-2dc7-4a1c-ab7a-3be5ea3ee040/language-en
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  • Pearson, K. (1895). Notes on Regression and Inheritance in the Case of Two Parents Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 58, 240-242.
  • Rajabi, H., Mosleh, M. H., Mandal, P., Lea-Langton, A., & Sedighi, M. (2020). Emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude oil processing–Global emission inventory and environmental release. Science of The Total Environment, 138654. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138654
  • Saikomol, S., Thepanondh, S., & Laowagul, W. (2019). Emission losses and dispersion of volatile organic compounds from tank farm of petroleum refinery complex. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 17(2), 561-570. doi:10.1007/s40201-019-00370-1
  • Shapiro, S. S., & Wilk, M. B. (1965). An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika, 52(3/4), 591-611. doi:10.2307/2333709
  • Spencer, D. (2019). BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Ed. BP Stat. Rev. World Energy, 68, 1-69. Retrieved from https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2019-full-report.pdf
  • Turkish Standards Institution (2006), Ambient air quality - Diffusive samplers for the determination of concentrations of gases and vapours - Requirements and test methods - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Standard No: 13528-[1, 2, 3]). Retrieved from https://www.tse.org.tr/
  • Turner, D. B. (1994). Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling. CRC press. US Environmental Protection Agency. (1995). Compilation of air pollutant emission factors. AP-42, Vol. I: Stationary point and area sources, Chapter 7: Liquid Storage Tanks. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch07/final/ch07s01.pdf
Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 11 - 17, 06.03.2022
https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.943706

Abstract

References

  • Ahmad, T., & Zhang, D. (2020). A critical review of comparative global historical energy consumption and future demand: The story told so far. Energy Reports, 6, 1973-1991. doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2020.07.020
  • Anand, S. S., Philip, B. K., & Mehendale, H. M. (2014). Volatile organic compounds. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00358-4
  • Ashrafi, K., Shafiepour, M., Salimian, M., & Momeni, M. R. (2012). Determination and Dispersion Modeling of VOC Emissions from Liquid Storage Tanks in Asalouyeh Zone. Journal of Environmental Studies, 38(3), 47-60. doi: 10.22059/jes.2012.29148
  • Barthe, P., Chaugny, M., Roudier, S., & Delgado Sancho, L. (2015). Best available techniques (BAT) reference document for the refining of mineral oil and gas. European Commission, 754. Retrieved from https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/f59cda44-2dc7-4a1c-ab7a-3be5ea3ee040/language-en
  • Begerow, J., Jermann, E., Keles, T., Ranft, U., & Dunemann, L. (1995). Passive sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air at environmentally relevant concentration levels. Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry, 351(6), 549-554.
  • Carletti, S., Di Nicola, G., & Passerini, G. (2014). Evaluation of fugitive emissions of hydrocarbons from a refinery during a significant pollution episode. In Environmental Engineering. Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Engineering. ICEE (Vol. 9, p. 1). Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Department of Construction Economics & Property. doi:10.3846/enviro.2014.008
  • European Commission. (n.d.). Standards - Air Quality - Environment - European Commission. Europa. Retrieved February 4, 2021, from https://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm
  • Finlayson-Pitts, B. J., & Pitts Jr, J. N. (1993). Atmospheric chemistry of tropospheric ozone formation: scientific and regulatory implications. Air & Waste, 43(8), 1091-1100. doi:10.1080/1073161X.1993.10467187
  • Howari, F. M. (2015). Evaporation losses and dispersion of volatile organic compounds from tank farms. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(5), 273. doi:10.1007/s10661-015-4456-z
  • Huang, Y. S., & Hsieh, C. C. (2020). VOC characteristics and sources at nine photochemical assessment monitoring stations in western Taiwan. Atmospheric Environment, 240, 117741. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117741 Invernizzi, M., Ilare, J., Capelli, L., & Sironi, S. (2018). „Proposal of a Method for Evaluating Odour Emissions from Refinery Storage Tanks”. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 68. doi: 10.3303/CET1868009
  • Jackson, M. M. (2006). Organic liquids storage tanks volatile organic compounds (VOCS) emissions dispersion and risk assessment in developing countries: the case of Dar-Es-Salaam City, Tanzania. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 116(1-3), 363-382. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-7573-x
  • Jovanovic, J., Jovanovic, M., Jovanovic, A., & Marinovic, V. (2010). Introduction of cleaner production in the tank farm of the Pancevo Oil Refinery, Serbia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(8), 791-798. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.01.002
  • Ling, Z. H., & Guo, H. (2014). Contribution of VOC sources to photochemical ozone formation and its control policy implication in Hong Kong. Environmental science & policy, 38, 180-191. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2013.12.004
  • Lu, C., Huang, H., Chang, S., & Hsu, S. (2013). Emission characteristics of VOCs from three fixed-roof p-xylene liquid storage tanks. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 185(8), 6819-6830. doi:10.1007/s10661-013-3067-9
  • Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü. (n.d.). Mevbis. Retrieved 2021, from https://mevbis.mgm.gov.tr/mevbis/ui/index.html#
  • Ngene, S., Tota-Maharaj, K., Eke, P., & Hills, C. (2016). Environmental and economic impacts of crude oil and natural gas production in developing countries. International Journal of Economy, Energy and Environment, 1(3), 64-73. doi:10.11648/j.ijeee.20160103.13
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Toluene - Occupational Exposure Limits. OSHA. Retrieved April 2, 2021, from https://www.osha.gov/toluene/occupational-exposure-limits
  • O'Rourke, D., & Connolly, S. (2003). Just oil? The distribution of environmental and social impacts of oil production and consumption. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 28(1), 587-617. doi: 10.1146/annurev.energy.28.050302.105617
  • Pearson, K. (1895). Notes on Regression and Inheritance in the Case of Two Parents Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 58, 240-242.
  • Rajabi, H., Mosleh, M. H., Mandal, P., Lea-Langton, A., & Sedighi, M. (2020). Emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude oil processing–Global emission inventory and environmental release. Science of The Total Environment, 138654. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138654
  • Saikomol, S., Thepanondh, S., & Laowagul, W. (2019). Emission losses and dispersion of volatile organic compounds from tank farm of petroleum refinery complex. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 17(2), 561-570. doi:10.1007/s40201-019-00370-1
  • Shapiro, S. S., & Wilk, M. B. (1965). An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika, 52(3/4), 591-611. doi:10.2307/2333709
  • Spencer, D. (2019). BP Statistical Review of World Energy. Ed. BP Stat. Rev. World Energy, 68, 1-69. Retrieved from https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2019-full-report.pdf
  • Turkish Standards Institution (2006), Ambient air quality - Diffusive samplers for the determination of concentrations of gases and vapours - Requirements and test methods - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Standard No: 13528-[1, 2, 3]). Retrieved from https://www.tse.org.tr/
  • Turner, D. B. (1994). Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling. CRC press. US Environmental Protection Agency. (1995). Compilation of air pollutant emission factors. AP-42, Vol. I: Stationary point and area sources, Chapter 7: Liquid Storage Tanks. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch07/final/ch07s01.pdf
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Environmental Engineering
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Talha Kemal Koçak 0000-0002-2764-0994

Publication Date March 6, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 9 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Koçak, T. K. (2022). A Modeling Framework to Quantify Routine VOC Emissions and Concentrations from Organic Liquid Tanks. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 9(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.943706