P.1 

OAR Box 1115 

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Document Number: 

87) ll-A-19 

Docket Number: 

A-84-22 

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P.2 

-.£1.1594 fi -rf~?2- _ix_ — n — i 7 

FEDERAL REGULATIONS 

•VCTTBOD S VISOAI. DZTZaMUvT/mON OT - TH I 

OPiCTIT OF EMISSIONS VBOM BTATIONAET 

SOITIICTfl • 

Many stationary sources discharge visible 

emissions Into the atmosphere; these emissions ere usually ln the shape of a plume. 

This method Involves the determination of 

plume opacity by qualified observers. Tht 

method includes procedures for the training 

and certification of observers, and procedures 

to be used ln the field for determination of 

plume opacity. The appearance of a plume as 

viewed by an observer depends upon a number of variables, some of which may be controllable and some of which may not be 

controllable ln the field. Variables which can 

be controUed to an extent to which they no 

longer exert a significant influence upon 

plume appearance include: .ingle of the observer with respect to the plume; angle of the 

observer with respect to the sun; point of 

observation of attached and detached steam 

plume; and angle of the observer with respect to a plume emitted from a rectangular 

stack with a large length to width ratio. The 

method Includes specific criteria applicable 

to these variables. 

Other variables which may not be controllable ln the field are luminescence and color 

contrast between the plume and the back--

ground against which the plume is viewed. 

These variables exert an influence upon the 

appearance of a plume as viewed by an observer, and can affect the ability of the observer to accurately assign opacity values 

to the observed plume. Studies of the theory 

of plume opacity and field studies have demonstrated that a plume ls most visible -and 

presents the greatest apparent opacity when 

viewed against a contrasting background. It 

follows from this, and ls confirmed by field 

trials, that the opacity of a plume, viewed 

under conditions where a contrasting background ls present can be assigned with the 

greatest degree of accuracy. However, the potential for a positive error ls also the greatest 

when a plume ls viewed under such contrasting conditions. Under conditions presenting 

a less contrasting background, the apparent 

opacity of a plume is less and approaches 

zero as the color and luminescence contrast 

decrease toward zero. As a result* significant 

negative bias and negative errors can be 

made when a plume is viewed under less 

contrasting conditions. A negative bias decreases rather than increases the possibility 

that a plant operator will be cited for a violation of opacity standards due to observer 

error. 

Studies have been undertaken to determine 

the magnitude of positive errors which can 

be made by qualified observers while reading plumes under contrasting conditions and 

using the procedures set forth In this 

method. The .results of these -studies (field 

trials) which involve a total of 769 sets of 

25 readings each are as follows: 

(l),For black plumes (133 sets at a smoke 

generator), 100 percent of the sets were 

read with a positive error1 of less than "7.5 

percent opacity; 99 percent* were read with 

' a positive error ef less than S percent opacity. 

(2) For white plumes (170 sets at a smoke 

generator, 168 sets at a coal-fired power plant, 

298 sets at a sulfuric acid plant) ,9 9 percent 

of the sets were read with a positive error of 

less than 7.5 percent opacity; 95 percent were 

read with a positive error of less than 6 percent opacity. 

The. positive observational error associated 

with an average of twenty-five readings ls 

therefore established. The accuracy of the 

method must be taken Into account when 

determining possible .violations of applicable opacity standards. 

' "-"""or a set, positive error=average opacity 

determined by observers' 25 observations— 

average opacity determined from transmlssonJeter-s 25 recordings. 

1. Principle ani. appHeabaity. 

U Principle. The opacity of emissions 

from stationary sources is determined visually by a qualified observer. 

' 1.2 Applicability. This method Is applicable for the determination of the opacity 

of emissions from iWtionary M-ixces pur*. 

Uuant to t 60.11(b) and.for qualifying observers for visually determining opacity cf 

emissions. 

2. Procedure*. The observer qualified In 

accordance with paragraph 3 Of this method 

shall use the following procedures for visually determining the opacity ot emissions; 

.2 J Position.' In e qualified observer shall 

stand at a distance sufficient to provide e, 

clear view of the emissions' with the sun 

oriented in the 140* sector to his back. Consistent with rnalntBlntng the above requirement, the observer shall, as much ae possible, 

make his observations from a position such 

that his line of vision ls appro.dmfttely 

perpendicular to the plume direction, and 

when observing opacity of emissions from 

rectangular outlets (e.g. roof monitors, open 

baghouses, noncircular stacks), approximately perpendicular to the longer axis of 

the outlet. The observer's line of sight shouM 

not include more than one plume at a time 

when multiple stacks are involved, and in 

any case the observer should make his ob~ 

servatlons with his line of sight perpendicular to the longer axis of such a set-of multiple stacks (e.g. 6tub stacks on baghouses). 

