Software Versus Hardware Approach to Emissions Monitoring

Many operations use hardware-based continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) to track boiler emissions. This hardware approach uses pumps, filters, and analyzing instruments to draw emissions from the combustion equipment and measure their levels. Using hardware can be costly and time consuming as it requires daily deployments of calibration gases to confirm the system is providing accurate measurements. And when CEMs fail, data blackouts can occur. In addition, the lifespan of hardware is short, averaging eight to ten years. Due to these factors, more and more industrial operators are abandoning hardware in favor of software for emissions monitoring. This software approach is often referred to as a predictive emissions monitoring system. This paper compares the hardware and software approaches, and features a boiler application case study to showcase the financial advantages of the software approach.