Since expanding our dedicated division for Temp CEMS (Temporary Continuous Emissions Monitoring System) services, Alliance specialists are busier in the field than ever. We caught up with the group manager while he was on standby after installing Temp CEMS systems on three temporary boilers.

Jett, describe your service and what stands out about Alliance’s Temp CEMS?

First, we have personnel and equipment fully dedicated to Temp CEMS, which allows us to respond immediately with real-time solutions. Recently, a refinery client called us on a Friday at lunchtime needing a Temp CEMS due to a system failure. Our team had one up and running the next day, on Saturday.

Ideally, we start a planning phase with our clients for these projects, and we engage all client participants early on. We collaborate with the capital project managers and other stakeholders such as Environmental, Instrument and Electrical, Safety, IT, and any relevant external consultants and contractors. This helps ensure that we’re all aligned and working toward the same goal.

And what types of equipment typically need temporary CEMS support?

We provide monitoring support for all manner of emission sources and process lines. We often monitor the exhaust from boilers, furnaces, and turbines, but we do a lot of process monitoring as well; things like fuel drums, flare gases and inlet streams to various emission control devices like thermal oxidizers.

What pollutant or gas stream constituents are you typically monitoring?

All our monitoring is client-specific, so it depends. Commonly, we monitor oxygen or carbon dioxide and criteria pollutants like nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and VOC’s. We measure multiple sulfur gases species like hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and mercaptans.

We routinely conduct Btu and speciated hydrocarbon analysis for the determination of flare gas net heating value as well. We typically measure the speciated sulfurs and hydrocarbons using a gas chromatograph. Sometimes we’ll measure the exhaust volumetric flowrate too.

Are there ever surprises in this type of project?

Even with careful planning we still encounter the occasional surprise, like needing a second system for an undisclosed inlet stream or emission source. The planning process gives us an opportunity to think things through with our clients, which limits the number of surprises we encounter.