Propane heaters
Download the propane heater calculator to help you estimate the releases of National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) substances.
Propane heaters release criteria air contaminants (CACs) (Part 4 substances).
The calculator focusses on releases to air and uses default emission factors. It can be adapted to use site-specific emission factors if they are available. If you want to use a site-specific emission factor, enter it in the emission factor column, but be sure to convert the units correctly.
The spreadsheet calculators use emission factors based on uncontrolled emission sources. If you use an emission control device and the default emission factor is uncontrolled, use this formula to adjust the spreadsheet calculation:
Controlled emissions = uncontrolled emission x ((100 - control efficiency)/100)
Since NPRI reporting thresholds are for the facility as a whole, you may need to combine the air releases you calculate with releases from other sources at your facility.
The following sections explain how the spreadsheet calculator works.
Suggested estimation methodology: emission factor
The general equation for estimation using an emission factor is:
E = A x EF
where:
- E = emissions
- A = activity rate
- EF = emission factor
Input data
A = Amount of propane burned (cubic meters)
Substance releases
| Substance | Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CAS RN)Footnote 1 | Emission Factor (EF)Footnote ** Footnote 2 | EF units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 630-08-0 | 8.99E-01 | kilograms (kg)/cubic meters (m3) |
| Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), expressed as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 11104-93-1 | 1.56E+00 | kg/m3 |
| Total particulate matter (TPM) | Footnote* | 2.40E-02 | kg/m3 |
| Particulate matter less than or equal to 10 micrometers (µm) (PM10) | Footnote* | 2.40E-02 | kg/m3 |
| Particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5) | Footnote* | 2.40E-02 | kg/m3 |