Particulate Air Pollution Definitions and Goals Keep Changing
For those tasked with making decisions relative to reducing particulate air pollution there is a special challenge. The definitions and the goals keep changing. All these changes are documented in a number of McIlvaine publications and services.
The confusion starts with the very basic definition of particulate. Small particles penetrate the lungs and are of greater concern than large particles. So a definition based on particle diameter (10 microns or 2.5 microns) is used. However, most particles are not spheres. The actual measurement is based on impaction which is a function of size, weight and shape. Needless to say, there is lots of room for confusion and poor decision making based on the definition variables.
Another problem is based on the distinction between total particulate and condensibles. Compounds, which exit the stack as vapors but condense in the atmosphere, are important contributors to pollution. The original power plant air toxic rules limited the total particulate including condensibles but the final version focused just on the discrete fraction.
Measurement methods are a big variable. Stack cleanliness is measured with High Efficiency Particulate Filters (HEPA). However, cleanrooms use HEPA filters for processes and test their efficiency with particle counters. Ambient air is considered clean from a weight perspective, but could contain hundreds of thousands of small particles in every cubic foot.
EPA determined that almost no mercury was discharged as particulate from power plant stacks. So its regulations require only the measurement of gaseous mercury. Unfortunately most of the reduction methods involve converting gaseous mercury to particulate mercury prior to removal. The result is that a plant can report low mercury emissions. but can be discharging the mercury in a particulate form.
McIlvaine tracks all the complexities in a number of publications.
For more information, click on:
N021 World Fabric Filter and Element Market
N018 Electrostatic Precipitator World Market
N056 Mercury Air Reduction Market
44I Power Plant Air Quality Decisions
5AB Air Pollution Management
Renewable Energy Briefs
Samsung and Pattern Development Complete C$580 Million Financing and Start Construction of Armow Wind Project in Ontario
Construction has begun on the Armow Wind power project in Ontario. Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. and Pattern Energy Group LP announced the completion of a C$580 million construction and term loan financing, which was secured with 10 financial institutions. Located in the Township of Kincardine, the 180 megawatt (MW) Armow Wind power project will utilize more than 200 Ontario workers and Ontario-made products, including 91 wind turbine towers made in Windsor and 273 blades manufactured in Tillsonburg.
The Armow Wind project will generate enough clean energy to power approximately 70,000 Ontario homes based on average annual residential energy use in Ontario. The project, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015, will utilize 91 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines. Armow Wind has a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).
SunEdison and Rajasthan Government Sign MOU for 5 GW of Solar PV
SunEdison, Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rajasthan Government aimed at developing Rajasthan as the global hub for solar energy. SunEdison intends to establish 5 GWs of capacity in the form of multiple Mega Solar Projects, with the expected capacity of each Mega Solar project 500 megawatts (MW) or more. The MOU comes at an opportune time following the new Solar Policy announced by the Government of Rajasthan, which aspires to create 25 GW of solar capacity in the state in the next few years.
Mr. Gopalan reiterated SunEdison’s commitment to India by saying: “SunEdison is committed to the long term development ofIndia’s solar program and supports its quest for energy security. In support of this initiative we are building local and global partnerships to ensure India is at the cutting edge of solar technology and can provide its citizens with clean, reliable, affordable energy solutions.”
Axion Power Designated as Supplier of Energy Storage and Frequency Regulation for 9.1 MW Pennsylvania Solar Farm
Axion Power International, Inc., a developer of advanced lead-carbon PbC® batteries, energy storage systems and frequency regulation systems, announced it has been designated as the supplier of energy storage and frequency regulation for a solar farm that, when finished, will be the largest in Pennsylvania. The Coatesville Solar Initiative (CSI) announced its choice of Axion Power and its PbC® technology and batteries for the 48-acre project. Axion Power PbC PowerCube™ technology has been admitted to connect with the 13-state PJM power grid, and brings that certification to the CSI project.
Phase I & II of the multi-phased project is comprised of two 2.4 megawatt (DC) solar facilities, generating approximately 6.3 million kilowatt hours which CSI has contractually agreed to sell Coatesville Area School District (CASD) through a 25-year solar power purchase agreement (SPPA). According to CSI, when completed, the 9.1 megawatt solar farm will be the largest solar park facility in Pennsylvania.
Construction Under Way at PSE&G’s Third Landfill Solar Farm
New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin and New Jersey State Senator Donald Norcross helped Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) mark the start of construction on its largest solar project to date, an 11.18-megawatt-dc (MW-dc) solar farm atop the closed Kinsley Landfill. The Kinsley Solar Farm is the utility's third project to transform New Jersey's landfill space into clean, energy-producing solar farms, through its Solar 4 All™ program.
The solar farm will convert 35 acres of the 140-acre landfill site into a solar generation powerhouse. Through the installation of 36,841 solar panels, Kinsley will provide enough grid-connected electricity to power about 2,000 average-size homes annually. Kinsley's Landfill, Inc. owns the Kinsley Landfill, which closed in 1987.
DTE Biomass Dedicates Renewable Energy Facility in North Carolina
DTE Biomass Energy celebrated the completion of its 9.6-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy project at the Uwharrie Environmental Landfill in Mt. Gilead.
DTE Biomass Energy last month started operating the facility at the landfill, which is owned and operated by Republic Services of North Carolina. Landfill gas at the site is used to generate renewable energy which is subsequently sold to Duke Energy Progress. The Uwharrie facility will more than double DTE Biomass' generation capacity in North Carolina, where it already operates six renewable energy projects.
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
Headlines for Utility E-Alert –October 31, 2014
UTILITY E-ALERT
#1198 – October 31, 2014
Table of Contents
COAL – US
 Activated Carbon Contract for Cabot
 Power4Georgians gets 18-month extension on Coal Plant Air Permit
 DTE completes Clean Coal Project at Monroe Power Plant in Michigan
 CONSOL sells Illinois Coal Reserves to Murray Energy
COAL – WORLD
 Government of India unveils Plan for More Equitable Supply of Coal for Power Plants
 Andhra Pradesh, India wants to procure 2400 MW of Power
 Tata Power to complete 1,320 MW Long Phu 2 in Vietnam Three Years Early
 China Machinery Engineering Corp. to build Power Plant in Punjab, India
 Coal-fired Power Plants still being studied in Myanmar
GAS/OIL – US
 Wärtsilä to supply Engines to Power Plant on Oahu, Hawaii
 Kentucky Utilities Project Need for up to 737 MW of New Power by 2020
 New Gas-fired Power Plant approved for Huntington Beach
GAS/OIL – WORLD
 General Electric building Power Plants in Egypt
 ATCO selected to develop Cogeneration Power Project in Mexico
 Lithuania to shut down Elektrenai 1, 2
NUCLEAR
 Sendai Nuclear Power Plant to be restarted in Japan
 GE Hitachi awarded nearly $300 Million in Outage Services and Fuel Contracts by Exelon Generation
 Proposed Tax Hike in Sweden could shutdown Nuclear Power Plants
BUSINESS
 GE & Partners develop Machinery for Gas Turbine Production
 A Number of Gas Turbine Projects in Western Africa
 Hundreds of Subsea Projects with Thousands of Pumps Moving Forward Despite Shrinking Oil Prices

