NOx Air Emissions: Strong BACT Options for Scrubbers

Summary for nox air emissions Discussion

NOx air emissions and best available control technology are the core issue in this thread. Rico Maas describes an aluminum cleaning line with a 50% nitric acid tank and a 3.4% caustic tank, and says the planned control device is a vertical wet scrubber with APE mesh pads, chevron blades, a 6-foot packed bed, and 3200 acfm air removal to control HNO3 mist and NOx. The local air authority is requiring a BACT review before installation, but the permit engineer suggested BACT may not need to be especially exhaustive—just supported by other listed controls. Rico says he could not find much in the BACT/RACT/LAER Clearinghouse or online for this process and asks for possible control devices or a BACT analysis approach. The excerpt provided contains the question only, so no answerer recommendations are shown.

Q. Hello,

We have an aluminum cleaning line consisting of one tank of 50% nitric and one tank of 3.4% caustic. We will be using a Vertical wet scrubber to control HNO3 vapors/mist and subsequent NOx emissions. The scrubber we had designed for us has APE mesh pads, chevron blades, and has a 6ft packed bed. The air removal is 3200acfm. The local air authority is requiring us to do some form of BACT (Best Available Control Technology), before the installation of this device. After speaking with the permit engineer, I determined that BACT doesn’t need to be that thorough, just have other control listed. There in lies the problem, searching the internet and the BACT/RACT/LAER Clearinghouse I haven’t really been able to determine other control equipment that could be used for this process.

Any input for possible control devices or BACT analysis would be greatly appreciated.

Rico Maas
– Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
May 17, 2012