HP March 2022 eBook—Energy Transition - 48

Special Focus
Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery
S. HUNSICKER, Swagelok, Solon, Ohio
Keeping fugitive emissions costs down
with low-E valves
Fugitive emissions have become an
increasingly critical area of interest for
chemical processing and refining facilities.
If left unmitigated, these uncontrolled
leaks can be detrimental to a facility's
bottom line-and not just in the
form of lost system gases that can lead to
waste. Fugitive emissions can also lead to
fines if the facility is found to be noncompliant
with current emissions regulations.
With the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and other regulatory
bodies reaching agreements with
companies to reduce fugitive emissions,
it is imperative to increase understanding
of these potentially costly leaks and
to understand how to mitigate them
within a plant's fluid systems. Being proactive
is critical, as part of the solution
may require altering supply chains and
upgrading systems. This article explores
some essential strategies for actively
addressing fugitive emissions to help
reduce leaks, maintain compliance and
keep costs low.
Fugitive emissions essentials. Fugitive
emissions most often result from
leaking process equipment, leading to
the unwanted escape of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). These VOCs can
include, but are not limited to gases such
as benzene, methane and isopentane.
When released, these substances endanger
air quality and form ozone, which is
why governmental regulatory bodies aim
to control fugitive emissions. Plants that
violate emissions regulations can have
large fines levied on them, so it pays to
remain in compliance (FIG. 1).
Often, the major sources of fugitive
emissions-accounting for nearly 62%
of the release of uncontrolled VOC emissions
at a typical plant-are the dynamic
and static seals on valves, pumps and
FIG. 1. The presence of bubbles during a leak test can reveal fugitive emissions escaping from
valves. Technicians should be trained to decide whether to tighten or replace the fitting connection.
Hydrocarbon Processing | AUGUST 2021 | HydrocarbonProcessing.com
flange connections. To combat fugitive
emissions, facilities can install low-emissions
(low-E) valves, which testing has
proven will conform to low emissions
standards. Sometimes, purchasing low-E
valves is even mandated under a consent
decree between the EPA and a processing
plant, often as the result of a civil case.
EPA consent decrees. The role of the
EPA in enforcing environmental requirements,
laws and regulations (including
U.S. laws like the Clean Water Act and
the Clean Air Act) is clear. When voluntary
compliance is impossible, the EPA
can turn to the courts to make sure that
plants comply with the applicable laws
and/or regulations.
For chemical plants and refineries,
the most common enforcement mechanism
that the EPA will use is called a
consent decree. A typical consent decree
requires plant owners and operators
to take specific actions to improve
their fugitive emissions problems within
a specified amount of time. If a plant
does not meet these requirements, then
civil penalties-including heavy fines-
often follow.
Although refineries and processing
plants have many available avenues
to mitigate fugitive emissions, consent
decrees will often require a plant to establish
an enhanced leak detection and
repair (LDAR) program. They can also
mandate that the plant uses low-E valves
in the future.
Enhanced LDAR tactics and low-E
valves. Rigorous LDAR strategies are
designed to mirror the leak detection and
oversight methods that the EPA uses. In
the case of valves, EPA audits include
paper audits and field testing to quantify

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HP March 2022 eBook—Energy Transition

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