BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS – FEBRUARY 24, 2010

FRANK PRINCIOTTA – US EPA

Abstract: Coal Combustion - the Carbon Capture and Storage Challenge

Retrofitting coal-fired units with CCS presents formidable challenges. On the capture side challenges include: energy penalty, space, and water requirements. On the sequestration side, they include availability of stable, appropriate geological sites and legal, liability and licensing hurdles.

MARK SCHOENFIELD – JUPITER OXYGEN CORP.

BIO: Mark Schoenfield is the Senior Vice-President of Operations and General Counsel of Jupiter Oxygen Corporation, an energy technology company with a patented heat transfer technology using oxycombustion for carbon capture, air quality, and energy efficiency for power plants and industrial furnaces.  Mark manages the technical and business development of the company for application of its now patented oxycombustion technology. He has testified before Congress and state legislative committees, and coordinates project work with the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory.  Mark has written technical papers and been a presenter at many conferences, including EUEC, MIT Carbon Capture Forum and at the 2009 IEA 1st Oxy-Fuel Conference.  In 2009, he was a section leader in drafting the National Coal Council policy study for the Secretary of Energy. In August, 2009, he was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Group.

ABSTRACT: Jupiter Oxygen, has designed, built and operated a 15 MW thermal boiler test facility in Hammond IN (USA). The boiler began operation in October of 2007. Jupiter Oxygen has completed a series of tests where oxygen has been combusted with coal and natural gas under different conditions. Tests and boiler operation were conducted where flame temperatures reached about 5000F with and without recycle flue gas (while maintaining flame temperature) while burning natural gas. Tests and boiler operation where conducted with recycled flue gas mixed with oxygen resulting in flame temperatures closer to air fired conditions using natural gas. Baseline testing was established using air and natural gas for comparative purposes. Initial testing has also been completed where coal (Illinois No. 6) has been used with oxygen (with and without recycle) resulting in a high flame temperature in the boiler. Initial testing has been completed where the flue gasses from the combustion of coal with oxygen have been captured for the purpose of sequestration investigation. The results to date establish specific advantages for high flame temperature oxy-fuel combustion, indicating an economic pathway for carbon capture from fossil fuel power plants.

JIM STAUDT - ANDOVER TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS

BIO: Dr. Jim Staudt is the President of Andover Technology Partners, a management and technology consulting firm located in Massachusetts.  He provides advice on business strategy and on technical issues relating to energy or environmental technology.

Dr. Staudt has over 25 years of experience with power generation and energy technology, with the last two decades focusing primarily on air pollution control and combustion.  The client base includes electric power companies, government agencies, suppliers of air pollution control and monitoring equipment, and investors in technology companies.  Current activities relating to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) technologies include: development of US EPA’s GHG Technology database, as well as GHG technology benchmarking for private sector clients.

Dr. Staudt is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the Navy nuclear program aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.  He also has a Masters Degree and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.  He received a 2007 US EPA Science and Technology achievement award for work he conducted with EPA scientists and engineers on the topic of mercury control from coal-fired power plants.  He is also an inventor on two US patents.

ABSTRACT: To achieve significant reductions of CO₂ in the US over the next few decades, it will be necessary to reduce CO₂ emissions from existing coal-fired power plants.  Carbon capture and sequestration will be a necessary and critical component of a larger electric power sector strategy that includes efficiency improvements, demand management, as well as other sources of energy.  In this presentation Dr. Staudt will examine the state of carbon capture technologies with a specific emphasis on technologies applicable to existing coal-fired generation.   The technologies that are likely to be deployed by the first users of carbon capture technology will be discussed, including performance of these technologies, obstacles to deployment, and retrofit issues, along with a discussion of advanced technologies that in the longer term will improve the performance of carbon capture systems.

BLOCK ANDREWS – BURNS & MCDONNELL

BIO: Block Andrews currently serves as Strategic Environmental Solutions Director at Burns & McDonnell.  In his role, Block evaluates impacts of environmental legislation and regulation on industry.  He has worked in the power industry for 20 years and has successfully permitted over 10,000 MW of power generation.  For six years, Block was Director of Environmental Services for Aquila.  In this role, he oversaw environmental compliance, risk mitigation and strategic direction for Aquila.  Block assisted in development of the Aquila's integrated resource plans and developed the company's first greenhouse gas report. Block is a registered professional engineer and has a Masters Degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Illinois.

ABSTRACT: There are many Greenhouse gas drivers that could potentially impact the electric utility industry.  This presentation will identify these drivers as well as some strategies on a system-wide and plant-wide level that are currently being studied and implemented to reduce greenhouse gases.