Environmental Consulting - Glossary & Terminology
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
acfm = actual cubic feet per minute
acid rain = a condition resulting from combination of atmospheric water vapor with pollutants such as SO x and NOx
AGRE = Acid Gas Removal Efficiency, % AGRE = (ASC-AST)(100)(ASC)
Air Pollution Index = an arbitrarily derived, mathematical combination of air pollutants which give a single number attempting to describe the ambient air quality. The formula API = 20 [SO+1(CO)+2(smoke shade)] has no scientifically derived basis. Experience indicates that the average value of this index in 12.0. An index reading of 50.0 is considered adverse and a cause for alarm.
Ambient air quality standards = those specified as for the general atmosphere in outdoor areas frequented by people, as opposed to stack or source emission standards.
ANPR = advance note of proposed rulemaking
APC = Air Pollution Control
APCD = Air Pollution Control District
AQCR = Air Quality Control Region 
AQMD = Air Quality Management District, as SCAQMD = South Coast (of California) AQMD.
AQMP = Air Quality Maintenance Plan
ARB = Air Resources Board, e.g. CARB for California ARB
ARIP = Accidental Release Information Program
AS = Area Source
ASC = Acid gases exiting on SCC, volume concentration
AST = Acid Stack Gases, volume concentration
ATERIS = Air Toxics Exposure and Risk Information System
Atmosphere fixation = thermal fixation – see thermal NO
Attainment area = region considered clean within the definition of clean air established by the NAAQS
BACT = Best Available Control Technology (process, not burner)
CAAA = Clean Air Act Amendments
CAP = Criteria Air Pollutant
CAPH = Combustion Air Preheat
CAS = Chemical Abstracts Service (of American Chemical Society)
CE = Combustion Efficiency, %CE=(CO 2)(100)/(CO 2+CO) where CO 2 & CO are stack volume concentrations (dgb) [per TSCA only – see DRE for RCRA].
CEM = Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEMS = …System)
CERCLA = Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabilities Act = “Superfund” (See also SARA)
cf = cubic foot or cubic feet, assumed stp, unless specified otherwise
CFCs = chlorofluorocarbons = refrigerants, propellant gases (deplete stratosphere ozone)
CFR = Code of Federal Regulations
CFR40 = Code of Federal (US) Regulations #40 on “Protection of Environment” (available from government book stores)
CGVI = Combustion Gas Velocity Indication
COH = Coefficient of Haze
C p = specific heat at constant pressure
credits = (see offsets)
criteria pollutants = CO (carbon monoxide, Pb (lead), NO (nitrogen dioxide), O (ozone), particulates, SO (sulfur dioxide).
CTG = Control Techniques Guidelines (see RACT)
DEC = Department of Environmental Conservation ( New York State)
Delta p = pressure difference or pressure drop (Δp)
De-NOx = (See Thermal De-NOx)
dgb = dry gas basis
DOD, E, J, L, T = Department of Defense, …Energy, Justice, Labor, Transportation
DOP = DiOctylPhthalate – for testing HEPA
dp = dew point
DRE = Destruction Rate Efficiency, per p 588, 40CFR#264 = (100%) (W in – W out)/(W in)
dscf = dry standard cubic feet (at 29.9” Hg and 60˚F)
EFSP = Equivalent fan static pressure
ehs = Extremely hazardous substance
ei = Emissions inventory
eis = environmental impact statement
EKMA = Empirical Kinetic Modeling Approach
EOP = Emission Offset Policy
EPA = Environmental Protection Agency. The US EPA was established by Clean Air Acts of 1967 and 1970.
FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency
FFIC = fuel flow indicating controller
FIP = Federal Implementation Plan
Fixed nitrogen = nitrogen combined in fuels
FM = Factory Mutual insurance system
FO = fuel oil
fps = feet per second (scfs = standard cubic feet per second)
FR = Federal Register
FRP = fiberglass reinforced plastic
Fuel NOx = nitrogen oxides from N atoms in the fuel in forms other than N 2; i.e. from fixed nitrogen
FY = ration control device
GACT = Generally Available Control Technology
GAO = General Accounting Office
GEP = Good Engineering Policy
Global warming = a currently suspected trend to warmer climatic conditions on planet earth. See greenhouse…
GPO = Government Printing Office
gr = grains (700 gr = 1 pound avoirdupois = 1 lb avdp)
greenhouse effect – trapped heat under the earth’s atmosphere by…
greenhouse gases = principally carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, nitrus oxide, and ozone, all of which are opaque to re-radiation of infrared heat from earth to space. (They are transparent to the wavelength of solar radiation – hence the thermal build-up as in a greenhouse.)
hap = hazardous air pollutant; HAPPS = …prioritization system
hazmat = hazardous material
HCl = HydroChloric Acid (chemically HCl)
HEPA = High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters
HHV or hhv = Higher Heating Value – gross heating or calorific value
HRS = hazard ranking system
Inversion = an atmospheric phenomenon in which a mass of warm air moves over a mass of cool air, resulting in a stable stagnation that causes accumulation rather than ventilation of warm polluted air rising from the earth.
