AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Fuel-based Fine Particulate and Black Carbon Emission Factors from a Railyard Area in Atlanta
Boris Galvis, Armistead Russell, MICHAEL BERGIN, Georgia Institute of Technology
Abstract Number: 367 Working Group: Carbonaceous Aerosols in the Atmosphere
Abstract Railyards have the potential to influence local fine particulate matter (PM$_(2.5)) concentrations through emissions from diesel locomotives and supporting activities. This is of concern in urban regions where railyards are in proximity to residential areas. Northwest of Atlanta, Georgia, Inman and Tilford railyards are located beside residential neighborhoods, industries, and schools. The PM$_(2.5) concentrations near the railyards is the highest measured among the state-run monitoring sites. The authors estimated fuel-based black carbon (BC) and PM$_(2.5) emission factors for these railyards, determined the impact of rail yard activities on BC and PM$_(2.5) concentrations and assessed the cost- benefit of replacing current locomotive engines with cleaner technologies. High-time-resolution measurements of BC, PM$_(2.5), CO$_2, and wind speed and direction were used to determine emissions factors (i.e., the mass of BC or PM$_(2.5), per gallon of fuel burned). By the authors’ estimates, diesel-electric engines used in the railyards have average emission factors of 2.8 plus or minus 0.2 g of BC and 6.0 plus or minus 0.5 g of PM$_(2.5) per gallon of diesel fuel burned. Railyard emissions appear to lead to average enhancements of approximately 1.7 plus or minus 0.1 micrograms/m$^3 of PM$_(2.5) and approximately 0.8 plus or minus 0.01 micrograms/m$^3 of BC in neighboring areas on an annual average basis. AERMOD simulation shows that railyards are responsible for 1.6 plus or minus 0.1 micrograms/m$^3 PM$_(2.5) and 0.6 plus or minus 0.07 micrograms/m$^3 of BC near the railyards. Retrofitting the engines of the switcher locomotives at the railyards with new generator sets could decrease PM$_(2.5) emissions by 10 plus or minus 1.5 ton/year reducing PM$_(2.5) concentrations between 0.4 plus or minus 0.1 micrograms/m$^3 and 0.6 plus or minus 0.2 micrograms/m$^3 north and south of the railyards respectively. BenMAP estimates show health benefits much greater than cost of implementation of cleaner technologies.