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Narayan KB, Smith SJ, Fioletov VE, McLinden CA. Evaluation of Uncertainties in the Anthropogenic SO 2 Emissions in the USA from the OMI Point Source Catalog. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37467360 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Satellite remote sensing is a promising method of monitoring emissions that may be missing in inventories, but the accuracy of these estimates is often not clear. We demonstrate here a comprehensive evaluation of errors in anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission estimates from NASA's OMI point source catalog for the contiguous US by comparing emissions from the catalog with high-quality emission inventory data over different dimensions including size of individual sources, aggregate vs individual source errors, and potential bias in individual source estimates over time. For sources that are included in the catalog, we find that errors in aggregate (sum of error for all included sources) are relatively low. Errors for individual sources in any given year can be substantial, however, with over- or underestimates in terms of total error ranging from -80 to 110 kt (roughly 10-90th percentile). We find that these errors are not necessarily random over time and that there can be consistently positive or negative biases for individual sources. We did not find any overall statistical relationship between the degree of isolation of a source and bias, either at a 40 or 70 km scales. For a sub-set of sources where inventory emissions over a radius of 70 km around an OMI detection are larger than twice the emissions within 40 km, the OMI value is consistently overestimated. We find, as expected, that emission sources not included in the catalog are the largest aggregate source of difference between the satellite estimates and inventories, especially in more recent years where source emission magnitudes have been decreasing and note that trends in satellite detections do not necessarily track trends in total emissions. We find that the OMI-based SO2 emissions are accurate in aggregate, when summed over a number of sources, but must be interpreted more cautiously at the individual source level. Similar analyses would be valuable for other satellite emission estimates; however, in many cases, the appropriate high-quality reference data may need to be generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanishka B Narayan
- Joint Global Change Research Institute, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Washington D.C. 20740, United States
| | - Steven J Smith
- Joint Global Change Research Institute, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Washington D.C. 20740, United States
| | - Vitali E Fioletov
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H5T4, Canada
| | - Chris A McLinden
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto M3H5T4, Canada
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Ju T, Lei M, Guo G, Xi J, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Lou Q. A new prediction method of industrial atmospheric pollutant emission intensity based on pollutant emission standard quantification. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2022; 17:8. [PMID: 36061489 PMCID: PMC9419144 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-023-1608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Industrial emissions are the main source of atmospheric pollutants in China. Accurate and reasonable prediction of the emission of atmospheric pollutants from single enterprise can determine the exact source of atmospheric pollutants and control atmospheric pollution precisely. Based on China's coking enterprises in 2020, we proposed a quantitative method for pollutant emission standards and introduced the quantification results of pollutant emission standards (QRPES) into the construction of support vector regression (SVR) and random forest regression (RFR) prediction methods for SO2 emission of coking enterprises in China. The results show that, affected by the types of coke ovens and regions, China's current coking enterprises have implemented a total of 21 emission standards, with marked differences. After adding QRPES, it was found that the root mean squared error (RMSE) of SVR and RFR decreased from 0.055 kt/a and 0.059 kt/a to 0.045 kt/a and 0.039 kt/a, and the R 2 increased from 0.890 and 0.881 to 0.926 and 0.945, respectively. This shows that the QRPES can greatly improve the prediction accuracy, and the SO2 emissions of each enterprise are highly correlated with the strictness of standards. The predicted result shows that 45% of SO2 emissions from Chinese coking enterprises are concentrated in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei provinces in central China. The method created in this paper fills in the blank of forecasting method of air pollutant emission intensity of single enterprise and is of great help to the accurate control of air pollutants. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11783-023-1608-1 and is accessible for authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tienan Ju
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Mei Lei
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Guanghui Guo
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Jinglun Xi
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Qijia Lou
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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Yang Z, Gao W, Li J. Can Economic Growth and Environmental Protection Achieve a "Win-Win" Situation? Empirical Evidence from China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:9851. [PMID: 36011483 PMCID: PMC9408696 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19169851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Achieving a "win-win" situation regarding economic growth and environmental protection has become a common goal for sustainable development in all countries around the world. As the world's largest developing country and the second largest economy, China has been striving to maintain economic growth while improving environmental quality to achieve its sustainable development goals. Applying the decoupling approach, a model widely used to quantify the relationship between the environment and the economy, this study analyzed the relationship between the economy and the environment, examining the decoupling performance of economic growth and environmental impacts in 30 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to investigate whether economic growth and environmental protection have achieved a "win-win" situation. Nighttime light (NTL) data were used to measure the performance of economic growth. In addition, an environmental pressure index (EPI) assessment framework covering 6 primary and 11 secondary indicators was constructed to measure the environmental quality of China over time. First, NTL data proved to be a valid data source for assessing decoupling performance; second, environmental pressure at both the national and provincial levels significantly decreased during the study period; third, the relationship between the economy and the environment has been further improved, and economic growth and environmental protection have achieved a "win-win" situation. These findings offer an in-depth analysis of the decoupling of the economy and the environment in China and serve as a guide for future implementation strategies for sustainable development in various regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yang
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
- Innovation Center for CIM + Urban Regeneration, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Weijun Gao
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 808-0135, Japan
- Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology (iSMART), Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
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Energy and Environmental Assessment of Steam Management Optimization in an Ethylene Plant. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212267. [PMID: 34832022 PMCID: PMC8625353 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Steam crackers (ethylene plants) belong to the most complex industrial plants and offer significant potential for energy-saving translated into the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Steam export to or import from adjacent units or complexes can boost the associated financial benefit, but its energy and environmental impact are questionable. A study was carried out on a medium-capacity ethylene plant using field data to: 1. Estimate the energy savings potential achievable by optimizing internal steam management and optimizing steam export/import; 2. Quantify the associated change in air pollutant emissions; 3. Analyze the impact of the increasing carbon price on the measures adopted. Internal steam management optimization yielded steam let-down rate minimization and resulted in a 5% (87 TJ/year) reduction in steam cracker’s steam boiler fuel consumption and the associated cut of CO2 emissions by almost 4900 t/year and that of NOx emissions by more than 5 t/year. Steam import to the ethylene plant from the refinery proved to be purely economic-driven, as it increased the net fuel consumption of the ethylene plant and the refinery complex by 12 TJ/year and resulted in an increase of net emissions of nearly all considered air pollutants (more than 7000 t/year of CO2, over 15 t/year of NOx, over 18 t/year of SOx) except for CO, where the net change was almost zero. The effect of external emissions change due to the associated backpressure electricity production surplus (over 11 GWh/year) was too low to compensate for this increase unless fossil fuel-based electricity production was considered. The increase of carbon price impact on the internal steam management optimization economics was favorable, while a switch to steam export from the ethylene plant, instead of steam import, might be feasible if the carbon price increased to over 100 €/tCO2.
