To be able to comply with the limit values for pollutant emissions specified in the TA-Luft amendment, both plant builders and plant operators are required to check the installed components. In the case of replacement or new plants, it makes sense to take the requirements of the new TA-Luft into account even before the end of the transition period in 2025. INEOS has therefore installed TA-Luft-compliant valves following the 2021 amendment from AS-Schneider in its new chemical plant.
The amended Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA-Luft) came into force on December 1, 2021. It sets stricter limits for pollutant emissions from plants subject to approval. The most important change in valve specifications is the adoption of the ISO 15848-1 standard, which specifies how a valve is to be tested and gives the parameters for classification. After the transition period expires in 2025, the requirements must generally meet the state of the art and thus the emission level of new plants. For plants in the planning or installation phase, care must be taken to ensure that valves, pumps, compressors, or even flange connections directly comply with the specifications of TA-Luft.
INEOS Phenol is building a new plant for the production of cumene at the Marl Chemical Park in the Ruhr region. This is an aromatic hydrocarbon that serves as a starting product for acetone and phenol. The state-of-the-art production facility is expected to consume less energy while providing higher yields and a more environmentally friendly process. It covers an area of 16,000 square meters and produces more than 2,000 tons of cumene per day and 750,000 tons per year. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of May 2022. INEOS’ cumene project must comply with the requirements of the amended TA-Luft 2021 and ISO 15848-1 for the control of fugitive emissions from valves throughout its scope.
