During my internship, I was responsible for independently developing an excess emissions report in response to a client incident regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The issue involved a fermenter unit whose scrubber was offline for maintenance, redirecting emissions to a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO). When the RTO overheated, the facility initiated controlled atmospheric venting over a 48-hour period, resulting in excess emissions that required formal documentation and reporting to the regulatory agency.
I managed the project through a structured, multi-step process:
Understanding the Project: Investigated the incident in detail to understand process operations, the cause of the malfunction, and its environmental implications.
Data Organization: Developed a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet to organize venting timelines and fermenter operating parameters for clear analysis.
Communication: Collaborated with the client to obtain missing operational data and confirm corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence.
Calculations: Conducted emissions calculations using process data and regulatory limits, presenting findings in a clear, review-ready Excel format.
Cross-referenced the facility’s Title V operating permit and relevant IDNR emission standards to identify compliance deviations.
Determined that approximately 80 lbs of excess emissions were released, exceeding permit limits.
Reporting: Compiled the analytical results, client feedback, and preventive measures into a concise, professional report submitted to my supervisor within the seven-day regulatory deadline.
The final excess emissions report met IDNR compliance and documentation standards, providing the client with a transparent, data-backed account of the event and recommended prevention strategies. This project enhanced my competencies in regulatory compliance analysis, process data interpretation, Excel-based emissions modeling, and professional technical reporting within the field of chemical engineering.