Field Emission Measurements of Barge Loading and Unloading

Because of explosion hazards, much of the historical measurement database for grain elevators was developed to provide worst-case design criteria for dust collection devices (such as cyclones and baghouses). However, from an air pollution aspect, it is the amount of dust that escapes from the elevator and is released to the ambient atmosphere that is of interest. A 1995 testing program confirmed suspicions that prior factors severely overestimated the air pollution emissions from elevators and provided the basis for the more accurate emission factors now in AP-42. Tests discussed in this paper extend measurement methods applied at inland elevators to operations involving barges and marine vessels, with the following objectives: 1. Develop scientifically defensible PM (uncontrolled) emission factors for grain handling operations involving barges and marine vessels. 2. Explore the effect that different operational features have on emission levels. 3. Collect information on the size distribution of PM emissions from barge/vessel operations. Barges and marine vessels present significant challenges to successful field testing because of limite