LAER = Lowest Achievable Emission Rate
LHV or lhv = Lower Heating Value = net heating or calorific value
MACT = Maximum Achievable Control Technology
maf = moisture and ash-free
major stationary source = any plant in a designated list of 28 industries that emits 100 tons/year of a regulated pollutant or any stationary source that emits 250 tons/year
major modification = variance of code resulting in a “significant” emissions increase
msa = metropolitan statistical area; MSA = Mine Safety Appliance Company
NAAQS = National Ambient air Quality Standards – those specified as for the general atmosphere in outdoor areas frequented by people as opposed to stack or source emission standards
NaOH = Sodium Hydroxide
NEPA = National Environmental Policy act
NESHAP = National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
NFPA = National Fire Protection Association
NIOSH = National Institute from Occupational Safety and Health
nmhc = non-methane hydrocarbons (reactive gases)
NO = nitric oxide – a compound often formed in combustion reactions at temperatures above 3000˚F
NO 2 = nitrogen dioxide-involved in the photo-oxidation (by sunshine) of Hydrocarbons, forming eye-irritating smog. It usually comes from reaction of NO with oxygen from the air at atmospheric temperature
NOD = Notice of Deficiency
Non-attainment area = region where the air quality is below that established by the NAAQS
NOx = NO x = nitrogen oxides, specifically NO and NO 2. NO (nitric oxide) + NO 2 (nitrogen dioxide) collectively
NPDES = National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System
NPRM = Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
NSPS = New Source Performance Standards
nsr = new source review
NTIS = National Technical Information Service, US Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161
O = Ozone – a photochemical oxidant
Offsets = emission credits (by purchase or trade) for use when moving an operation into a non-attainment area. Offsets have a time window.
OGT = Off-Gas Treatment
ORD = Office of Research & Development
OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PC = Particulate concentration, corrected to 7% O 2 standard, Pc=Pm(21-7)(21-Y) Where Pm = Particulate concentration, measured Y = measured volume % O 2 in the stack (dgb)
PCB = PolyChlorinated Biphenyl
PCC = Primary Combustion Chamber (most often a rotary kiln)
PEL = Permissible Exposure Limits (OSHA)
pH = a chemical term used to define the acidity of a solution. A pH of 0-7 is acid; 7 is neutral; 7-14 is alkaline
photochemical smog (now often called simply “smog”) = haze produced by photochemical oxidation, accompanied by eye irritation, plant damage, ozone formation, and characteristic odor
pic = products of incomplete combustion
PIC = Pressure Indicating Controller
P&ID = Process & Instrument Diagram
PID = Proportional/Integral/Derivative control (gain/rate/reset)
PM 10 = particulate matter nominally < micrometers in diameter (ambient air std)
Pna = poly nuclear aromatics – hydrocarbons containing 2 or more fused rings, including one benzene ring; a product of incomplete combustion
POC = Products of Combustion (often assumed complete combustion)
POHC = Principle Organic Hazard Constituent
ppb = parts per billion, assumed ppb v (by volume)
ppm = parts per million (assumed by volume, ppm v, unless specified as by weight). 1 ppm = 0.0000001, or 0.0001%
ppmv = parts per million based on volume
Primary Standards = protect public health; secondary standards protect public welfare
Priority 1 areas = places where ambient air pollution already exceeds primary standards
psd = prevention of significant deterioration (in air quality)
psia = pounds per square inch absolute (vs. psig = …gauge)
RACT = Reasonably Available Control Technology; RACM = …Measure
RCRA = Resources Conservation and Recovery Act
rdf = refuse-derived fuel
REL = Recommended Exposure Limits (NIOSH)
rh = relative humidity (%)
RKI = Rotary Kiln Incinerator
rog = reactive organic gases ~ voc
ROM = regional Oxidant Model
RTECS = Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
SARA = Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (See CERCLA)
SBA = Small Business Administration
SCAQMD = South Coast Air Quality Management District (of California)
SCC = Secondary Combustion Chamber
scr = selective catalytic reduction, a form of de-NOx
SGM = Stack Gas Monitoring
“significant´ increase in emission (potential), in tons/year is
40 tpy for NOx |
7 tpy for sulfuric acid mist |
3 tpy for fluorides |
40 tpy for ozone |
10 tpy for total reduced sulfur, including H 2S |
10 tpy for hydrogen sulfide |
25 tpy for particulates |
0.007 for asbestos |
0.6 for lead |
11 tpy for PM10 |
0.0004 tpy for beryllium |
0.1 tpy for mercury |
40 tpy for sulfur dioxide |
|
|
SIP = State Implementation Plan
SMSA = Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area
Source = any property, real or personal, that emits or may emit any air pollutant; stationary source = fixed, non-movable as utility power plant; mobile source – automobile, train, airplane, ship
SOx = Sulfur Oxides (usually SO 2 and SO 3)
stp = standard temperature and pressure = 60˚F and 14.696 psia or 15.56˚C and 760 mm Hg
TACB = Texas Air Control Board
TCLP = Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure
tfn = total fixed nitrogen
THC = Total HydroCarbons
Thermal De-NOx = an after treatment to remove nitrogen oxides from products of combustion, using NH 3 (ammonia), or urea, with our without catalysts. See SCR.
Thermal NO = NO formed by temperature effects as opposed to that by fixed nitrogen from the fuel, fuel NO.
TIC = Temperature Indicating Controller
TLV = Threshold Limit Value
TLCP = Toxic Leach Characterization Procedure
Tpy = tons per year
TRI = Toxic Release Inventory
TRV® = Thermal Relief Vent, trademark of ACGIH, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
TSCA = Toxic Substance Control Act
twa = time-weighted average
TY = temperature control split range device
VOC = Volatile Organic Compounds (includes pna); VOL = …Liquid
“wc = inches of water column or “wg = inches of water gauge (pressure)
wesp = wet electrostatic precipitator
wgb = wet gas basis
WHB = Waste Heat Boiler
wte = waste to energy
