Topic 6 air pollution, sources and impacts

VOLUNTARY TRAINING PROGRAM 2011
Air Pollution: Sources and impacts
Air Pollution
Sources and Impacts

Content
 Historical Background
 Sulphur oxides
 Nitrogen oxides
 Particulate matter
 Ozone depleting substances
 MARPOL Annex VI: An overview

Activities Pollutants Immediate effects Impacts
Residences
Power
Production
Transport
Agriculture
Industry
PM
concentration
Acidic
deposits
Εutrophication
Ozone
concentration
Materials
deterioration
Human health
Agricultural
cultivation
Environment

Historical Background
 Prior to the industrial revolution
 After the industrial revolution
(Engraving showing a foundry in Saar,
Germany, 1876)
«Αs I was moving far away from
the asphyxiating air of Rome and
the soot of stacks dispersing
poisonous gases around, I felt my
mood changing»
Senekas, 61 A.C.

Historical Background
Las Vegas, USA
Athens, Greece

Sulphur Oxides (SOx)
• Properties: Gas, colorless and odorless in low concentrations, but with irritating odor in high
concentrations
• Sources: Power plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, paper industry, ships’ main and auxiliary
engines
• Sulphur content in crude oil and fuel oils
a) Safety (installation and piping corrosion, poison potential)
b) Operation (fluidized beds of catalysts may be contaminated from the presence of sulphur
compounds)
c) Environment (SOx emissions)

Impacts to human health
• Short term exposure in high concentrations, might cause bronchoconstriction and increased
asthma symptoms.
• Long term exposure might cause serious respiratory problems and deteriorate existing
cardiovascular illnesses
London, 1952
4.000 people were fatally exposed to
high SOx and smoke concentrations in
London (1952)

Environmental impacts
Acid rain
• In the 70s, more than 18,000 lakes in Sweden were found with acidity exceeding the natural
limits, and in half of them fish populations had dramatically reduced
• The same phenomenon occurred in about 3.000 lakes in US
• The transformation of the waters of a lake to acidic does not take place instantaneously but rather
in a period of many years or decades.
A forest in Jizera, Czech Republic

Acid rain formation mechanism
• H2SO4 and HNO3 are formed as a result of the reaction between the water and sulphur as well as
nitrogen oxides with the sun radiation and oxygen as catalysts
• Normal rain is slightly acidic (pH 5,5) due to CO2 dissolution and H2CO3 formation
• Most lakes have a pH ranging from 6 to 8. Values as low as 4.3 have been reported in several
lakes facing acid rain problems

Impacts of acid rain
• Destruction of sensitive soils, trees and vegetation of forests in high altitudes
• Deterioration of materials and paints. Irreversible failures to buildings and monuments that
constitute elements of cultural heritage
• Impacts to water dependent ecosystems
Forest areas (%) in Europe receiving acid rain

Nitrogen Oxides (ΝΟx)
NOx formation in ship’s engines
• Very complex mechanism of formation, hundreds of chemical reactions occur
• Main source of nitrogen is air combustion
• Higher temperatures in cylinders lead to increase NOx emissions
• 95% is ΝΟ and about 5% NO2

• Impacts to human health
They react with hemoglobin producing inert compounds including methemoglobin hampering the
oxygenation of tissues causing tachycardia, high blood pressure, and arrhythmia
> 15 μg/m3,
irritation of the eyes
> 25 μg/m3
dyspnea, asthma crisis
> 150 – 200 μg/m3
pulmonary edema

Secondary ozone formation
ΝΟx + VOCs + sun radiation Ο3 + Photochemical pollution
Photochemical smog occurs in sunny periods with high temperatures, low moisture and relatively
high levels of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.

Human hair
(70 μm diameter)
PM 10 PM 2.5
(10 μm) (2,5 μm)
Particulate matter (PM)
Particles produced during combustion or as secondary products in the atmosphere, that might
shift for very long periods far from their point of source.

• Their chemical composition depends
on fuel quality. They invariably consist
of soot, hydrocarbons, ash, metals
(vanadium, nickel, zinc), sulphur and
nitrate compounds
• The smaller the size of the particles,
the deeper penetrate into the human
respiratory system.

