Using Automatic Odour Measurement and Dispersion Modelling Systems as Everyday Tools within Municipal Waste Treatment
Maurice Bottomley, European Sales Manager, Applied Chemicals Anwendungs Technik
(free)
Abstract:
The waste and waste water management industry, like many other sectors, faces numerous challenges in meeting its IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive obligations. Not least amongst these obligations is the management of airborne emissions, which are highly likely to be odorous for this industry sector. Thus anything that can assist with the management of odorous emissions should have some value within this sector.
This paper reviews some of the options that are available to those people within the waste and waste water management industry who have an interest in continuously measuring odours and odorous emissions, and automatically modelling the dispersion of these emissions, thereby providing real-time, or at least recently up-to-date, information of such emissions. The technologies outlined in this paper range from relatively low-cost ‘plug and play’ tactical solutions to more expensive and expansive bespoke systems.
Other papers within this seminar on ‘Controlling & Eliminating Odour Emissions from Waste Handling Facilities’ contain information on Odour Management Plans, pilot trials, dispersion modelling, satisfying odour complainants, abatement techniques, etc. and it is hoped that this paper will allow readers with an interest in these topics to have a better understanding of some of the practical tools available to them so that they can better manage these.
Key Words: MeasureStar, OdoCheck, OdoNose, OdoScan, OdoWatch, Purenviro
Introduction
In recent years there has been a rapid evolution in the environmental legislation covering, and reporting procedures required by, the waste and waste water management sector. As a result of this the IPPC Directive is now on the statute book for countries within the EU (European Union). As part of the implementation of this legislation waste and waste water management facilities have obligations to measure and manage odorous emissions. Fortunately, alongside the evolution of environmental legislation, there has been a complementary development in technologies that enable operators, consultants, regulators and others within this sector to better manage the implementation of IPPC and improve the performance of their operations.
In addition to the implementation of the IPPC Directive throughout the EU there has been a concerted drive to alter many traditional waste management methods, in response to the demands of climate change, greenhouse gas reduction, sustainability, etc. such that much more organic waste matter is now being utilised in Energy-from-Waste facilities – many of which are located in urban environments. One result of this change in waste management techniques is that increasing numbers of facilities are being built, with these producing or being capable of producing odorous emissions, in locations where significant numbers of odour receptors are present. This situation has led to a growth in the numbers of complaints about odours and these levels are likely to further increase in the future. Thus the need for tools to help measure, model the dispersion of and manage odorous emissions is more relevant today that at any time in the past. Included in the body of this paper are details of a number of odour measurement and dispersion modelling technologies, some of which maybe integrated, to provide solutions to the waste and waste water sector.
