New tools to control and reduce fugitive emissions

Three main sources of pollutant gas emissions are found in industrial, chemical and petrochemical plants: accidental, canalised (chimney and flare stack), and fugitive sources. The latter may come from liquid or gas storage, regulated processes or various equipment (flanged joints, pumps, valves etc.). Considered individually, the fugitive emissions represent a very low leakage flow, but the amount of volatile organic compound (VOC) fugitive emissions was estimated at 25 million tonnes in 1999.