Improving Electrostatic Precipitator Performance (Wet and Dry) is Hot Topic Hour
on Aug. 25, 2011
The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule that replaces and strengthens the 2005 Clean
Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), (SO2 and NOx), Regional Haze
(SO2, NOx, PM), NAAQS Revisions (PM2.5, Ozone,
SO2, NO2), the revisions to NSPS coming soon and the
Utility MACT or Air Toxics Rule to be finalized in November (Hg, Acid Gases,
Non-Hg Metallic HAPs, and Organic HAPs) will all act to drive total particulate
emissions limits for coal-fired power plants to near detection levels.
Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have been proven to be effective
and reliable particulate control devices for coal-fired power plants and
generally capture 99.5 percent of the particles from the flue gas in terms of
mass volume. However, this will probably not be adequate to meet the future
regulations for PM2.5. In addition, many of the ESPs in use today are
old and undersized for the task at hand or are operating with a different fuel
(low sulfur) and load than they were originally designed for. Other than general
deterioration of the precipitator, several design factors can lead to
less-than-desired performance. These can include small size and consequent short
treatment time and low specific collection area, discharge electrode
configuration, collecting plate spacing, non-uniform flow and inadequate
electrical control systems. Fortunately there is technology available that
can be employed to increase the efficiency of an existing ESP short of complete
replacement.
The following speakers will describe the various options for improving the
performance of existing precipitators, new technologies that have been or are
being developed to improve the performance of older and new ESPs, the
performance of newly upgraded or retrofitted units relative to achieving the
expected PM2.5 emission limits, the advantages or disadvantages of
the options for specific plant configurations and operating conditions and
factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade or replace an existing ESP.
Bruce Scherer,
EPRI Project Manager for Program 76, Opacity and Particulate Control, will
discuss the ongoing research effort to provide quantifiable and reliable
performance enhancements to existing electrostatic precipitators to meet the
upcoming, stringent EGU MACT particulate material regulations. Included will be
flow control innovations, power supply and hardware upgrade assessments,
research on high resistivity and biomass blend ash collection enhancement and
upgrades to ESPM, EPRI's precipitator performance model.
Rob Kimberl,
Vice-president for Operations & Technology at Clyde Bergemann EEC, will discuss
improving the performance of existing precipitators. Whether it is to achieve
existing standards or trying to achieve new standards, an existing precipitator
can be part of your particulate control strategy. Improving electrostatic
precipitator performance can be as simple as performing routine maintenance to
as complicated as adding a new chamber. These concepts will be presented, along
with their relative impacts on performance.
Paul Leanza,
Senior Technical Engineer for Post Combustion Control Equipment at Pollution
Control Services, Inc, will focus on evaluating existing precipitator’s ability
to meet the proposed Utility MACT regulations. The majority of existing
ESPs are not operating under their original design basis. Many existing
ESPs have not been upgraded with modern operating philosophies or equipment.
Taking a holistic approach in evaluating the precipitator in its current
operating parameters permit a viable plan forward as the operating parameters
have been modified as additional post combustion control equipment like SO3,
NOx, and Hg control have been incorporated over the last few years.
Randy Cook,
Manager of Business Development at Alstom Power, Inc, will discuss options for
improving existing ESPs to meet the coming emission limits. Contrary to the
popular belief, many of the existing ESPs can be rebuilt to meet the stringent
emission requirements of pending regulations. A combination of multiple
technologies for mechanical and controls upgrade will have to be used in most
installations depending on fuel, existing ESP sizing and configuration. Changing
electrode geometry, installation of high frequency power supplies, optimized
rapping, advanced controllers with opacity optimization, power down rapping, off
flow rapping can achieve significant PM emission reduction without adding plate
area or replacing the ESP by a FF. If upgrade of ESP alone cannot meet the
emission requirement, it may be cost effective to install a downstream polishing
FF.
To register for the "Hot Topic Hour" on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
CDT (Chicago time), click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm.
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2011 Dry Scrubber Users Conference - Scrubber Technology Decision: CDS vs. SDA
The Dry Scrubber Users Association Annual Conference and Exhibit is scheduled
for September 12 to 15, 2011 at Hilton University of Florida in Gainesville.
Since new environmental regulations are expected to increase dry scrubber demand
significantly the theme of the conference is - Scrubber Technology Decision: CDS
vs. SDA. To support future technology decision-making and provide perspectives
on operation and maintenance, the conference will focus on comparing circulating
dry scrubber (CDS) technology with spray dryer absorber (SDA) technology.
The conference will feature a tour of Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)
Deerhaven Generating Station Unit 2, a 250 MW coal-fired generating unit
originally constructed in 1981. In 2009, the unit was retrofitted with a
selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, circulating dry scrubber (CDS) and
fabric filter. The tour will focus on scrubber, reagent preparation
(hydrator) system and fabric filter areas.
Other conference topics and events will include:
·
Technical Presentations
·
Plant Overviews and Scrubber Project Reports
·
Reagent Preparation & Handling
·
Erosion & Corrosion
·
Scrubber Performance Optimization
·
Vendor Exhibits & Networking
Some of the key speakers at the technical sessions will include:
Kevin Redinger
of Babcock & Wilcox, will present an interactive overview of basic dry scrubber
theory and practice, intended as a primer for individuals new to the conference
or technology.
Jeff Taylor
of Eastman Chemical, will share perspectives and lessons learned during their
recent evaluation of SDA vs. CDS technology for the Building 253 Powerhouse
scrubber retrofit project.
