·        “NO_x Control for Gas Turbines” is “Hot Topic Hour” on February 14, 2013

·        McIlvaine Hot Topic Hour Registration

·        Headlines for the February 1, 2013 – Utility E-Alert 

·        Sales of New Precipitator Systems Will Exceed $5.6 Billion in Asia in 2013

·        Instrument and Control Market for Ultrapure Water Will Exceed $468 Million This Year

·        Renewable Energy Around the World

“NO_x Control for Gas Turbines” is “Hot Topic Hour” on Thursday, February 14, 2013

With the Utility MACT and other issues discouraging any new coal-fired power plants and causing the closure of many older coal-fired power plants as well as the recent availability of natural gas, utilities are now looking to gas turbines to fill the need for power.  When considering a new gas turbine (GT) installation or changing the operation cycle or fuel of an existing GT, engineers and power plant operators must ask, “What is the most economical way to meet the current and future NO_x regulations?”

GT emissions are largely a function of turbine type, operating conditions and fuel composition and these parameters along with site specific conditions will determine the best NO_x control scheme. Simple cycle and combined cycle gas turbines typically require different approaches. Peaking turbines demand NO_x controls capable of a fast start-up while turbines operated continuously have different issues related to load following. Whereas in the past gas turbines primarily operated on pipeline quality natural gas and No. 2 diesel, concern over greenhouse gas emissions and rising prices of premium quality gas fuels has led to the use of poorer quality gases including fuels produced from coal, biomass and wastes by gasification technologies. Power plants that use or may consider using these alternative fuels must be sure that their NO_x controls will operate properly.

Available control technologies include Dry Low NO_x (DLN) burners, water (or steam) injection, add on SCR systems or a combination of these. Each of these control methods has different effects on turbine power and efficiency, start-up time, adaptability to load changes, reliability and operational life as well as different operating temperatures, maintenance requirements and intervals, parasitic power loss, capital and operating costs and effect on other pollutants emitted.

The following speakers will address these issues related to the selection of a NO_x control scheme for specific gas turbines, discuss their experience with specific NO_x control technology and installations and describe any new technologies being developed or tested for GT NO_x control.

Thomas D. Martz, Senior Project Engineer Fossil Energy Research Corp., will discuss “Gas Turbine SCR Performance Optimization and Management.” There are several common causes of diminished gas turbine SCR performance, including poor NH₃/NO_x distribution, flue gas bypass and catalyst deactivation.  Fossil Energy Research Corporation (FERCo) has developed instrumentation and methodologies to help the gas turbine operator quickly identify and fix SCR performance problems.  There are also practical steps the operator can take to monitor and manage SCR performance, such as monitoring catalyst activity and ammonia slip.  Being proactive with SCR optimization and management can extend catalyst life and help the operator avoid unplanned and expensive outages due to NO_x non-compliance.

Stewart Bible, Senior Manager Process Engineering at Fuel Tech, Inc.

Robert (Bob) McGinty Senior Manager, Business Development SCR NO_x Control Systems, Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc, will discuss fundamental SCR system design, catalyst selection, ammonia vaporizing and distribution technology, tempering air systems and maintenance concerns for reliable control of NO_x from simple cycle and combined cycle gas turbine applications and long life of the NO_x control systems.     

Kelly M. Flannery, Chief Thermal Engineer, Andrew Heid - Emission Catalyst Design Lead Engineer and Kristen Cooper - Simple Cycle Design Lead Engineer at Vogt Power International, will present their three product lines for emissions control from combustion turbine exhaust: 1) Simple Cycle Exhaust Catalyst System, 2) Combined Cycle HRSG Installation with Catalyst and 3) Steam Injection for NO_x Control.

To register for the February 14, 2013 “Hot Topic Hour” at 10 a.m. Central time, click on:

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm.

McIlvaine Hot Topic Hour Registration

On Thursday at 10 a.m. Central time, McIlvaine hosts a 90 minute web meeting on important energy and pollution control subjects. Power webinars are free for subscribers to either Power Plant Air Quality Decisions or Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System. The cost is $125.00 for non-subscribers. Market Intelligence webinars are free to McIlvaine market report subscribers and are $400.00 for non-subscribers.

To register for the Hot Topic Hour, click on:

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm.