2 2 Field records. The observer shall record the name of the plant, emission location, type facility, observer's name and 

affiliation, and the date on a field data sheet 

(Figure 9-1). The time, estimated distance 

to the emission location, approximate wind 

direction, estimated wind speed, description, 

of the sky condition (presence and color of 

clouds), and plume background are recorded 

on a field data sheet at the time opacity readings are initiated and completed. 

Environment Reporter (Appendix A, Method 9] 56 

A 

£ 
P.3 

STATIONARY SOURCES S-745 

121:1595 

.' 3.3 'Obavervatlons. Opacity observations 

shall be made at the point of greatest opacity 

in that portion of the plume where condensed water vapor ls not present. The observer ' shall not look continuously at the 

plume, but Instead shall observe the plume 

momentarily at 16-second intervolo. 

2.3.1 Attached steam plumes. When condensed water vapor Is present within the 

plume as lt emerges from the emission outlet, opacity observations shall be made be-* 

yond the point ln the plume at which condensed water vapor is no longer visible. The 

observer ahall record the approximate distance from the emission outlet to the point 

ln the plume at which the observations are 

made. 

- 2.3.2 .Detached steam plume. When water 

vapor in the plume condenses and becomes 

visible at & distinct distance from the. emission outlet, the opacity of emissions should 

be evaluated at the emission outlet prior to 

the condensation of water vapor and the formation of the steam plume, 

2.3.3 Fugitive emissions. [Removed] 

[2.3.3 added by 49 FR 6464, February 21, 

1984; removed by 50 FR 24472, June 13, 

1985] 

2.5 ^Recording ooservations. Opacity observations shall be recorded-to the nearest 5 

percent at 15-second Intervals on an ob* 

servatlonal record sheet. (See Figure '9-2. for 

anjsxample.) A tninimilm of 24 observations 

shall De recorded. Each momentary observation, .recorded shall be deemed to represent 

the average opacity of emissions for a 15-

second period. 

2.5 Data Reduction. Opacity shall be determined &s an average of 24 consecutive 

observations recorded at 15-sccond intervals. 

Divide the observatlocs recorded on the rec-1 

ord sheet info sets of 24 cocsecutlve observations. A set ls composed of any 24 consscutlve observations. Sets need not be consecutive in time and ln no case shall two 

sets-overlap. For each set of 24 observations, 

calculate the average by summing the opacity 

of the 24 observations and dividing this sum 

by 24. If an applicable standard specifies an 

averaging time requiring more than 3d observations, calculate the average, for all observations made during the specified time, 

period. Record the average opacity on a record 

sheet. (See Figure 9-1 for an example.) 

3. Qualifications and testing. 

3.1 Certlncatlon requirements. To receive 

certification as a qualified observer, a candidate must be tested aud demonstrate the 

ability to assign opacity readings in 5 percent 

Increments to 26 different black plumes and 

96 different white plumes, with on error 

Cot ts exceed 15 percent opacity on any one 

reading and an average error .not to exceed 

7.5 percent opacity ln each category. Candidates shall be tested accordlsg to the procedures described in paragraph 3J2. Smoke 

generators used pursuant.to paragraph 3.2 

shall be equipped with a smoke meter which 

meets the requirements of paragraph 3.3. 

The certification shall be valid for a period 

of 6 months, at which time the qualification 

procedure must be repeated by any observer 

ln order to retain certification. 

3.2 Certification proceuure. The certification test consists of showing the candidate a 

complete run of 50 plumes—25 black plumes 

and 25 white plumes—generated by a smoke 

generator. Plumes within each set of 25 black 

and 25 white runs shall be presented ln random order. The candidate assigns an opacity 

value to" each plume and records his observation on a suitable form. At the completion 

of each run of 50 readings, the score of the 

candidate to-determined. If a candidate falls 

to qualify, the complete run of 50 readings 

must be repeated in any retest. The smoke 

test may be administered as part of a smoke 

school or training program, and may be preceded by training or familiarization runs of 

the smoke generator during which candidates 

are shown black and white plumes of known 

opacity. 

S3 Smoke generator specifications. Any 

smoke gsnerator used for the purposes of 

paragraph 8.2 shall be equipped with a smoke 

meter installed to measure opacity across 

the diameter of the smoke generator stack. 

The smoke meter output shall display instack opacity based upon a pathlength equal 

t o the stack exit diameter, on a full 0 to 100 

percent chart recorder scale. The smoke 

meter optical design and performance shall 

meet the specifications shown in Table 9-1. 

The smoke meter shall be calibrated as prescribed in paragraph 8.3.1 prior to the conduct of. each.smoke reading test. At the 

completion of each test, the zero and span 

drift shall be checked and lf the drift exceeds -tl percent opacity, the condition shall 

be correoted prior to conducting any subsequent test runs. The smoke meter shall be 

demonstrated, at the time of installation, to 

meet the specifications listed ln Table 9-1. 

This demonstration shall be repeated following any subsequent repair or replacement 

of the photocell or associated electronic circuitry including the chart recorder or output 

meter, or every 6 months', whichever occurs 

first. 