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Variny M, Jediná D, Rimár M, Kizek J, Kšiňanová M. Cutting Oxygen Production-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Improved Compression Heat Management in a Cryogenic Air Separation Unit. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910370. [PMID: 34639670 PMCID: PMC8508159 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Oxygen production in cryogenic air separation units is related to a significant carbon footprint and its supply in the medicinal sphere became critical during the recent COVID-19 crisis. An improved unit design was proposed, utilizing a part of waste heat produced during air pre-cooling and intercooling via absorption coolers, to reduce power consumption. Variable ambient air humidity impact on compressed air dryers’ regeneration was also considered. A steady-state process simulation of a model 500 t h−1 inlet cryogenic air separation unit was performed in Aspen Plus® V11. Comparison of a model without and with absorption coolers yielded an achievable reduction in power consumption for air compression and air dryer regeneration by 6 to 9% (23 to 33 GWh year−1) and a favorable simple payback period of 4 to 10 years, both depending on air pressure loss in additional heat exchangers to be installed. The resulting specific oxygen production decrease amounted to EUR 2–4.2 t−1. Emissions of major gaseous pollutants from power production were both calculated by an in-house developed thermal power plant model and adopted from literature. A power consumption cut was translated into the following annual greenhouse gas emission reduction: CO2 16 to 30 kilotons, CO 0.3 to 2.3 tons, SOx 4.7 to 187 tons and NOx 11 to 56 tons, depending on applied fossil fuel-based emission factors. Considering a more renewable energy sources-containing energy mix, annual greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 50 to over 80%, varying for individual pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Variny
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.J.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Dominika Jediná
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.J.); (M.K.)
| | - Miroslav Rimár
- Department of Process Technique, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with a Seat in Presov, Technical University of Kosice, Bayerova 1, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia; (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Ján Kizek
- Department of Process Technique, Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies with a Seat in Presov, Technical University of Kosice, Bayerova 1, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia; (M.R.); (J.K.)
| | - Marianna Kšiňanová
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia; (D.J.); (M.K.)
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Roșu A, Constantin DE, Voiculescu M, Arseni M, Roșu B, Merlaud A, Van Roozendael M, Georgescu PL. Assessment of NO 2 Pollution Level during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a Romanian City. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:E544. [PMID: 33440815 PMCID: PMC7827512 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates changes in pollution associated with the lockdown period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Galati (45.43° N, 28.03° E), a Romanian city located in the southeast of Romania. The study is focused on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a trace gas which can be related to emissions from industrial activities, heating, and transportation. The investigation is based on in situ observations from local Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) and mobile remote sensing observations by Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technique. We also show results of the NO2 vertical column measured by TROPOMI (TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument), a space instrument onboard of satellite mission Sentinel-5P, to complement local ground-based measurements. For in situ observations, the lockdown interval (23 March 2020-15 May 2020) was separated from normal periods. The decrease in local NO2 concentration during lockdown, measured in situ, is rather small, of about 10-40% at the most, is observed only at some stations, and is better seen during workdays than during weekends. We conclude that the decrease in NO2 content over Galati city during lockdown is relatively small and may be attributed to the reduction in local traffic, a consequence of special measures and restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 lockdown by the Romanian authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Roșu
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
| | - Daniel-Eduard Constantin
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
| | - Mirela Voiculescu
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
| | - Maxim Arseni
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
| | - Bogdan Roșu
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
| | - Alexis Merlaud
- Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Ringlaan-3-Avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium; (A.M.); (M.V.R.)
| | - Michel Van Roozendael
- Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Ringlaan-3-Avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium; (A.M.); (M.V.R.)
| | - Puiu Lucian Georgescu
- Faculty of Sciences and Environment, The European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, No. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania; (A.R.); (D.-E.C.); (M.A.); (B.R.); (P.L.G.)
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