ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with unintentional equipment leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial plants. Fugitive emissions are unintentional releases from sources such as valves, pumps, compressors, pressure-relief valves, sampling connection systems, open-ended lines, and flanges as opposed to point-source emissions from stacks, vents, and flares. The quantity of these fugitive emissions is hard to measure, but in some cases they account for 70 to 90% of the air emissions from chemical manufacturing operations. Fugitive emissions can be significantly reduced with the adoption of improved technology, maintenance, and operating procedures. Most concepts to control fugitive emissions from pumps apply to compressors. Likewise, analyzing the vibration characteristics anticipates pending problems. Flanges are significant sources of fugitive emissions, even at well-controlled plants, due to the large number of flanges and connectors. In most cases, tightening the flange bolts on the flanged connectors, replacing a gasket, or correcting faulty alignment of a surface eliminates a leak.