TaUJXS S-1—SMOKE METEB DESIGN ANU 

PEaFOEMANCE EPECmCATIONS 

Parameter: 

a. Light source. 

b. Spectral response 

of photocell. 

c. Angle of view... . 

d. .4ngle of projection. 

e. Calibration error. 

f. Zero and span 

. drift. 

g. Response time.. . 

Specification 

Incandescent lamp 

operated at nominal 

rated voltage. 

Photopic (daylight' 

spectral response of 

the human eye -

reference 4.3). 

15° maximum total 

angle. 

15° maximum total 

angle. 

±3% opacity, maximum.' 

±1 % opacity, . 30 

minutes. 

£ 5 seconds. 

3.3.1 Calibration. The' smoke meter: ls 

calibrated after allowing a minimum of 30 

minutes warmup by alternately producing 

simulated opacity of 0 percent and 100 percent. -When stable response at 0 percent or 

100 percent ls noted, the smoke meter ls adJusted to produce an output of 0 percent or 

100 percent, as appropriate. This calibration 

shall be repeated until stable 0 percent and 

100 percent readings are produced without 

adjustment. Simulated 0 percent and 100 

percent opacity values may be produced by 

alternately switching, the power to the light 

source on and off while the smoke generator 

ls not producing smoke. 

3.3.2 Smoke meter evaluation. The smoke 

meter design and performance are to be 

evaluated as follows: 

3.3.2.1 Light source. Verify from manufacturer's data and from voltage measurements made at the lamp, as installed, that 

the lamp ls operated within £S percent of 

T.tjn_nomlnal rated voltage. 

3J3J2J3 Spectral response of photocell. 

Verify from manufacturer's data that the 

photocell has a photopic. response; i.e, the 

spectral sensitivity of the cell shall closejly. 

approximate, the standard epectTal-iumlnosity curve for photopic vision which is referenced in (b) of Table 9-1. 

8.3-2.3 .Angle of view. Check construction 

geometry to ensure that the total angle of 

view of the. smoke plume, as 6een by the 

photocell, does not exceed 15°. The total 

angle of view may be calculated from: 6=2 

tan-* d/ZL, where «=total angle of view; 

d=tb e sum of the photocell diameter+the 

diameter of the limiting aperture; and 

L=th e distance from the photocell to the 

limiting aperture. The limiting aperture .is 

the point in the path between the photocell 

and the smoke plume where the angle of 

view is most restricted. In smoke generator 

smoke meters this ls normally an orifice 

plate. 

8.3.2.4 Angle of projection. Check construction geometry to ensure that the total 

angle of projection of the lamp on the' 

smoke plume does not exceed 15°. The total 

angle of projection may be calculated from:' 

0=2 tan-1 d/2L. where 6= total angle of projection; d= the sum of the length of the 

lamp filament + the diameter of the limiting 

aperture; and L= the distance from the lamp 

to the limiting aperture. 

3.3.2.5 Calibration error. Using neutraldensity filters of known opacity, check the 

error~between the actual response and the* 

theoretical linear response of the smoke 

meter. This check ls accomplished by first 

calibrating the smoke meter according to 

S.3.1 and then Inserting a series of three 

neutral-density filters of nominal opacity of 

20, 50, and 75 percent ln the smoke meter 

pathlength. Filters callbarted within ±3 percent shall be used. Care should be taken 

when inserting the filters to prevent stray 

light from affecting the meter. Make a total 

of five nonconsecutlve readings for each, 

filter. The maximum error on any one reading shall be 3 percent opacity. 

3.3.2.6 Zero and span drift. Determine 

the zero and span drift by calibrating and 

operating the smoke generator ln a normal 

manner over a 1-hour period. The drift ls 

measured by checking the zero and span at 

the end of this period. 

332.1 Response time. Determine the response time by producng the series of five 

simulated 0 percent and 100 percent opacity 

values and observing the time required tn 

reach stable response. Opacity values of 0 

percent and IOO percent may be simulated 

by alternately switching the power to the 

light source off and on while the smoke 

generator ls not operating. 

4. References. 

4 J Air Pollution Control District Rules 

and Regulations, Los Angeles County Air 

Pollution Control District, Regulation IV, 

Prohibitions, Rule 50.' 

6-28-85 

[Appendix A, Method 9] 

Published by THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS INC., Washington. D.C. 20037 41 
P.4 

121:1596 FEDERAL REGULATIONS 

4.2 Weisburd, Melvln I., Field Operations, 

and Enforcement Manual for Air, TJJ3. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C, APTD-1100, August 1972. 

pp. 4.1-4.36.. 

4 3 Condon, E. U , and Odlshaw, H, Handbook of Physics, McGraw-Hill Co., N.Y, N.Y, 

.1956, Table 3.1, p. 6-62. 

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[Appendix A, Method 9] 

Published by THE BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS. INC.. WASHINGTON. D C 20037 87