Headlines for the February 1, 2013 – Utility E-Alert   

 UTILITY E-ALERT    

#1110– February 1, 2013  

Table of Contents

COAL – US 

• PacifiCorp plans for SCR at Cholla 4
• Federal Appeals Court declines to reconsider Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
• Minnesota Power to install Mercury Control at Boswell 4
• Minnesota Power to convert Laskin to Natural Gas
• Midwest Generation asks for More Time to Lower SO₂ Emissions
• Otter Tail Power to Install ACI at Hoot Lake, Close it in 2020
• Georgia Power IRP includes Plant Closures, Hydrated Lime Injection and ACI
• Duke Energy Buck and Riverbend to retire in 2013

COAL – WORLD 

• IDE’s MVC Desalination Units at AES Norgener (Chile) to provide Water for FGD
• 1600 MW Janjgir–Champa, Karnataka, India Power Project
• S. Korea approves Eight Private Coal-fired Power Plants by 2027
• GDF-Suez Consortium applies to develop 1,320 MW Coal-fired Power Plant in Turkey
• NSPCL to expand its Coal-fired Power Plant at Rourkela Steel Plant
• PNOC-EC seeking Partners for Isabela and Zamboanga Sibugay Power Projects in Philippines
• Aboitiz Power expects to sign Loan Agreements for 300 MW Davao and 600 MW Subic (Philippines)

GAS/OIL - US 

• Siemens to install Gas Turbines at Port Everglades
• Tenaska, BPUB Partner to develop New 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Brownsville, TX
• PGE planning 220 MW Gas-fired Power Plant Port Westward, in Oregon

GAS/OIL – WORLD

• Alstom to upgrade Gas Turbines at 350 MW Bang Bo in Thailand

BIOMASS

• EPA resolves Air Violations with Thermal Energy Development Partnership

NUCLEAR 

• Bulgarian Vote on Nuclear Power non-binding
• TVO has received Bids for Olkiluoto 4 Power Plant
• Westinghouse announces Successful Setting of World’s First AP1000^® Containment Vessel Top Head at China’s Sanmen Unit 1

BUSINESS

• CECO Environmental announces New Orders Totaling $11.4 Million
• East Asia will spend $4.8 Billion on FGD This Year
• Boosting Air Pollution Export Sales
• Gas Turbine Inlet Filter Market to Exceed $400 Million This Year
• Hans Hartenstein of STEAG Energy Services receives Award

HOT TOPIC HOUR

• “Control Valves for Power Plants, Boilers and Water Treatment Facilities” is Hot Topic Hour on February 7, 2013
• Upcoming Hot Topic Hours

For more information on the Utility Environmental Upgrade Tracking System, click on: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72

Sales of New Precipitator Systems Will Exceed $5.6 Billion in Asia in 2013

Sales of new precipitator systems will exceed $5.6 billion in Asia in 2013.  This is the latest conclusion in Electrostatic Precipitators World Markets published by the McIlvaine Company as a continually updated comprehensive online analysis.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

Asian New Precipitator System Sales ($ Millions)

The Asian market will far exceed the rest of the world. This is due in large part to new precipitator sales to power plants in India and China. Replacement of existing precipitators with new precipitators will be relatively modest.

In contrast, the replacement market is a much bigger percentage of the revenue in the U.S. and Europe.  One reason is the preference for fabric filters.  This trend is also starting in Asia. Chinese power plants are already anticipating the need to install fabric filters to meet tough particulate regulations.

The aftermarket including repair parts, maintenance and services adds another $5 billion in yearly revenues. Until recently, the aftermarket in the U.S. and Europe was much bigger than in Asia.  But this is starting to change for two reasons:

·         Tougher regulations are requiring more maintenance

·         The Asian installed basis now closer to the ROW

In the U.S. a number of power plant precipitators will be taken out of service and the entire facility retired.  So, in a period when the U.S. will lose 40,000 MW of existing precipitators, China will add 400,000 MW.

For more information on:  Electrostatic Precipitators World Market, click on:

http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=48#no18.

Instrument and Control Market for Ultrapure Water Will Exceed $468 Million This Year

The electronics and power industries in Asia will make the most contribution toward generating $468 million in ultrapure instrument and control sales this year. This is the conclusion in Ultrapure Water World Market published by the McIlvaine Company.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

Instruments and Controls for Ultrapure Water ($ Thousands)

SUMMARY TOTALS:

Control requirements for ultrapure water are demanding due to the need to integrate a number of purification processes.  The need to reduce contamination to very low levels challenges the instrument suppliers.

