Technical Bulletin No. 0105: A Study of Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from Kraft Recovery Furnaces (AQTB)

The source emission estimates required for completion of the ambient air quality modeling requirements in satisfying the provisions of EPA's Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations for new construction have identified the need for a reliable information base for estimating nitrogen oxide emissions from combustion sources in the forest products industry. During the past year an extensive field measurement program was initiated to generate information on nitrogen oxide emissions from wood, residue-fired boilers, kraft recovery furnaces and lime kilns. The attached technical bulletin reports on the findings of the study of Nitrogen oxide emissions from kraft recovery furnaces. The field work was conducted under the direction of Kenneth T. Hood and Reid A. Miner, Research Engineers at the West Coast and Southern Regional Centers respectively, assisted by Thomas F. Briody, Russell J. Korvola and Michael E. Franklin, and C. M. Tipton, I. D. Lynch, D. B. Davenport and H. S. Oglesby at these Centers. Mr. Hood assembled the sampling apparatus used in the study and prepared the report from which the technical bulletin was prepared. The study showed that nitrogen oxide emissions from the kraft recovery furnaces studied ranged from 0.07 to 0.13 lbs/million Btu heat input or about 1.5 to 3.0 lbs/ton pulp for the range of sizes of furnaces studied. There were indications that nitrogen oxide emissions were recovery furnace size related although the data on which this observation was made are based on a sample of only five furnaces. On a heat input basis, nitrogen oxide emissions from the kraft recovery furnaces studied was found to be less than that from gas combustion. Extrapolation to the largest recovery furnaces yet installed the Nitrogen oxide emissions were estimated to lie midway between the New Source Performance Standards for nitrogen oxide for utility boilers firing gas or oil.