Standardization of flux chamber and wind tunnel flux measurements for quantifying volatile organic compound and ammonia emissions from area sources at animal feeding operations

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2013-02, Vol.66, p.72-83
• Main Authors: Parker, David, Ham, Jay, Woodbury, Bryan, Cai, Lingshuang, Spiehs, Mindy, Rhoades, Marty, Trabue, Steve, Casey, Ken, Todd, Rick, Cole, Andy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Area source; Emission rate; Feedlot; Flux; Flux chamber; Lagoon; VOC; Wind tunnel
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.03.068

A variety of portable wind tunnels and flux chambers have been used to measure fluxes of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and ammonia (NH3) at animal feeding operations (AFO). However, there has been little regard to the extreme variation and potential inaccuracies caused by air velocity or sweep air flow rates that are either too low or too high to simulate field conditions. There is a need for correction factors to standardize flux chamber and wind tunnel measurements. In this manuscript, we present results of water evaporative flux and VOC flux measurements with the EPA flux chamber and a small wind tunnel. In the EPA flux chamber, water evaporative flux was positively correlated with sweep air flow rate (SAFR) between 1 and 20 L min−1 (r2 = 0.981–0.999) and negatively correlated with sweep air relative humidity between 0 and 80% (r2 = 0.982–0.992). Emissions of gas-film controlled compounds like NH3 and VOC at AFOs were positively correlated with evaporation rates between 0.6 and 2.8 mm d−1. We demonstrate a simple methodology for standardizing and comparing different chamber types by measuring water evaporation within the chamber using a gravimetric mass balance approach under controlled laboratory conditions. A water evaporative flux ratio correction factor (EFRCF) was used to improve the accuracy of field-measured VOC and NH3 chamber flux measurements. In a field study, both the EPA flux chamber (SAFR = 5 L min−1) and small wind tunnel (SAFR = 1 L min−1) underestimated the true field emissions of VOC, with EFRCFs of 2.42 and 3.84, respectively. EFRCFs are recommended for all but the driest of soil and manure conditions. ► We compare flux measurements with portable flux chambers and wind tunnels. ► We examine the effect of sweep air flow rate, relative humidity, and source size on flux magnitude. ► Flux of odorous compounds at animal feeding operations were linearly correlated with evaporative flux. ► A method for standardizing and comparing different chamber types was developed using evaporative flux as a surrogate. ► The use of evaporative flux ratio correction factors will greatly improve the accuracy of flux measurement from area sources.