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What to Know About Conducting a Performance Specification 11 (PS-11) Test

Guide

Performance Specification 11 (PS-11) establishes the initial installation and performance procedures required for evaluating the acceptability of a particulate matter (PM) continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS)

Multiple industries utilize PM CEMS and are influenced by applicable EPA regulations; such as the Portland Cement MACT, Industrial Boiler MACT, and Utility MACT.

Evaluation of the performance of a PM CEMS over an extended period of time, or to identify specific calibration techniques and procedures to assess their performance is covered under Procedure 2 of Appendix F—Quality Assurance Requirements for Particulate Matter Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems Used at Stationary Sources.

In all, there are hundreds of pages (and a few spreadsheets too!) that must be reviewed to become familiar with PS-11 and PM CEMS requirements. 

Newly installed PM CEMs operations will bring about a multitude of difficult questions.

Correlation curves and coefficients, RRA, RCA, ACA, SVA, precision, bias, stratification, regression analysis, what does it all mean?

  • Do they apply to my current test program?
  • How do I operate to perform the tests at three different PM concentration or loading levels?
  • Should I perform EPA Method 5, 5B or MATS 5?
  • Do I need to worry about condensable particulate matter (CPM)? 
  • How does PS-11 influence my future PM Relative Accuracy Test Audits (RATAS)?
  • What is the method detection limit (MDL) of the stack test?
  • How do I know good reference method (RM) test data from bad?
  • Can the tester perform overlapping (staggered) test runs to obtain data points more quickly?
  • Should I conduct paired, otherwise known as collocated, reference method test runs?

CleanAir has done the hard work for you and summarized the important information you need to know in CleanAir “Layperson’s Guide to PS-11.

 

 

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