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Reference Document for the Application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) to Industrial Cooling Systems (December 2001)

The document offers guidance for anyone preparing an application for an integrated permit, preparing a decision concerning the issue of an integrated permit and for operators of installations subject to integrated prevention regimes in the course of their performance of obligations ensuing from EU Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control.

The document itself is horizontal and is focused on cooling systems commonly used in very large combustion plants, the chemical, food processing, glass and iron and steel industries, refineries, the pulp and paper production industry and waste incinerators.

For the purposes of the reference document, the term cooling systems is limited to systems designed to remove waste heat from any medium, using heat exchange with water and/or air to bring down the temperature of that medium towards ambient levels. This includes only some refrigeration systems, but excludes the issue of refrigerants such as ammonia and CFCs (halogenated carbohydrates). Also, direct contact cooling and barometric condensers are not assessed in this document.

Reference Documents on Best Available Techniques – Common Waste Water and Waste Gas Treatment; Treatment/Management Systems in the Chemical Sector (February 2003)

The document offers guidance for anyone preparing an application for an integrated permit, preparing a decision concerning the issue of an integrated permit and for operators of installations subject to integrated prevention regimes in the course of their performance of obligations ensuing from EU Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control.

Waste water and waste gas management is a cross-sectional problem relevant to the entire chemical industry. The document mainly addresses the use of waste water and waste gas treatment technologies commonly used in or applicable to the chemical sector, including sewage sludge treatment technology, if used in the chemical industry. Aside from various treatment technologies, it also includes the use of environmental management systems and instruments, which should make it possible to achieve optimum prevention and reduction in waste production.

Even though this document only names techniques commonly used in or applicable to the chemical industry, it may also contain valuable information for other sectors (e.g. refineries).

Reference Documents on Best Available Techniques when Reducing Emissions from Storage (January 2005)

The document offers guidance for anyone preparing an application for an integrated permit, preparing a decision concerning the issue of an integrated permit and for operators of installations subject to integrated prevention regimes in the course of their performance of obligations ensuing from EU Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control.

BREF Emissions from Storage is a document focused on the issue of emissions from storage in all categories of industrial activities specified in Annex I to the IPPC Directive. The document addresses not only the storage, but also the transport and handling of liquids, liquefied gases and solids. Even though attention is given to emissions into the atmosphere, soil and water, the main focus is on emissions into the atmosphere and, in the case of solids, emissions of airborne dust.

Reference Documents on Best Available Techniques for Waste Incineration (July 2005)

The document focuses on the area of dedicated waste incineration, some methods of waste pyrolysis and gasification systems, with the exception of technologies where waste is thermally treated, such as co-incineration processes in cement factories etc.

Chapters 1 and 2 provide general information on the industrial sectors concerned and on the industrial processes applied within the industrial sectors.

Chapter 3 provides data and information related to current emission and consumption levels with respect to the situation in the existing installations at the time of the document’s creation.

Chapter 4 elaborates on emission reduction possibilities and other available technologies considered to be the most suitable for the determination of both BAT and the conditions for their application. This information includes consumption and emission levels that are deemed to be achievable if the relevant technology is appropriately used, some ideas concerning both costs, the issue of intercomponental influences associated with the application of the technology and the extent to which they can be applied to an installation for which integrated permission is required, e.g. new, existing or small installations. Technologies that are generally considered obsolete are not included.

The final chapter 5 lists technologies and consumption and emission levels that are generally deemed to be BAT compatible. It is intended to provide general data with respect to emission and consumption levels, which can be used as suitable benchmarks for the determination of the extent of BAT application and for the specification of generally binding rules.