Page 116 - Fundamentals of Air Pollution

86 6. Sources of Air Pollution
As shown in Fig. 6-10, an uncontrolled petroleum refinery is a potential
source of large tonnages of atmospheric emissions. All refineries are odor-
ous, the degree being a matter of the housekeeping practices around the
refinery. Since refineries are essentially closed processes, emissions are not
normally considered a part of the operation. Refineries do need pressure
relief systems and vents, and emissions from them are possible. Most
refineries use very strict control measures for economic as well as regulatory
reasons. The recovery of 1 or 2% of a refinery throughput which was
previously lost to the atmosphere can easily pay for the cost of the control
equipment. The expense of the catalyst charge in some crackers and regen-
erators requires that the best possible control equipment be used to prevent
catalyst emissions to the atmosphere.
Potential air pollutants from a petroleum refinery could include (1) hydro-
carbons from all systems, leaks, loading, and sampling; (2) sulfur oxides
from boilers, treaters, and regenerators; (3) carbon monoxide from regenera-
tors and incinerators; (4) nitrogen oxides from combustion sources and
regenerators; (5) odors from air and steam blowing, condensers, drains,
and vessels; and (6) particulate matter from boilers, crackers, regenerators,
coking, and incinerators.

Fig. 6-10. Uncontrolled petroleum refinery.