Stewart Nicholson
of Primex Process Specialists, will discuss SO2 Control Precision.
Lessons learned recently show that SO2 emission can be controlled
substantially more precisely than previously experienced in semi-dry FGD
systems. Benefits have included enhanced boiler operation, substantial cost
savings in terms of lime and flyash disposal, reduced operating workload and
increased compliance confidence.
Mike Widico
of Lodge Cottrell, will discuss the recent startup and initial operating
experience of the Gas Suspension Absorbers at the Formosa Industries’ boilers in
Point Comfort, TX.
Dan Johnson
of Omega Atomizers, will discuss the different corrosion types, demonstrate the
damage that can occur in power plants with dry scrubbers and discuss methods to
mitigate damage and minimize cost of corrosion control.
Shaw Tsieng
of Graymont Lime Co., will discuss recent experience with lime-based Circulation
Dry Scrubber (CDS) technology with reference to performance at the AES Greenidge
Station Unit #4.
For the complete list of technical presentation click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/2011_dry_scrubber_users_conferen.htm.
For more information or to register for the conference go to: http://www.dryscrubberusers.org/
A week after the Users Conference on September 22, 2011, The McIlvaine Company
will conduct a panel discussion during the Hot Topic Hour on “Dry
FGD: Spray Dry vs. CFB vs. DSI”. The panel will focus more on the
technical issues of concern to the participants and follow up on key issues
raised at the conference.
To register for the Hot Topic Hour, click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/hot_topic_hour_registration.htm.
--------------------
Here are the Headlines for the August 12, 2011 – Utility E Alert
UTILITY E-ALERT
#1037– August 12, 2011
Table of Contents
COAL – US
COAL – WORLD
GAS / OIL – U.S.
GAS / OIL – WORLD
GASIFICATION
BIOMASS
NUCLEAR
BUSINESS
§
Dynegy creates Separate Coal- and Gas-Fired Power Generation Units
§
Hamon to acquire Assets of Deltak, LLC from Global Power
§
Coal -Gen 2011 is slated for Next Week in Columbus
§
Chemical Revenues for and from Air Pollution Control to Exceed $5.2 Billion by
2020
HOT TOPIC HOUR
For more information on the Utility Environmental
Upgrade Tracking System, click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/energy.html#42ei.
---------------------
Use of Biogas
Increasing
McIlvaine is reporting on the increased use of biogas to generate electricity.
Some recent items from McIlvaine Renewable Energy Update follow.
Raytheon plans to power five of its North Texas facilities, in part, with
electricity generated by methane gas produced as a natural by-product of
landfill decomposition.
The company is acquiring the renewable energy from Montauk through a contract
with Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC. The green power will fulfill
approximately 20 percent of Raytheon’s north Texas energy needs.
****
The Dow Chemical Company announced a power purchase agreement with the City of
Midland, MI and Consumers Energy where natural gas created by the city’s
landfill will be used to generate electricity to power Dow facilities in its
hometown.
The gas-to-energy project will initially provide approximately 25 percent of
Dow’s energy needs for its corporate center. Dow expects to source around 50
percent of its needs following the startup of a second gas-to-energy facility by
the city of Midland in late 2011.
****
From Newport Beach, CA, the U.S. energy company FirmGreen, Inc. is making big
waves in green technology as the first international shipment of its proprietary
biogas cleaning equipment began in June, with more shipments to follow. Bound
for the Novo Gramacho Landfill near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this U.S.A.-made
equipment and the landfill gas cleanup project it supports is to create hundreds
of jobs for American manufacturers and Brazilian workers over the next two
decades.
In fact, Petrobras, the largest company in Latin America by market
capitalization and revenue, will use the biogas from the project to generate
over 10 percent of the thermal energy needed to run its Duque de Caxias
Refinery.
****
Homeland Renewable Energy an agricultural-waste-to-energy specialist announced
that its anaerobic digestion division, Homeland Biogas Energy (“HB Energy”) has
signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Achor Anaerobic LLC (“Achor”), a
provider of innovative AD technology.
Under the agreement, HB Energy will use Achor’s unique “achorlytic” enzyme and
digestion-inoculating technology to significantly enhance the productivity of
anaerobic digestion in its projects in the U.S. and elsewhere. HB Energy will
also work with Achor to license the technology to third parties.
Achor’s technology uses enzymes to significantly increase the biogas production
from digestible materials, including animal and food wastes as used by HB Energy
at its facilities. Achor and HB Energy are together carrying out large-scale
tests of the Achor technology at AD facilities operated by HB Energy in
Wisconsin. The results of the tests are expected to be available during the
summer, and preliminary indications show very favorable improvements in
productivity.
HB Energy focuses on turning animal agriculture waste and other organic waste
streams into usable energy for America. HB Energy develops, owns and operates
anaerobic digestion plants capable of producing various forms of renewable
energy. HB Energy has a pipeline of over 15 large scale ADAD projects, ranging
from 3 MW to 20 MW in size.
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
--------------------
You can register for our free McIlvaine Newsletters at:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/Free_Newsletter_Registration_Form.htm.
Bob McIlvaine
President
847-784-0012 ext 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
www.mcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
Copyright © 2011 McIlvaine Company. All Rights Reserved
191 Waukegan Road Suite 208 | Northfield | IL 60093
Ph: 847-784-0012 | Fax; 847-784-0061
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