A Multitude of Hot Gas Filter Decisions Needed Due To Regulatory and
Technology Developments
Operators of power plants, industrial boilers, cement kilns and waste
incinerators have been challenged by both regulatory and technology developments
which increase the number of decisions which have to be made regarding hot gas
filtration.
New regulations applying to combustion sources in the U.S., China and other
countries require removal of particles to levels 90 percent lower than required
a decade ago. Older precipitators are not capable of compliance with the new
standards. New alternative technologies may create water and solid waste
problems. In fact, a number of different decision trees have to be viewed in
order to make the best decisions.
Air Regulations
Discrete particles, condensibles, mercury and acid gases. Water and Solid Waste
Regulations which change the air pollution control options.
Economic Decisions
Including plant retirement or fuel switching. Process Options
Including heat recovery, flyash sale, reducing load, new fan.
Multiple Function
Pollution control devices which remove more than one pollutant. Technology
Upgrades
New filter media, scrubber approaches, improved ESPs.
Many older plants are candidates for retirement or fuel switching. The costs of
this approach have to be compared to the cost of upgrades to meet the new rules.
This is not a sequential process. Discoveries in one decision tree lead the
analyst back to the previous tree. A new direct sorbent injection approach will
greatly lessen the capital cost but will make flyash unsalable. If this ash has
to be sent to a hazardous waste landfill, the costs would be enormous. However,
some technology upgrades could provide a salable mix of reaction products and
ash.
New filter media allows consideration of replacing just precipitator internals.
But, if the required pressure increase is more than the existing fan can handle,
then the analyst needs to look carefully at the whole process decision tree. A
new catalytic filter with direct sorbent injection offers the potential to
remove three pollutants in one device. The biggest advantage may be the creation
of clean gas at 850oF. This provides some very important energy recovery
alternatives but requires retracing the analysis of the water and solid waste,
process and technology decision trees.
McIlvaine offers services for both the combustion plant operator and the
supplier.
The Hot Gas Filtration Global Decisions Positioning System™ (GdPS) provides a
road map for all the participants.
Power Plant Systems and Components provides a free decision system for
operators.
44I Power Plant Air Quality Decisions provides the decision system for
suppliers.
Gas Turbine Inlet Filter Decisions Are Critical and Complex
Gas turbine technology is steadily advancing. Higher speed rotating parts are
increasing efficiency. However, the more advanced the machine the more
vulnerable it is to deposition of very small particles. The use of turbines has
expanded to arctic, desert and marine environments. Each presents special
challenges.
Inlet air filters are the critical component in deposition prevention. Air
filter designers have made a number of improvements in fiber, media and filter
shape to improve the efficiency to energy consumption ratio while maintaining
integrity.
These filter options combined with a variety of other processes and operating
parameters make the filter decisions complex. The selection is best made by
traveling back and forth among a number of decision trees.
GAS TURBINE INLET FILTER DECISION TREES
Air Regulations
Emission limit may be lower than inlet air concentration. So HEPA filter may be
necessary. Location
Arctic, marine, offshore, industrial and desert have unique challenges.
Economic Decisions
Pressure drop, filter life and performance all impact cost. Process Options
Location of coalescer, cooling of inlet air, turbine wash cycles, turbine
design.
Filter Selection
Static or pulsed, panel or bag, membrane or microglass, number of stages.
Operation
Cycling frequency, maintenance intervals, filter accessibility, performance
monitoring.
In California and certain other areas the air emission limits are lower than the
particulate loading in the ambient air. In these locales the air inlet filter
must function as an air pollution control device. Sticky fine salt particles are
encountered in marine locations. High dust loads are found in deserts. There is
a wide variety of conditions found in industrial locations.
Because of the use of gas turbines to provide power when the renewable sources
are not producing (solar and wind), many turbines are subject to constant
cycling. The result is varying inlet filter conditions.
Recent studies show that more efficient inlet filters even at a large price
premium are justified based on reduced turbine erosion and maintenance. The
latest filter advances provide high efficiency at modest pressure increase.
Various designs are proving to be reliable and capable of long life.
The variety of conditions and many filter options make selection complex. The
McIlvaine Company provides Global Decisions Positioning Systems (GdPS) to assist
specifers in these complex choices.
