Source: http://envirosys.com/Resources/Articles/One-Page-Tips/OPT-Six-Planning-for-RATAs
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 11:27:07
Document Index: 690264126

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 75', '§75', '§6', '§6', '§6', 'art 60']

OPT Six: Planning for RATAs - ESC | Environmental Systems Corporation
Resources > Articles > One Page Tips > OPT Six: Planning for RATAs
OPT Six: Planning for RATAs
November's One Page Tip consists of planning for RATAs, actual RATA activities, and wrapping it up.
One Page Tip #6
When is the Next RATA Due, RATA Activities During the Day, and Let’s Move On
Generate a copy of the “QA Test Status Report”. This report will provide the answer to the second question below, plus other information about your RATA history, and other relevant information.
Preparation is the key to successfully passing a RATA and achieving good results.
Verify in SV when the last RATA was successfully complete for all your P75 systems and when the next RATA needs to be completed by. Performing RATAs for Hg, HF and HCL systems will be addressed in the OPT’s for P63.
Perform a review of the operating load records recorded in SV for a period of not less than four calendar quarters. Each quarter needs to contain at least 168 operating hours to qualify as a “QA operating quarter”. Use the “Operating Load Analysis Report” (Reports → Part 75 → Operating Load Analysis) starting with the first day following the completion of the last previous RATA for each system. Gas RATAs are not necessarily performed all on the same day so review your previous RATA records carefully.
Most state and local air quality agencies require advance and written notice (email is sometimes accepted) about when these performance evaluation tests (RATAs) are to be conducted. This notice is submitted under the signature of the Designated Official. Notification is also required to be sent to the regional office of the EPA at least 21 calendar days in advance of the scheduled test date. This notice requirement can be avoided under certain recertification provisions, but review section §75.61(a) for further details.
Each year, a stratification test should be performed by the stack testers prior to beginning the gas RATA to determine the number of sample points needed for the stack testers to get a representative set of readings for each run for the gas RATA. This requirement is identified in Appendix A, §6.5.5., §6.5.6.1., and at other locations as well. Stratification test results are to be retained on site and are part of the RATA supplementary records.
Prior to beginning the flow RATA, the reference method traverse points must be selected using the Performance Specifications listed in Appendix A, §6.5.6. and following reference method 1 of Appendix B to Part 60.
Acceptable RATA Relative Accuracy (RA) results are: P75 gas and flow must not be > 10.0%. If RA is >7.5 and < 10.0%, then the next RATA must be performed within the next two (2) calendar quarters. If RA < 7.5%, then the next RATA must be performed within the next four (4) calendar quarters. Many CEM operators strive to achieve a relative accuracy < 5%. Repeating a RATA is possible and certainly advisable, but remember, to keep the stack testing team on site costs money (probably $3,000 - $5,000). Bringing them back on site will cost even more because of additional mobilization costs. And, controlling the dispatch of the unit for a second day will involve added operating costs. Talk with all those parties involved.
Once the RATA runs begin, you have 168 operating hours in which to complete all of the necessary runs, although most single load RATAs can be completed within one (1) to six (6) hours.
In the RATA editor, there is an option to “Optimize” the RATA results. When this option is selected, SV will evaluate all the data for your RATA data runs and determine which set of nine pairs will give you the lowest relative accuracy (RA) results. If ten runs are recorded, SV will select the nine runs which give the best relative accuracy results. If eleven or twelve runs are recorded, SV will still select the best set of nine results and unselect the remaining runs.
Besides reviewing the relative accuracy results, and the duration for when the next RATA must be performed (two or four calendar quarters), look at the Bias Adjustment Factors (BAFs) derived for each of the RATA results. The BAF calculated by the stack testers and in SV need to match. BAFs are not used or applied by either a CO2 or O2 hourly data.
Wrapping Up and Moving On:
It’s important to wrap up these test results, nail them down and move on.
When you receive the final RATA report from your stack testers (usually within 2-3 weeks), review and compare each of the averages recorded for each run, the relative accuracy results, and the other results shown on their summary page versus what you have recorded in the RATA Editor. If the two don’t agree, then you need to contact your testing contractor and work out the differences.
Review your in-house RATA procedure for updating hourly data based on the RATA results. If, during final review, you changed any data in SV, you need to reprocess the hourly data due to a change in a BAF may also trigger the need to accumulate daily, monthly, quarterly or year to date (YTD) totals or averages. Be sure to consult and follow your existing data processing procedures. The reprocessing begins with the first full hour following the completion of the last RATA run of the affected monitoring system.
When your RATA records are finalized in SV, then generate a QA EDR file and run it through ECMPS. If the evaluation report shows and critical errors, they must be resolved in SV, a new file generated, and evaluated again in ECMPS. It is important you resolve these errors now.
When the RATA is completed, it’s a very good idea to review the hourly data for the hours surrounding when the RATA was being conducted. There should be enough data points recorded in each hour for a valid hourly average.
Do you need to update your RATA procedure? Are there any lessons learned or better steps to follow that you uncovered during this round of testing? Update them now to improve your chances for success.
Consider locking down your RATA data base so that it does not get accidentally changed or altered. Use the “Data Locking Wizard” found under “Tools” under the Main Menu page of SV.
Jon Konings, Senior Regulatory and Reporting Engineer, ESC