Droughts and Water Shortage Is a Large Opportunity for Treatment and Flow Providers

Many countries are facing major economic and political problems due to water shortages. However, a combination of new technologies and more intelligent water use can virtually eliminate the problem while boosting the economy.  This is the conclusion reached by the McIlvaine Company in Air/Gas/Water/Fluid Treatment and Control: World Market.  (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

Israel is the shining example of what can be done. Not only was water in short supply a decade ago, but the available supply has shrunk further due to droughts.  However, Israel now has a water surplus and a booming economy. The reason is it has embraced the latest desalination technologies and has adopted a policy of water reuse.  Eighty percent of the water now used in Israeli cities is desalinated seawater.  All municipal wastewater is reused.  Furthermore, Israel has led the world in drip irrigation. 

The Amiad, Arkal and other filter technologies developed in Israel were originally to filter water which has to move through tiny drip tubes and must be free of contamination.  So Israel is now the headquarters for a number of international filtration companies.  Amiad has developed into a $100 million corporation.

Desalination is decreasing in cost while the true cost of water from fresh sources continues to rise.  San Diego is installing a large desalination system rather than rely on imported water.  Water shortages in the Southwest U.S. are causing municipalities to rethink pricing of water. In fact, in some of the hardest hit communities, water prices are actually lower than in some Eastern cities where water is plentiful.  If cities reset prices to levels based on demand, the cost of desalination will be comparatively attractive in many areas of the U.S.

Treated municipal wastewater should replace fresh water at power plants.  Studies show that there are power plants in the proximity of nearly all large municipal wastewater treatment plants. There are chemical and physical treatment methods to make treated wastewater acceptable for all power plant requirements.

There are many technology advances which make desalination more cost effective.  Larger membrane modules with lower pressure drop are now available.  The recovery of reverse osmosis pump energy is another.  Pre filters caused problems at Tampa Bay. However, there are reliable inexpensive pre filters which are available.  Improvements in treatment chemicals keep the membrane surfaces clean. Improved pumps and valves reduce maintenance expense.  Cost effective corrosion resistant materials are also now available.

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.

 

Large Gas Turbine Aftermarket

Gas turbines are the leading choice for additional capacity in the U.S. and Europe.  As a result, in 2015 installed gas turbines will be capable of generating 1.3 million MW of electricity.  This large and growing installed base has generated a substantial market for turbine components, steam cycle components, intake air filters and treatment chemicals.  A number of McIlvaine publications forecast these expenditures and track the individual plant activity.

The trend is away from peaking units and toward combined cycle operation.  One reason is the higher global warming potential of peaking units. The aftermarket potential for a combined cycle plant is 20 percent higher than for a peaking plant with the same electrical output.  However, sales of some products are lower.  Air intake filters and gas turbine component replacement sales are lower. However, steam turbine, HRSG, water filtration, pump and valve replacement sales are higher.

Many new plants are opting for zero liquid discharge. There are two options.   One is dry cooling. Many Chinese plants are being equipped with air cooled condensers.  This is due to the water scarcity in the country.  Some new gas turbines in the U.S. are also opting for dry cooling.  Most new turbines in the arid southwest are being equipped with air cooled condensers.  Some new plants in areas where water is plentiful have also opted for dry cooling. The reason is to fast track construction and avoid water permit requirements.

A second option is to use wet cooling with water recycling.  A bleed loop is directed to a filtration and evaporation system.  This results in pure water recovery and waste which can be disposed as a solid. This option has become quite popular.  It can be combined with use of municipal wastewater to eliminate any water withdrawal.

The frequent cycling of turbine units which are working in tandem with solar and wind generation has resulted in a larger repair market than for units operating in a steady state.  Problems such as stellite delamination of valves have been encountered.

For more information on the projects and turbine markets click on:  59EI Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Supplier Program

For more information on air intake filters, click on N022 Air Filtration and Purification World Market

For more information on valves, click on  N028 Industrial Valves: World Market

For more information on the water treatment, click on N029 Ultrapure Water: World Market

"Gas Turbine Emission Control" Webinar on July 17th Will Focus On NOx, CO and Toxics

This webinar will build on previous ones and a whole dedicated site Gas Turbine Emission Control - Continuous Analyses

Panelists will include:

Greg Holscher, Sr. Applications Engineer, CERAM Environmental, Inc.  

Joshua Gillespie, EmeraChem

Thomas "Nathan" White, Director, Business Development, SCR/DeNOx Catalyst & Technology, Haldor Topsoe, Inc.

Glenn C. England, Principal Consultant, Environ International Corporation

The webinar will include some brief presentations, but will evolve into a collaborative discussion of the choices which turbine owners will have to make to meet State and Federal emission limits and also ambient air quality limits and tough limits to obtain construction permits.  The unique challenges of frequent cycling on both maintenance and exceedances also need to be considered.

NOx, CO, PM and VOCs all have to be considered.  With the need to introduce ammonia for NOx reduction, an additional potential pollutant, NH3, needs to be considered.  The choice of catalyst is most difficult for units operating in a single cycle mode. The choice is either high temperature catalyst or tempering air and lower temperature catalyst.  Each has advantages and disadvantages.

When both NOx and oxidation catalyst are incorporated, there are options relative to location of each.  Many plants are opting to convert urea-to-ammonia on-site rather than use anhydrous or aqueous ammonia. There are cost and safety considerations in making this choice.

These issues and others will be discussed. The webinar is free to power plant operators.  To join us next Thursday, July 17th at 10 a.m. you can register at:  http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=675.

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McIlvaine Hot Topic Hour Registration

On Thursday at 10:00 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 Tracking System. The cost is $300.00 for non-subscribers.

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

DATE

SUBJECT

           

 

 

July

 

17

Gas Turbine Emission Control

 

24

Wet Calcium FGD

 

31

Mercury Sorbent Options

 

August

 

7

MATS Timing and Technology Options

 

14

Industrial Boiler and Cement MACT Timing and Compliance Options

 

21

MEGA Symposium

 

28

Demineralization and Degasification

 

September

 

4

Hot Gas Filtration

 

11

Power Plant Pumps

 

18

Power Water Monitoring

 

25

Power Plant Water Treatment Chemicals

           

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

Click here for the Non-Subscribers Registration Form   

Click here for the Free Hot Topic Hour 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