GCI (Grace Consulting, Inc.)

GCI (Grace Consulting, Inc.) is proud of its heritage and almost forty (40) years of emissions testing experience, dating back to our initial inception in 1983.  Now, in our current, formal operations, incorporated as GCI since 2000, the company operates in compliance with the ASTM D 7036-04 Standard Practice for Competence of Air Emissions Testing Bodies (AETB), and has received full accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) in partnership with the Stack Testing Accreditation Council (STAC).  We’ve additional achieved National Environmental Laboratory (NELAP) accreditation for both our brick & mortar and mobile monitoring laboratories.  With consistent, quality services provided by over fifty (50) test technicians; certified crew leaders, each with a minimum of 15-20 years of experience; a fleet of eighteen (18) mobile monitoring laboratory trailers; an arsenal of interchangeable and redundant Apex equipment; in-depth QA/QC, safety, and training programs; and multiple nationwide offices to mobilize from; GCI is able to remain flexible and economical for our clients’ scheduling and financial constraints.  We would certainly love to be granted the opportunity to provide these services to you, as well!

GCI has developed a multi-probe flow RATA program called Precision Flow© that includes the Electronic Flow measurement portions of Methods 2H and 2G. GCI uses four probes mounted to the stack ports that allow several readings at each point with Delta P, Temperature and Angle averaged for each reading. This provides greater accuracy and also allows the Flow RATAs to be performed in one hour per load. This method reduces the high bias associated with manual flow methods but does not drastically affect the cost of the testing.

Precision Flow© follows USEPA Methods 2G and 2H without modifications. GCI uses Method 4 for moisture determinations and Precision Flow© can be performed on the same day as the gas RATAs. The yaw angle determination described by Method 2G is used for all test runs and the flow RATA can still be completed in one hour per load.

Advantages of Precision Flow© over Standard Method 2, 2G or 2F testing:

• Precision Flow© Probes are mounted to the stack flanges which result in a rigid connection. Hand held probes used in standard Method 2 and 2G tests result in higher flow measurements (As much as 10%) because of misalignment of pitot tubes.
• Precision Flow© uses calibrated pressure transformers for Delta P readings with 64 readings averaged at each point over 16 seconds. Manual Method 2, 2G and 2F testing uses an inclined draft gauge which can have a high bias unless sufficient time is given for the oil to settle at each test point.
• Precision Flow© uses proprietary design pitot tubes that meet the requirements of Method 2G. Manual Method 2 and 2G testing is often performed using the default pitot tube coefficient of .84 which results in higher flow measurements.