Reliable Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems for Accurate Compliance
Ensure visibility compliance and emissions control with advanced, regulation-ready opacity monitoring from trusted industry specialists.
Overview
Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems (COMS) play a critical role in environmental compliance by measuring the opacity of emissions from industrial stacks. These systems monitor the density of particulate matter in exhaust gases, ensuring that facilities remain within regulated visibility thresholds. COMS operate by emitting a light beam across a stack and measuring the amount of light absorbed or scattered by particles in the gas stream.
Modern opacity monitoring is essential for verifying air quality standards and validating pollution control systems. Whether used in power plants, cement factories, or incineration facilities, these systems provide real-time feedback to plant operators and regulatory agencies. Emissions and Stack Monitoring Instruments offers reliable, field-tested COMS solutions for customers across North America. As a trusted B2B provider, we combine innovation, accuracy, and regulatory insight to deliver tailored monitoring technologies that support cleaner operations and strict reporting requirements.
Core Components of Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems
In addition to offering products and systems developed by our team and trusted partners for Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems (COMS), we are proud to carry top-tier technologies from Global Advanced Operations Tek Inc. (GAO Tek Inc.) and Global Advanced Operations RFID Inc. (GAO RFID Inc.). These reliable, high-quality products and systems enhance our ability to deliver comprehensive technologies, integrations, and services you can trust. Where relevant, we have provided direct links to select products and systems from GAO Tek Inc. and GAO RFID Inc.
Hardware Components
- Transceiver and retroreflector assemblies: Core optical units for bidirectional light beam transmission
- Air purge systems: Prevent particulate buildup on optics to maintain accurate readings
- Stack-mounted enclosures: Weather-resistant housings to protect sensitive optical and electronic components
- Calibration filters: For in-situ system accuracy verification and zero/span checks
- Ambient sensors: Temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors to correct for environmental variables
Software Cloud Services
- Real-time data acquisition and display software with customizable dashboards
- Remote diagnostics and health monitoring capabilities
- Secure cloud integration for remote access, regulatory reporting, and multi-site management
- Alert and notification systems to detect abnormal opacity trends or instrument faults
Key Features and Functionalities
- Continuous, real-time monitoring with high accuracy and low maintenance
- Automated calibration cycles with dynamic zero and span checks
- Long-path optics for wide-diameter stack applications
- Self-diagnostic features to ensure system health and uptime
- Regulatory reporting modules to simplify compliance submissions
- Rugged construction with vibration and corrosion resistance for harsh environments
Integrations
Our COMS solutions integrate seamlessly with:
- Centralized plant control and SCADA systems
- Environmental data management systems
- Existing CEMS platforms
- Industrial Ethernet or Modbus networks for control room interfacing
Compatibility
- Fully compatible with U.S. EPA Method 9 and Method 203
- Works with both vertical and horizontal stacks
- Supports integration with GAO Tek’s industrial wireless transmitters and environmental data loggers
- Configurable for legacy systems and modern digital infrastructure
Benefits of Choosing Emissions and Stack
- Ensures visibility emissions remain within legal limits
- Enhances credibility during third-party audits and inspections
- Reduces environmental risk and associated penalties
- Enables proactive maintenance through system alerts and diagnostics
- Supports long-term sustainability and ESG compliance goals
Applications
- Coal and gas-fired power generation facilities
- Cement and lime kilns
- Petrochemical refineries
- Municipal and industrial waste incinerators
- Metal foundries and smelters
- Pulp and paper manufacturing stacks
Industries Served
- Utilities and energy generation
- Cement, lime, and aggregates
- Petrochemical and refining
- Pulp, paper, and forest products
- Waste management and recycling
- Manufacturing and heavy industry
Relevant U.S. & Canadian Industry Standards
- EPA 40 CFR Part 60 (Appendix A – Method 9 & 203)
- EPA 40 CFR Part 75
- ASTM D6216
- Environment Canada EPS 1/PG/7
- Ontario Regulation 419/05
Case Studies
Power Plant Retrofit (Ohio, USA)
A coal-fired power facility in Ohio needed to upgrade aging opacity monitors to meet evolving federal regulations. Emissions and Stack deployed advanced dual-beam COMS with cloud-based diagnostics and automated calibration. Post-installation data showed a 30% improvement in measurement stability and regulatory alignment, enabling smoother compliance reporting and fewer site visits.
Cement Production Stack Monitoring (Nevada, USA)
A large cement plant in Nevada faced challenges maintaining consistent visibility compliance due to dust-related optical interference. Our team implemented a purge air upgrade and weatherproof optics housing, along with a remote data monitoring solution. The facility saw immediate improvement in data accuracy and operational transparency, while minimizing unplanned downtime.
Biomass Incinerator Emissions Control (Alberta, Canada)
An Alberta-based biomass energy plant required reliable opacity monitoring to meet provincial emissions limits. We provided a robust COMS setup with redundancy and environmental compensation features. Our implementation helped the plant pass its Environment Canada inspection and reduce false positive alerts, improving overall confidence in emission data.
Looking to Enhance your Stack Visibility Monitoring Capabilities?
Contact Emissions and Stack for expert consultation, product recommendations, and integrated compliance solutions. Let us help you stay compliant, efficient, and future-ready.