• Ash significantly reduced for low
sulphur fuel oils (< 1% m/m).
• Soot and sulfates are directly
depended on the sulfur content.

• Lifetime of gases in atmosphere from several years (HCFCs)
until a century (Freon 12).
• The ozone layer is going to be back to the level it was before
1980 until 2050.
• If ozone was compressed in normal conditions of
temperature and pressure, it would have been less than 5
mm thick.
• In September 2007, the extent of ozone hole was 24
million km2
(almost as North America), 18% smaller in
relation to 2006.
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Exhaust gases
(> 99,7%)
75,8% Ν2
13,0% Ο2
5,2% CO2
5,3% H2O
Air pollutants
(< 0,3%)
ΝΟx 0,17% (1500 ppm)
SOx 0,15% (800 ppm)
HC 0,02% (180 ppm)
CO 0,07% (80 ppm)
Fuel Oil
180 gr/KWh
(3,6% S)
Lube Oil
1 gr/KWh
97.5% HC
2% Ca
0,5% S
Air
8.5 kgr/KWh
79% Ν2
21% Ο2
Ships’ engines emissions

ΜΑRPOL
73/78
Annex Ι
Oil
Annex ΙΙ
Noxious Bulk
Liquid Substances
Annex III
Packaged
Harmful
Substances
Annex IV
Sewage
Annex V
Garbage
Annex VI
Air Emissions
IBC Code IMDG
Code
NOx
Technical Code
An overview to MARPOL, Annex VI

Prevention Measures
Μaximum sulphur content (% m/m)
• 4,5% before 1 January 2012
• 3,5% after 1 January 2012
• 0,5% after 1 January 2020

Prevention Measures
Maximum sulfur content in (S) ECA (North Sea, Baltic Sea, North American)
- 1.0% until 31 December 2014
- 0.1% after 1 January 2015

Prevention Measures
Bunker Delivery Note (ΒDN)
• Retention for at least 3 years
• Must contain information:
 Name - Ship ΙΜΟ number
 Bunkering port
 Date of bunkering
 Supplier’s contacts
 Name of product
 Quantity (in metric tones)
 Density at 15° C
 Sulphur content (% per weight)
 Supplier’s statement about the sulfur content in fuel, that do not contain inorganic acids and
other substances which might put at risk the safety of the ship.
Sulphur oxides (SOx)

Sulphur oxides (SOx)
Prevention Measures – Treatment systems

Nitrogen oxides (ΝΟx)
Prevention measures

Prevention measures
Tier 3
Engines fitted in ships constructed after 1 January 2016 and operate within an Emission
Control Area (N) (ΕCA).
Emissions must not exceed the following values:
• 3,44 g/kWh with n < 130 rpm
• 9,0 x n -0,2 g/kWh 130 ≤ n < 2000 rpm
• 2,0 g/kWh n ≥ 2000 rpm
If the ship operates outside ECA then the requirements emissions of Tier II are applicable.

Prevention measures
NOx emissions by engines of ships constructed from 1/1/1990 –1/1/2020
Every engine above 5.000 kW, and of displacement per cylinder equal to or greater than 90
liters, must comply to Tier I, under the condition that an Approved Method for this engine has
been certified by the Administration of a member state.
1. Its implementation must not cause power reduction above 1.0%, and increase of specific
fuel consumption above 2.0%.
2.No effect to the reliability or life cycle of the engine and the implementation cost should not
be excessive.

Prevention measures
NOx Technical Code
Every engine must:
– be pre-certified (manufacturer – Class)
– Technical File
– Installation as approved – Initial Inspection
– Annual inspections

Emissions reduction methods
Fuels
treatment
Fuel Quality
Engine
Technologies

Firefighting systems
Ηalon 1211
Halon 1301
Halon 2402
Air conditioning – Cooling systems
CFC-11
CFC-12
CFC – 113
CFC – 114, CFC- 115

Prevention measures
• Refrigerants Management Plan
• Record Book
• Periodical control of leaks
• Use of ODS of low warming potential (greenhouse
gases)

Thank you for your attention!
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Topic 6 air pollution, sources and impacts

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