Assentech

The UK has introduced new environmental regulations called the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) and the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. The MCPD applies to combustion plants with a thermal input of 1-50 MW, setting limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dust. The IED covers a range of industrial activities, including tank storage, and sets limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. Operators must use best available techniques to prevent and reduce emissions and establish a reporting framework to demonstrate adherence.

Well-maintained tank storage facilities do not suffer product loss, environmental enforcement notices, litigation claims, criminal prosecution, unplanned outages, tank corrosion and the associated bad press.   Furthermore, the quality of stored product remains at a premium, resulting in minimal production issues and product quality does not decline.

Demonstrating best practice with management of aging assets is essential for both the environment and your facility.

• Traceability of individual assets
• Definition of specific maintenance tasks and test objectives
• Service frequency
• Asset suitability for intended use
• Familiarisation of the applicable International Standards
• Competence of maintenance personnel
• Suitability of Test equipment including calibration accuracy
• Certification detail and accuracy with reference to relevant International Standard (from new and at service)

Tank breather valves are critical safety devices that are often overlooked on tank storage facilities.  Designed to maintain safe and equal pressure in a storage tank unit even when it is being filled or under sudden changes in ambient temperature and will also prevent media leakage to the atmosphere.

These valves must be designed, manufactured and certified to the International Standard API2000. This level of certification will demonstrate use of the best available techniques to protect you, your facility and the environment.

According to this standard every production valve must achieve at least 75% of the set pressure with a fixed minimal air feed flow rate defined in Table 10. It must also demonstrate control of the required pressure setting. A certificate that connects the individual valve serial number with the valve functional performance is essential for demonstrating competence and integrity.

Following this guidance will reduce emissions from poor venting, improve site operating efficiency, save money on emission loss, prevent site downtime, protect staff from inhaling potentially hazardous media and protect the environment. As well as evidencing compliance, duty of care and best practice.

A recent case study demonstrated that replacement of cheap, untested leaking valves were replaced with quality leak tight models. The Environment agency were delighted to find leak rates were reduced from the equivalent of 200 double decker buses to less than 20% of one bus. A saving of over £8300 in lost gas per year. The cost of the replacement valve was £6500 so a payback was achieved in less than 1 year and the happy operator received a licence to operate with a clean bill of health.

The Government Environmental Impact Cost as calculated by the IPCC dropped from £63,000 to just £57.

Both the MCPD and IED regulations are aimed at reducing air pollution and improving air quality in the UK. If you operate a tank storage facility in the UK, it is important to ensure that you are complying with these regulations to avoid penalties and to protect the environment. With this ever-increasing focus on our environment and air quality, tank storage facilities are required to provide reporting metrics and quantify emission reduction as part of the ESG, Net Zero and ISO 14001 environmental reporting.

Revolutionising breather vent testing is ‘Vent-Less’, the world’s first mobile and automatic test bench which checks functionality, performance and leakage rate.

Developed with artificial intelligence and QR code technology, Vent-Less performs comprehensive test results in a fraction of the time required to test the valve manually. The test report can be produced instantaneously including photographs and QR code technology.

Telephone (44) (0) 1726 844707
Email address is info@assentech.co.uk
Website is www.assentech.co.uk
Linkedin is https://www.linkedin.com/company/assentech/
Vent-Less is http://www.assentech.co.uk/automatic-mobile-smart-test-bench-for-breather-valves-pvrv-prv-vrv-improve-efficiency-and-reduce-emissions/
Biogas Emissions Calculator is: http://www.assentech.co.uk/anaerobic-digestion-biogas-pressure-and-vacuum-relief-valves-with-flame-arresters/#breatherventleakagebiogas