5 Reasons to use Process Mass Spectrometry in Flare Stack Emission Monitoring

Flare stacks are usually tall tubular structures seen at industrial plants, chemical companies, refineries, the coal operations and landfills, to name few industries. Flare stacks emit excess hydrocarbon gases that cannot be recovered or recycled. These gases combined with steam and/or air are burnt off in the flare system and are a major cause of greenhouse gases that pollute the environment. Increasingly, national and local government bodies are requiring processing companies to monitor the various emissions from their plant stacks and flares to reduce the amount of pollution entering the atmosphere and threaten the environment.

Process mass spectrometry is an optimal technique for handling the challenges of flare gas in the processing industry. Process mass spectrometers operate by ionizing neutral sample gas molecules, and the resulting charged particle components are separated according to their molecular weight. Process mass spectrometry is recommended because it offers accurate, fast, multicomponent analysis.

We’ve outlined 5 Reasons to use Process Mass Spectrometry in Flare Stack Emission Monitoring:

Process mass spectrometers can measure flare gas and process streams with a single analyzer – many analyzers can produce full stream composition in 30 seconds or less.
Comply with regulations 40 CFR Parts 60 & 63 and 40 CFR part 60 (subpart ja). Process mass spectrometers can report net heating value and sulfur.
The linearity of a magnetic sector mass spectrometers is superior to a gas chromatograph.
Optimization on a per-stream basis of an unlimited number of analysis methods
Process mass spectrometers have proven availability >99% with automated calibration methods.

More details available on the infographic: 5 Reasons to use Process Mass Spectrometry in Flare Stack Emission Monitoring.