In the semiconductor industry, ultrapure water takes the following path:

• Pretreatment

• Make-up

• Polishing

• Distribution Systems

• Recovery

• Reuse & Reclaim.

The steps to reuse and reclaim have developed over the last decade and add to the control complexity.  For example, consider just the treatment of Copper CMP Wastewater.  One of the turnkey solutions suppliers is Ovivo.  Their process adds a catalyst to copper waste utilizing the oxidant present to form a strong oxidizer. The strong oxidizer breaks down the complexed copper and reduces the wastewater’s organic concentration. Copper can then be precipitated as copper hydroxide and removed with the slurry particles. Ovivo’s advanced oxidation process is notable for:

• Lowest chemical consumption

• Achieving stringent wastewater discharge requirements

• Reducing not only copper, but also organics

Preventive maintenance requirements are often included in the automation system. The reverse osmosis system is maintenance prone. The filters need to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. The differential measurement can be used to determine at which point the filters need to be cleaned or replaced. Typically, a pressure switch is used in these applications; however, problems can arise from vibration and pressure surges in the system. 

One semiconductor facility switched to a Yokogawa EJA transmitter which produced consistently accurate output, resulting in better process efficiency and less maintenance downtime.

Ultrapure water control and instrumentation requirements for coal-fired power plants have become more challenging with the advent of ultra-supercritical designs, the high pressures and high temperatures along with the increased water purity requirements.

For more information on Ultrapure Water World Markets, click on: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=71#n029

Renewable Energy Around the World

As 2012 drew to a close many areas of the world had made good progress increasing their use of renewable energy. McIlvaine reports these advances in Renewable Energy Projects and Update.

FERC Report Shows Renewable Energy Accounts for 46.22 Percent of New Electric Generation in 2012

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) applauds the renewable energy industry for installing 46.22 percent of new electrical generating capacity brought online since the beginning of 2012.  According to a recently released report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower accounted for a majority of the new renewable energy projects producing clean electricity in 2012, and are now responsible for more than 14.9 percent of total operating generating capacity in the U.S.

As ACORE’s post-election survey demonstrated, renewable energy has strong public support in America’s battleground states.  Majorities in all four swing states polled after the election showed significant support for continued government investment in clean energy. Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn ended by saying, “America has watched the prices of electricity generated by renewable energy decrease as the political opposition against the industry has increased.  With continued support, this industry has shown that renewable energy is not just the energy source of the future — it’s the energy source of today, diversifying our energy mix and creating a more secure America.”

EU Greenhouse Gases in 2011: More Countries on Track to Meet Kyoto Targets, Emissions Fall 2.5 Percent

Emissions of greenhouse gases in the European Union (EU) fell on average by 2.5 percent from 2010 to 2011, although several countries increased emissions. Almost all European countries are individually on track towards their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol compared to last year, according to two reports published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

According to EEA’s estimates, the largest relative emissions decreases from 2010 to 2011 were registered in countries with small to medium shares of total EU greenhouse gas emissions: 13 percent in Cyprus followed by 8 percent in Belgium, Finland and Denmark. The United Kingdom made the biggest emission cuts in absolute terms, with a reduction of 36 million tons CO₂ equivalent (Mt CO₂ eq.) in 2011, or 6 percent. This was followed by France (24 Mt CO₂ eq., 5 percent) and Germany (17 Mt CO₂ eq., 2 percent).

Nine EU Member States increased emissions between 2010 and 2011. Bulgaria increased emissions by 11 percent, while Lithuania increased by 3 percent and Romanian emissions rose by 2 percent. However, these countries have made some of the deepest cuts in emissions overall since 1990.

Although economic factors played a part in certain countries, it is notable that the EU economy overall grew by 1.5 percent while emissions fell by 2.5 percent. Most of the countries registering the deepest cuts in emissions had positive growth in 2011.

A warm winter in most countries was a key factor in cutting emissions in 2011, as the demand for fossil fuels for heating was lower than in previous years. The residential and commercial sector —largely outside the scope of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) — contributed most to lower emissions in the European Union.

German Businesses and Households Accounted for 95 Percent of Total German Climate Finance in 2010

A new study released by Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides the first comprehensive overview of how German businesses, households, and government finance renewable energy and energy efficiency. The report “The German Landscape of Climate Finance” shows that Germany invested 1.5 percent of GDP in 2010, or €37 billion, in measures to reduce the impact of climate change.