HOT TOPIC HOUR

 “NOx Reduction Innovations for Coal-fired Power Plants” to be conducted over the Internet on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 10 a.m. CST
 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


“Power Plant Cooling” is the “Hot Topic Hour” on November 13, 2014

This webinar will focus on the decisions power plants will make relative to steam cooling at both new and existing facilities. In the U.S., operators have to deal with regulation 316B which requires water intake procedures to minimize harm to aquatic life. Many plants have once-through cooling systems. One option to meet 316B is to install cooling towers and recirculate water. This is very expensive. Less costly alternatives such as intake screens which either prevent entrapment or rejection without harm need to be considered. Flow control with variable speed pump drives is another option.

New power plants have the option of air cooled condensers, hybrid cooling, or wet cooling towers. Air cooled condensers consume more energy but do not consume water. If they are designed based on average ambient air temperatures, there can also be a generation output problem in hot weather. The ACC has been typically utilized in arid areas, but recently it has been selected simply because of the faster permitting track.

If wet cooling towers are chosen, decisions have to be made relative to the recirculating and bleed rates and the use of side stream filtration. A further decision has to be made relative to the fate of the bleed stream. A number of plants are opting for zero liquid discharge.
Another option is to find co-generation uses for the heat. Great Rivers Energy, which operates ethanol plants on site, is a prime example of the success of this option.

The webinar will examine all of these options for nuclear, coal and gas turbine combined cycle power plants.

Panelists will include:

Keith Silverman, Proposal Manager, Research Cottrell Cooling, Inc.

Nick Schroeder, BSME, PE, Kiewit Power Engineers

Daniel M. Cicero, Senior Industry Development Manager, Power Group, Water & Process Services Division, Nalco Company

Trent T. Gathright, Business Manager – Intakes & Cooling Water Energy Group – Americas, Ovivo

Barbara Carney, Chemical Engineer, Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
Click here to view schedule and register
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
November
6 Coal-fired Power Plant NOx Reduction Innovations
13 Power Plant Cooling
December
18 Boiler Feedwater Treatment
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
----------
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