Emission rate apportionment from fugitive sources using open-path FTIR andmathematical inversion

This paper presents a detailed new methodology to address emissions from no n-homogeneous fugitive gaseous air pollution sources. An open-path FTIR sys tem is employed in a new field configuration, in which the main measurement path located downwind from the source and segmented into several secondary paths. The segmentation can be performed by retroreflectors or black bodie s situated along the main measurement path, for a unistatic system or bista tic system respectively. An inversion technique is used, in conjunction wit h plume dispersion modeling techniques to reconstruct the emission rates di stribution from different strips of the fugitive source. A field study to e valuate and validate the proposed methodology was conducted. In the validat ion field study, large and relatively cold black bodies (similar to 100 deg rees C) were successfully used as the sources of infrared radiation. Emissi on rates from three controlled emission point sources of SF6 were reconstru cted by applying the suggested methodology, and agreed quite well in most r uns of the field study. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.