Variation in Stack Exhaust Pollutants Produced by Domestic Gas Heaters during Cold Months in 2012-2013

The main consumption of natural gas in Iran is in domestic heating mostly by domestic gas heaters. Domestic gas heaters may have considerable effect on pollutant and greenhouse gas production due to their high number. The aim of this research was to investigate stack exhaust pollutants of domestic gas heaters and its relation with ýair temperature and total gas consumption in the country.
LANCOM III, as a portable stack gas analyzer, was used for the measurement of gas pollutants produced by a domestic gas heater during the 5 cold months in 2012-2013. Meteorological and total gas consumption data were gathered from the Meteorological Office and National Iranian Gas Organization (NIGC), respectively.
Findings: The average amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, and hydrocarbons emission were 10939.64, 0.091, 1.01, 6.99, and 172.996 ppm, respectively. A significant relation was observed between daily reduction of air temperature with increase in sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons (P The increase in sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons and decrease in carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide on cold days may be due to variation in gas characteristics. On cold days, the total gas consumption in the country is increased which results in changes in gas flow rate, velocity, and pressure in gas pipelines and gas quality (due to the transfer of sulfur sediments from pipelines to gas).