Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 400-499 - Environmental Protection - Air Pollution Control
Chapter NR 439 - Reporting, Recordkeeping, Testing, Inspection AndDetermination Of Compliance Requirements
Section NR 439.055 - Methods and procedures for determining compliance using instrumentation of air pollution control equipment and source processes

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code § NR 439.055

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) The department may require the owner or operator of a source to install and operate instrumentation to monitor the operation of the source or of air pollution control equipment. Unless otherwise specified by the department, for the following types of air pollution control equipment, the indicated operational variables shall, at a minimum, be monitored:

(a) Baghouses - pressure drop across the baghouse in inches of water.

(b) Mechanical collectors - pressure drop across the collector in inches of water.

(c) Electrostatic precipitators - primary and secondary voltage in volts, primary and secondary current in amps, and sparking rate in sparks per minute.

(d) Incinerators - temperature in the primary chamber and the afterburner in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius (centigrade).

(e) Wet scrubbers for control of particulates - pressure drop across the scrubber and demister in inches of water and scrubber liquor flow in gallons per minute.

(f) Absorption equipment for control of gases - pressure drop across the absorber and demister in inches of water, and pH of the absorbing fluid, if appropriate.

(g) Adsorption equipment - pressure drop across the adsorber and prefilter in inches of water, and temperature within the adsorber in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius (centigrade).

(2) When the department requires instrumentation to monitor the operation of a source or of air pollution control equipment, the following monitoring and recording frequencies shall, at minimum, be used:

(a) Temperature in the primary chamber and afterburner of an incinerator shall be monitored and recorded every 15 minutes.

(b) The following operational variables shall be measured and recorded once for every 8 hours of source operation or once per day, whichever yields the greater number of measurements:

1. Pressure drop across baghouses, mechanical collectors, wet scrubbers, absorption equipment or adsorption equipment.

2. Current and secondary current in electrostatic precipitators.

3. Voltage in electrostatic precipitators.

4. The sparking rate from electrostatic precipitators.

5. Flow of liquor in wet scrubbers used for particulate control.

6. pH of absorption scrubbing fluid.

(3) When the department requires instrumentation to monitor the operation of air pollution control equipment, or to monitor source performance, the instrument shall measure operational variables with the following accuracy:

(a) The temperature monitoring device shall have an accuracy of 0.5% of the temperature being measured in degrees Fahrenheit or $ 5°F of the temperature being measured, or the equivalent in degrees Celsius (centigrade), whichever is greater.

(b) The pressure drop monitoring device shall be accurate to within 5% of the pressure drop being measured or within $1 inch of water column, whichever is greater.

(c) The current, voltage, flow or pH monitoring device shall be accurate to within 5% of the specific variable being measured.

(4) All instruments used for measuring source or air pollution control equipment operational variables shall be calibrated yearly or at a frequency based on good engineering practice as established by operational history, whichever is more frequent.

(5) The department may require, in an operation permit or order, the measurement of a greater number of source or air pollution control operational variables, more frequent monitoring of operational variables, more accurate measurement of operational variables or more frequent calibration of monitoring equipment than those required under subs. (1) to (4) if the department determines that these requirements are necessary to ensure that the source does not exceed an applicable emission limit, or to ensure that the requirements of chs. NR 400 to 499 are met.

(6) For any air pollution control equipment or monitoring instrumentation not specifically identified in subs. (1) and (2), the department may require, in an operation permit or order, and after consultation with the owner or operator of the facility, monitoring of air pollution control equipment operational variables and may specify the frequency of the monitoring and the type of monitoring instrumentation.

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