Power Air Quality Insights No

Power Air Quality Insights
No. 63 July 5, 2012

WELCOME

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· “New Developments in Power Plant Air Pollution Control” - Hot Topic Hour on July 12 - Free of Charge

“New Developments in Power Plant Air Pollution Control” - Hot Topic on July 12 - Free of Charge

(We are opening up the webinar next week to non-subscribers, so it is free of charge to anyone).

New regulations drive new technology. No one was discussing the addition of bromine to coal a decade ago. However, regulations limiting the discharge of mercury have created a need which at first appeared to be addressed with activated carbon additions, but now bromine has become an alternative (either directly with the coal or by impregnating the carbon).

On Thursday, July 12 at 10 a.m., Bob McIlvaine will lead a discussion on new technologies which could more cost effectively address the power plant needs to meet the new regulations. The discussion will also cover technology which promises to change the regulatory strategy and timeline as well as just meet it.

The proposed new ambient particulate standards are an example of a looming regulatory strategy which will be shaped by technology availability. McIlvaine contends that it is the ambient particulate, NO_x, ozone and SO₂ standards which will eventually set the bar for efficiency requirements. Therefore, it will be the States and not the Federal government who will be technology forcing.

We are going to have Los Angeles (South Coast Air Quality Management District) type decisions all over the country. Do we increase power plant removal efficiency by one or two percent, or do we ban barbecue grills and gasoline powered lawn mowers? The State regulatory framework to improve ambient air quality will be determined by new technology which will most cost effectively move the bar to lower levels than are achieved by previous regulations.

New technology developments will also shape regulatory strategy to meet new perspectives on harm from air pollutants. The newest studies show that the harm caused by small particles is greater than previously indicated. Furthermore the chemical composition of those small particles is important. So new devices which measure each metal individually will be increasingly attractive. New studies also show that particles as small as 20 nanometers can be harmful. This finding challenges the whole way we measure emissions. They are determined by weight using a HEPA filter. The efficiency of HEPA filters on 20 nanometer particles is well below 100 percent. So we are entering an area with no reliable data. We will have to turn to the cleanroom industry which uses condensation nuclei particle counters to measure these small particles.

We can discuss new technology introduced by participants. McIlvaine will ask for comments and briefly summarize:

There will also be a discussion of processes and technologies to change the whole power plant structure. The most significant would be a way to capture the particulate at temperatures conducive to selective catalytic reduction. This opens the door for higher heat exchanger efficiency which results in more low pressure steam which in turn results in more cogeneration opportunities.

We have been reporting on ceramic fiber (as distinct from block) filters which can not only capture the particulate, but with a catalyst coating on the fibers, can also remove the NO_x. This device can be followed by corrosion resistant heat exchangers which would bring the temperatures down to well below saturation. B&W has shown that the condensing heat exchanger is a very efficient way to remove particles as well as recover heat.

The newly available low pressure steam can be used for many purposes. Co-location of municipal sewage treatment plants is just one. With sewer mining the power plant is producing, drying and burning sludge and is using the treated wastewater for cooling.

The session will be in a discussion format. Bob McIlvaine will be introducing the subjects and encourage comments from the participants.

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

DATE	Non-Subscribers Cost	SUBJECT	Webinar Type
July 12, 2012	Free	“New Developments in Power Plant Air Pollution Control”	Power
July 19, 2012	$400.00	Future for Coal, Gas, Nuclear and Renewables (forecasts by region and discussion of market drivers and regulatory constraints)	Market Intelligence
July 26, 2012	$125.00	Beneficial Byproducts of Coal Combustion and Gasification	Power
August 2, 2012	$125.00	Mercury Control and Removal Status and Cost	Power
August 9, 2012	$400.00	Filter Media (forecasts and market drivers for media used in air, gas, liquid, fluid applications both mobile and stationary)	Market Intelligence
August 16, 2012	$125.00	Report from Coal-gen (highlights of speeches and exhibitions)	Power
August 23, 2012	$125.00	Report from Mega Symposium (highlights of speeches and exhibitions at this important air pollution conference)	Power
August 30, 2012	$400.00	Instrumentation for Air, Gas, Water, Liquids (forecasts , market shares, growth segments)	Market Intelligence
September 6, 2012	$125.00	Production of Fertilizer and Sulfuric Acid at Coal-fired Power Plants	Power

§ Landmark Case: Federal Court Upholds EPA's Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gases

§ Landmark Case: Federal Court Upholds EPA's Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gases