Defining and solving industrial odor problems: A guide for facility managers

It’s easy to know that you have an odor problem at your industrial facility.

But it’s often very difficult to define the problem in enough detail to generate design conditions sufficient for equipment that can solve it.

It’s rare for organizations to have odor experts on staff, so solving the problem begins by seeking outside guidance from third-party consultants. These consultants do the essential legwork in developing the design specifications that solution providers rely on to build equipment for your site.

This is a great way to ensure the problem is understood and its solution carefully specified, but we still advise some caution: Most consultants won’t also supply the equipment they specify. They’re normally only accountable for their portion of the work scope, but not necessarily the final outcome of the odor solution at your site. The potential exists for a disconnect between the problem definition / design solution prepared by the consultant and the equipment supplied by the vendor to address the specified problem to the client’s satisfaction.

Meanwhile, most equipment suppliers in this industry do not write the specifications they build to; rather, they rely on the specifications provided to them. They, too, are only accountable to fabricate the equipment according to the specifications and required performance guarantees, but they too do not take ownership and guarantee the successful outcome of the project.

So, if a solution developed in this way ends up not working, who is responsible? What if the compound concentrations were uncharacteristically low on the day of sampling? What if a less obvious odor source was overlooked?

The manufacturer can say that they did not have valid design conditions other than what was specified, and the consultant might say that you only hired them to sample on one day, or you did not guide them sufficiently regarding the odor sources. So, whom can you hold responsible? And how do you avoid even being caught in this position?

odor testing

How to define industrial odor problems

Air treatment equipment is never an answer on its own. Industrial odor problems must be thoroughly defined through rigorous study by experienced odor scientists. Done correctly, this process results in precise design conditions an equipment provider needs to build a system to treat malodorous air to meet the client’s odor treatment objectives.

These data are necessary to develop thorough design conditions:

  • Ventilation airflow of the sources in cubic feet per minute (cfm) or cubic meter per hour (m3/hr) — not only the total airflow but also the proper airflow from each individual odor source.
  • Concentration of the offending compounds expected in the airstream in milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) or parts per million (ppmv).
  • The temperature and relative humidity of the airstream.
  • Operational schedule of odor-generating activities — 24/7, or only during business hours or weekdays?
  • Presence of any toxic compounds in the air that may render certain treatment technologies non-feasible.
  • The required or desired concentration of compounds or particulates to be removed from the airstream, normally expressed as removal efficiency percentage or a concentration at the system’s discharge stack.
  • Possible dispersion modeling to assess the impact of various levels of air treatment on the surrounding odors at the facility.

Airflow is one of the most important characteristics determining the odor control system’s size. Some sources actually discharge air due to aeration of a process liquid. Others require different ventilation rates depending on the risk of air leakage — related to how “well sealed” the source is — and the consequences of a leak that may contribute to fugitive odors.

Temperature, humidity and visual characteristics data can be gathered on-site by facility personnel, although trained scientists from BioAir can also collect this information for you on a site visit if desired.

Types and concentrations of malodorous compounds or particulate matter are best determined by air sampling. For some compounds, this can be completed with specialized data logging equipment. For others, the samples must be collected in a specific manner and sent to laboratories for analysis. To keep costs as low as possible, it’s nearly as important to know what can safely NOT be sampled as it is to know what must be sampled. BioAir can assist with this process based on our knowledge of odor generation processes and previous experience at similar facilities.

Removal efficiency of an air treatment system could be influenced by any statutory requirements your facility must meet, or the simple need to protect your neighbors from foul odor. For facilities emitting odorous compounds which are not formally regulated, or for potentially-odorous concentrations of compounds below the legal limit, you and your odor expert can choose a removal efficiency that sufficiently addresses the problem. Facilities emitting regulated compounds or very high volumes of some unregulated compounds are probably bound by operating permits; in such a case, you have no choice but to specify a removal efficiency that brings your facility into compliance with conditions of the permit.

Dispersion modeling is a helpful tool an odor solution provider should use to sharpen their understanding of how an odor problem impacts a facility and any neighbors. These models have become more and more crucial to defining industrial odor problems as urban and suburban population encroachment bring more people into closer proximity to facilities emitting odorous air. Modeling also facilitates optimization of the odor treatment solution since “not enough” odor control results in not fully solving the problem, and “too much” odor control results in a more expensive system.

Read these case studies to see real industrial odor problems solved.

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BioAir Complete®: the truly comprehensive industrial odor solution

BioAir is unique in the industry in that it offers complete accountability from start to finish with its BioAir Complete® offering. With over 600 global installations of its own equipment solving the entire spectrum of odor challenges, BioAir is well experienced and has a thorough set of data and process solutions to solve almost all odor problems. Our BioAir Complete® process consists of:

  1. An on-site evaluation by a BioAir scientist who determines the origin, potential dispersal and other characteristics of odorous air. If you already have other odor control equipment on-site, we can provide an analysis of its performance if desired.
  2. An assessment of the odorous air via sample testing that determines the types and concentrations of offending compounds.
  3. The development of a design basis for an air treatment system formulated by scientists experienced in the evaluation and interpretation of the results, and recommend the required odor removal efficiency suitable for your facility.
  4. The design, construction, and installation of the most effective air treatment system according to the specifications outlined in the design basis.
  5. Post-installation training on routine operation and maintenance of the system we build and install.

BioAir Complete® eliminates gaps in accountability because we have the needed experts on staff who take total ownership of your outcome. It’s a fast, cost-effective way to arrive at a well-rounded industrial odor control solution.

To get the process started at your site, contact us here.

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