Gas Turbine Combined Cycle Plants Will Pay $800 Million for Water Treatment Chemicals This Year

Gas turbine and combined cycle (GTCC) power plants will spend less than nuclear or coal-fired power plants on water treatment chemicals this year. However, this segment will show higher growth than the other two segments. One of the variables is the Fukushima nuclear plant which will account for nearly 2 percent of all the power plant treatment chemical purchases this year. Nuclear accidents are, therefore, a significant consideration in any forecast.

This power market sector is continually analyzed in Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World Market, published by the McIlvaine Company.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

GTCC plants use treatment chemicals such as coagulants on the intake water.  This is converted to ultrapure water.  In the process, chemicals are used to adjust the pH and to remove contaminants. Additional chemicals are used with the steam to minimize high temperature corrosion.  The cooling water and wastewater also require a variety of chemicals.

One of the biggest markets is the retrofitting of peaking plants with heat recovery steam generators and steam turbines to combine the cycle. A number of operators in the Middle East routinely start with a peaking plant and later combine the cycle.  In the U.S., peaking plants are being converted not only because of the power needs but to minimize the greenhouse gas footprint.  A peaking plant emits nearly 40 percent more CO₂/MW than a combined cycle plant.

There are a number of site specific variables which impact treatment chemical investment. One would be the silica content of the intake water. This varies by an order of magnitude depending on the water source. Another variable is the nitrates and organics in the source water.  The use of municipal wastewater as the source of GTCC plants is now common. When this source is utilized, the treatment chemical expenditures are higher than when more pristine sources are tapped.

Today GTCC plants are commonly cycled hundreds of times per year.  This creates problems which require additional treatment chemical expenditures.  Flow-Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) can cause leaks and ruptures in carbon steel piping, vessels and equipment.

The difficulty in obtaining water discharge permits is leading to adoption of zero liquid discharge.  The recycling and evaporation processes require treatment chemicals.  Purification of water used for inlet cooling to the turbine is another revenue generator for treatment chemical companies. For more information on Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World Market, click on:  http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/27-water/449-n026-water-and-wastewater-treatment-chemicals.

McIlvaine also tracks each project and existing gas turbine plant.  For more information on this program, click on: 59EI Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Supplier Program.

Lots of Mergers in the Gas and Liquids Flow, Control and Treatment Market

In the last year there have been hundreds of acquisitions in the $400 billion market which treats and controls air, gas, water and other liquids.  These transactions and the strategy behind them are reported in Air/Gas/Water/Fluid Treatment and Control: World Market, published by the McIlvaine Company.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

The largest segment is industrial valves. One of the smaller segments is air filtration. Acquisitions in the last year in these two segments are listed below:

There are a variety of motivations involved in this market.  One is to expand the technology and product base.  Lydall makes filter media for HVAC but not for dust collection. Andrew makes media for dust collectors. So Lydall has more than doubled the filter media sales potential with the acquisition. Clarcor took a similar course but one step down the supply chain.  They furnish HVAC filters and with the purchase of BHA from GE they now are the leading dust collector bag company.

Another reason is to gain access to geographical market as witnessed by Curtiss Wrights’ Brazilian valve acquisition.

A third reason is vertical integration. An earlier acquisition by Clarcor moves them into the media business for face masks and HVAC.

Another motivation is to streamline companies and to make them more profitable. The SPX decision to separate its flow control from other businesses is a case in point.  Xylem is still in a repositioning mode several years after it was separated from ITT.

For more information on Air/Gas/Water/Fluid Treatment and Control: World Market, click on:  http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/27-water/445-n064-air-gas-water-fluid-treatment.

Headlines for Utility E-Alert – January 30, 2015

UTILITY E-ALERT

#1208 – January 30, 2015

Table of Contents

COAL – US

• Cabot Norit awarded Two New Contracts for Mercury Removal

 COAL – WORLD

• K-Electric signs 700 MW Coal-fired Power Projects with CMEC
• NFEC signed Contract with Gansu Coal Group for Valve Products
• Neyveli Lignite to set up New 1,000 MW Thermal Power Plant in Tamil Nadu

GAS/OIL - US

• First Co-op Peaking Power Plant under Construction
• Tenaska Generating Station receives Greenhouse Gas approval from EPA

 GAS/OIL – WORLD

• Nigeria Signs Pact with US Firm to Build 250 MW Power Plant
• Siemens to deliver Three Gas Turbines for Power Project in Peru
• OHL enters Mexican Power Sector with 60 MW Cogeneration
• Comisión Federal de Electricidad to launch Tender for Combined Cycle Power Plant in Sinaloa, Mexico
• Nampower (South Africa) to start building gas-fired Power Plant
• Clyde Bergemann receives US$10 Million Order for Dust and SO₂ Reduction Systems for Polish Power Plant

 BIOMASS

• B&W Vølund awarded Contracts for More Than $200 Million for Biomass Power Plant in Wales

NUCLEAR

• Austria to sue European Commission over Subsidy Deal approval for UK’s $24 Billion Nuclear Facility
• Rolls-Royce to undertake Boiler Modification work at Dungeness B Power Station in UK
• Pentair wins Valves Deal for China Nuclear Power Plant

BUSINESS

• Haldor Topsoe and FLSmidth join forces to market Catalytic Filter Bag Technology
• Join McIlvaine at Valve Summit in Bergamo, Italy on May 27-28, 2015
• Chinese Coal-fired Power Plants will continue to spend more than other Countries or Even Regions
• Dry Scrubber Market will grow at 9 Percent/Yr

HOT TOPIC HOUR

• MATS Hot Topic Hour on January 29 covered Technology Improvements which will reduce Compliance Costs
• “Gas Turbine Regulatory Drivers” is the Hot Topic on February 5, 2015
• Upcoming Hot Topic Hours

For more information on the Utility Tracking System, click on:  http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/databases/2-uncategorised/89-42ei

Hot Topic Hour Registration

On Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Central time, McIlvaine hosts a 90 minute web meeting on important energy and pollution control subjects.  These Webinars are free of charge to owner/operators of the plants. They are also free to McIlvaine Subscribers of Power Plant Air Quality Decisions and Utility Tracking System.  The cost for others is $300.00 per webinar.

See below for information on upcoming Hot Topic Hours.  We welcome your input relative to suggested additions.

Click here for the Subscriber and Power Plant or Cement Plant Owner/Operator Registration Form

Click here for the Non-Subscribers Registration Form           

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You can register for our free McIlvaine Newsletters at: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_rsform&formId=5

Bob McIlvaine
President
847-784-0012 ext 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
www.mcilvainecompany.com