This help page provides a step-by-step description of how to enter information about methods that you used to measure flow and carbon content (or composition) of feedstocks and products when you use the mass balance reporting methodology.
Step 1. Navigate to the Appropriate Data Entry Screen
Assuming you start on the "x-overview" screen, locate the name/ID of a process unit in the "Petrochemical Process Units" Table. Then click OPEN in the same row of the Table.
Click this link to expand
Clicking OPEN for a process unit in the "x-overview" screen takes you to the "x-process-unit-data" screen as shown below.
Click this link to expand
Locate the name of one feedstock or product that you previously entered (see Subpart X Mass Balance Option Reporting - Process Data help) and click OPEN in that same row of the table. This action takes you to either the “x-feedstock-data” screen or the “x-product-data” screen.
Step 2. Enter Method Measurement Information for Feedstocks
Click this link to expand
In the top section, enter the following information:
- If at any time during the year you complied with the alternative sampling and analysis method in §98.243(c)(4) for the selected feedstock, enter the dates for each process change that reduced the monthly average composition to less than 99.5%. If there were none, leave this box blank.
Note that for the month(s) in which such events occurred you must measure the carbon content using a method specified in §98.244(b)(4) and fill in the relevant information in the monthly section(s) described below.
In the second section, enter each method (i.e., method number, title, or other description) used to determine the flow or mass of each carbon containing feedstock for each: Flow Meter, Weighing Device or Tank Level Measurement Device.
In the third section on the “x-feedstock-data” screen, enter the following information for methods used in the month of January. If you did not operate the process, or did not use this particular feedstock in January, leave the boxes in this section blank. In such cases, ignore the validation warnings that will be issued for leaving boxes empty.
- Indicate if volume or mass for January is based on missing data procedure (click in the check box)
Do not check the box if you did not use a missing data procedure to estimate volume or mass in January
- Volume or Mass Measurement Method
Choices in a pick list from which you may select are: flow meter, tank level measurements, weighing device, or other. Note that "other" is to be used only if the other listed methods do not apply or you used BAMM procedures.
If you used the same method in every month during the year, click on the “make all months the same” link. This action is a time-saving device that will automatically enter the selected method in the sections for February through December. However, you can edit any of those entries, if necessary.
- Indicate if carbon content or composition for January is based on missing data procedure (click in the check box)
Do not check the box if you did not use a missing data procedure to estimate carbon content or composition in January. Do not check the box if you used the alternative sampling and analysis option in §98.243(c)(4).
- Method used to determine carbon content or composition
Choose the applicable method from the pick list. Note that the list includes all of the methods specified in §98.244(b)(4). Leave this box blank if you complied with the alternative and analysis option in §98.243(c)(4) for this feedstock during January.
If you used the same method in every month during the year, click on the “make all months the same” link. This action is a time-saving device that will automatically enter the selected method in the sections for February through December. However, you can edit any of these entries, if necessary.
If you select the alternative method allowed in §98.244(b)(4)(xv)(B), note that three additional boxes will appear in which you must enter the name of the method an explanation for why the alternative method was needed, and the file name of the alternative method that you upload at the bottom of the page. Note that the file upload is only required for the first year that you use an alternative method.
- For a gaseous feedstock, provide the following additional information, if applicable:
- Indicate if molecular weight of the feedstock stream for January is based on missing data procedure (click in the check box)
Do not check the box if you did not use a missing data procedure to estimate the molecular weight in January.
Note that measurement of the molecular weight of the feedstock stream (i.e., the average molecular weight) is not needed if you measure the composition. In such cases, use the known molecular weights of the identified compounds in the stream, and do not check the box.
- Method used to determine molecular weight
Note that eGGRT provides a pick list with three options: calculation based on chemical formula and atomic weights, an alternative method as allowed by §98.244(b)(4)(xv)(B), or other. Note that "other" is to be used only if the other listed methods do not apply or you used BAMM procedures.
If you used the same method in every month during the year, click on the "make all months the same" link. This action is a time-saving device that will automatically enter the selected method in the sections for February through December. However, you can edit any of these entries, if necessary.
- Standard temperature at which volume is reported
eGGRT provides two options in a pick list: 60°F or 68°F.
The temperature is used to determine the correct molar volume conversion (MVC) factor for use in Equation X-1. If you measure volumetric flow rate, you need the MVC and must fill in this box. However, if you measure mass flow, you do not need the MVC, and you should leave this box blank. In cases where you do not need the MVC and you leave this box blank, ignore the validation warnings that will be issued for leaving boxes empty.
If you corrected volumes to the same temperature in each month during the year, click on the “make all months the same” link. This action is a time-saving device that will automatically enter the selected method in the sections for February through December. However, you can edit any of these entries, if necessary.
Repeat the steps to enter applicable information in the sections for each additional month in the year during which the process operated or the specific feedstock was used (except the “make all months the same” links are not provided in the February through December sections).
When you have entered all of the applicable information for this feedstock, click SAVE. This action takes you back to the “x-process-unit-data” screen. Repeat the steps above for each additional feedstock used in the petrochemical process unit during the year.
Step 3. Enter Method Measurement Information for Products
The method measurement information to report for products on the “x-product-data” screen is the same as for feedstocks on the "x-feedstock-data" screen with one exception as follows:
- In the top section, in addition to entering the dates for each process change that reduced the monthly average composition to less than 99.5% when you complied with the alternative sampling and analysis method in 98.243(c)(4) for the selected product, you must also enter the number of days during which off-specification product was produced. If there were none, leave this box blank.
Except for this, the help procedures described above also apply to products.
Step 4. Modify Method Measurement Information
To modify saved method measurement information for a feedstock or product, navigate to the "x-feedstock-data" or "x-product-data" screen as described above and then edit previous information as applicable.
See Also
Screen Errors
Using e-GGRT to Prepare Your Subpart X Report for RY2014 and Later
Subpart X Process Unit Summary Information for All Reporting Years
Subpart X Mass Balance Option Reporting - Process Data
Subpart X MASS BALANCE Option Reporting - Measurement Methods Information
Subpart X ETHYLENE Option Reporting for All Reporting Years
Subpart X CEMS Option Reporting for All Reporting Years
Subpart Validation Report