EN_PME_TEST Eranet project : A common European method to determine particle matter emissions (PME) from residential heating appliances and boilers burning solid fuels, main outcomes

The 20/20/20 target for Europe, i.e. to decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 % and to increase the use of renewable energy to 20% by the year 2020, will lead to an increased use of biomass combustion, e.g. using wood logs and wood pellets. On the other hand, the Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) lies down stringent requirements on maximum levels of particulate matter (PM) in the ambient air. Solid fuel burning appliances and boilers produce particulate matter emissions (PME) which are of concern to authorities and the public. The soot and organic components of these emissions are of most concern because they include compounds known for their potential impact on human health and the environment. Because of their small size, generally of the order of 1 micrometer, they readily pass through the nose and throat into the lungs. Some organic gaseous carbons (OGC) in the flue gas are precursors for secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed in the atmosphere due to photo-oxidation under the influence of UV-radiation. Many different methods have historically been used to measure PME from the flue gas of solid fuelled residential appliances and boilers. Confusion has arisen in the market as different and conflicting results have been quoted in manufacturers' literature. It became important to agree on a method applicable for all types of residential appliances and boilers burning solid fuels. This method shall give repeatable results that are of a guaranteed traceable accuracy, and by this means give the consumer reliable information on the suitability of a particular appliance or boiler. In January 2012 the joint European Co-normative Research Project Common European method for the determination of particulate matter emissions of solid fuel burning appliances and boilers (EN-PME-TEST) started. Its aim was to develop and validate a common European test method to determine particle matter emissions from residential heating appliances and boilers burning solid fuels. The project group is a well balanced consortium of research and test establishments comprising some 17 partners from 10 European countries, coordinated by INERIS, France. The project has been performed under the umbrella of the ERANET Bioenergy. The contribution of the different consortium partners has been funded by their national funding agencies or by using self funding. Following the work performed during the project, within the different methods tested, one was selected by the consortium to be proposed, as candidate for standardisation It is based on well known measurement techniques. It consists of the collection of the solid PME fraction using a heated filter and the measurement of OGC using a FID analyzer. PME and OGC sampling gas trains are kept at the identical temperature of 180°. For the definition of the method, the parameters that have influence on the measurement result, such as temperature control have particularly been tested. The uncertainty of the method has been determined thanks to two inter-comparisons on real sources (pellet boiler and wood log stove) performed during the project. The paper proposed here will present : - the different steps of the project that lead to the selection of the candidate method; - a detailed description of the candidate method; - the characteristics of the methods in terms repeatability, reproducibility; - the perspectives and coming steps concerning dissemination of the method and standardisation