Private capital is of great importance to climate investments in Germany. In 2010, the majority (€22 billion) of climate finance came from corporate investors across all sectors of the economy, including farmers, energy utilities, and industrial and commercial enterprises. Private households invested a significant €14 billion.

According to CPI, government incentives play a major role in unlocking private climate finance in Germany. Almost half of all private climate investments (€16.5 billion) were supported by low-interest loans from public banks, such as KfW or Rentenbank.

“The task of the government is to create the conditions for businesses and households to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency. And indeed, government-backed low-interest loans and policies such as the feed-in-tariff seem to have played an important role in encouraging these private investments,” says Barbara Buchner, Director, CPI Europe.

The German government has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 percent by 2050 and phase out nuclear energy by 2022. These objectives have positioned Germany as a world leader in national climate mitigation efforts, but also require significant investments that cannot be provided by public funds alone. Therefore, a high share of private finance can be regarded as a positive signal for Germany’s low-carbon strategy.

The report also looked at how climate finance is used in Germany, and presents figures for total capital investments for renewable energy and incremental investments for energy efficiency. Renewable energy generation accounted for the bulk of Germany’s climate investment in 2010, with €26.6 billion. Small-scale renewable energy projects, such as residential solar photovoltaic installations, represented 75 percent of all investment in renewable energy, while large-scale projects accounted for the remaining 25 percent. Energy efficiency investments amounted to €7.2 billion, and €3.3 billion went into other climate specific investments.

IEA Applauds Korea’s Green Growth Strategy

In an in-depth review of Korea’s energy policies released, the International Energy Agency applauds the country’s long-term commitment to green growth and achieving a low-carbon future but also sounded notes of caution regarding some elements of existing energy strategy.

Korea, the world’s thirteenth-largest economy and the seventh-largest exporter, is an energy-intensive nation. In 2008, it adopted a long-term “green growth” strategy to foster economic development by means of low-carbon technologies and clean energy; since then, the government has implemented many policies to support these goals.

A key element of Korea’s long-term strategy is a government commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent compared to its business as usual (BAU) case by 2020. In 2012, in order to achieve this target, Korea announced details of an emissions-trading scheme — the first of its kind in Asia — which will be implemented in 2015.

Ex-Im Bank Authorizes $150 Million in Export Financing for Energy Projects in Latin America

More than a $150 million worth of American-made energy equipment will head to Uruguay and Mexico because of transactions approved this week by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank). The bank approved a $78.6 million direct loan to Abengoa, a company in Seville, Spain, that applies technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors. The Bank also approved a $73.6 million direct loan to Palmatir S.A., a 50 MW wind farm in Cuchilla de Peralta, Uruguay, which is owned by Abengoa. Approximately 510 American jobs will be supported from these two transactions.

The Middle East will Soon Lead the World in Developing Sustainable Energy, Says an Author of World Energy Council Report

The Middle East may soon overtake other nations and become the global role model in developing sustainable energy, according to an author of a new report released by the World Energy Council and Oliver Wyman at the COP 18 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar. The World Energy Trilemma is the struggle that governments face in providing energy that is secure, affordable, and environmentally-sound.

A World Energy Council/Oliver Wyman Energy Sustainability Index within the report that ranks 92 countries' energy systems shows that the energy systems of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait lag behind nearly half of those in the rest of the world in terms of their ability to provide sustainable energy.

But it also demonstrates why the Middle East may soon emerge the world’s leader in this area: The region is adopting many of the practical and interconnected steps required to achieve sustainable energy faster than many other nations can.

"The Middle East is well-positioned to take the lead in the global sustainable energy race that is about to reshape the world’s energy landscape,” says Oliver Wyman partner and a report author Mark Robson. "Most governments in the Middle East have set out aggressive plans for reaching sustainable energy goals over the next eight to 18 years and they have the political leadership and financial resources to achieve them."

For more information on Renewable Energy Projects and Update please visit

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/Renewable_Energy_Projects_Brochure/renewable_energy_projects_brochure.htm

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Bob McIlvaine
President
847 784 0012 ext 112

rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com

www.mcilvainecompany.com

191 Waukegan Road Suite 208 | Northfield | IL 60093

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