HTH Recording

September 6, 2007

Last week when we summarized the presentation by Joe Reilly of Martin Marietta we gave the
impression that sufficient lime would not be available to meet the utility needs. His comments were that the presently committed capacity will not meet those needs but that the industry is quick to respond to opportunities and would therefore meet the challenge.

Mercury CEMS are Achieving as Hoped - Hot Topic Hour September 6

On September 6 there was an enlightening exchange as suppliers, EPA and the utilities discussed the status of the mercury CEMS program. On one hand the situation is dynamic and somewhat confusing. On the other it is a lot less confusing than it was two months ago when we held our last mercury Hot Topic Hour.

EPA has published a final rule on alternatives for measuring mercury. They include both an instrument and the sorbent trap. The rule is found in our Mercury Decision Tree.

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Scott Hedges of EPA surprised the group by announcing that EPA would temporarily waive the calibration gas certification and instead accept the “best available gas” approach. It is uncertain whether the waiver would be for a period through 2009 or whether it would extend to 2010.

Sharon Sjostrom of ADA-ES updated the group on success with a portable instrument to fulfill the IRM requirement. The system is automated to provide RATA testing with HgCl₂ system integrity checks and dynamic spiking. It has the ability to traverse the duct and to provide real-time feedback. It has passed both high and low level testing with comparison to sorbent traps and Ontario Hydro. This could be a very handy instrument for RATA checks. Sharon said that efforts were being made to make this available to the industry in the very near future.

Karl Wilber of Tekran provided some interesting insights on challenges and issues still remaining. One is the need for very low level measurement. Baseline levels for Hg are ranging from 0.5-5 micrograms/m³. Ninety percent or greater removal is being required in some states. As a result it will be necessary to measure accurately to very low levels. Karl reports that RATA results at some sites are revealing a high bias for sorbent traps vs. Ontario Hydro and the CEMs. Details on Tekran successes at Reliant Energy were not included in the presentation but are included in the more extensive set of power points which is posted in the Decision Tree.

Michale Corvese of ThermoFisher reported on the CEMS upgrades which include lamp heater control, a humidifier for calibration gas that provides quicker response, and additional software for six point span capability and control of the HgCl₂ generator. Thermo has now sold over 400 Mercury Freedom Systems and will have shipped over 200 by the end of this month. Fifty upgrade kits have also been shipped.

The power points can be accessed separately in the Mercury Decision Tree through the links below.

Sharon Sjostrom – ADA-ES

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