There are services for both the gas turbine plant operator and the supplier.
The Gas Turbine Air Treatment Global Decisions Positioning System™ (GdPS)
provides a road map for all the participants.
Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Decisions provides a free decision system for the
operator.
59EI Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Supplier Program provides the decision
system for suppliers.
Six Percent Expansion of the Gas Turbine Combined Cycle Market This Year
There is a switch from coal-fired generation to gas turbine generators underway
in many countries of the world. In addition, a number of gas-turbine peaking
plants are being retrofitted with combined cycle systems. In major areas of the
world more than 30 percent of turbine capacity is open (single cycle), which
offers substantial opportunities for combined cycle upgrades.
The capacity additions in 2015 will be equal to 4.3 percent of the installed
base. However, the addition of steam generators along with investment to switch
from infrequent to frequent use will raise total investment by 6 percent. Asia
will be the leading region with a 7 percent increase.
Gas Turbine Open Cycle Systems by Region
Region Total Open & Combined Gas Turbine Capacity 2015 (MWs) New Additions in
2015 (MWs) Open Cycle (%) of Installed Base
North America 511,254 15,580 36
South America 57,367 2,414 40
Europe 274,526 14,133 4
CIS 28,908 3,197 16
Africa & Middle East 233,819 5,684 45
Asia 277,161 19,329 9
TOTAL 1,383,035 60,337 26
Installed base of gas turbine generation at the end of 2015 will be nearly 1.4
million MW, which includes 60,000 MW of new additions that will be added
throughout the year. Most of the additions will include the steam turbine and a
heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), reflecting the economic and environmental
advantages for combined cycle power plants.
Significant opportunities for combined cycle conversions exist in North America,
South America, Africa and the Middle East. Europe and the CIS have traditionally
invested primarily in combined cycle from the start rather than open cycle, so
there are lesser opportunities there for upgrades to combined cycle systems.
Wet cooling will also be incorporated in the majority of these combined cycle
installations. However, dry cooling is being utilized in some arid areas of the
world. It is also the choice for some developers who want to avoid delays with
water permits.
Many plants are switching from peaking to base-load operation. This generates
the need for better boiler feedwater treatment systems. Other capital
investments are warranted to reduce chemical and other operating costs.
More information on the market is found at: N043 Fossil and Nuclear Power
Generation: World Analysis and Forecast.
Details on all the projects and technology is found at: 59EI Gas Turbine and
Combined Cycle Supplier Program.
Renewable Energy Briefs
Pattern Development Secures Power Purchase Agreement for 147 MW Wind Project in
Quebec
Pattern Energy Group LP announced that its Mont Sainte-Marguerite Wind project
has entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hydro-Québec. The
147 megawatt (MW) project is located approximately 50 kilometers south of Québec
City, in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. Pattern Development has partnered with
Renewable Energy Systems Canada Inc. (RES Canada) on development of the project.
The Mont Sainte-Marguerite Wind project will utilize 46 Siemens innovative 3.2
MW direct drive wind turbines. Components for the turbines will be sourced from
Québec and leverage the highly-skilled labor force and manufacturing facilities
in the province.
The project will employ approximately 200 skilled workers on site at the peak of
construction activity and create 10-12 permanent jobs once operational. Upon
completion, the Mont Sainte-Marguerite Wind project is expected to generate
enough power for approximately 27,000 Québec homes annually. The project site,
which is located on one of the higher elevations in Southern Québec, has one of
the strongest wind resources in the entire region.
Greenskies, Target Corp. Sign 180 Store Power Purchase Agreement
Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC, a Middletown-based solar energy company, said
recently it has signed an agreement with Target Corp. to install solar arrays on
the roofs of 180 Target stores and distribution centers that stretch across the
United States from Augusta, Maine, to San Diego, California.
When completed, the 180 solar installations will produce an aggregate total of
approximately 100 megawatts of electric energy. Though the size of the solar
array will vary at each of the retail locations, the average system will consist
of 1,700 solar panels.
The Target retail outlets included in the agreement are located in 12 states;
Arizona, California, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin, said Andrew
Chester, Greenskies' executive vice-president. The agreement, which was signed
in mid-February, also includes two Target distribution centers in Wilton and
Amsterdam, N.Y.
U.S. EPA Recognizes Sand Valley Landfill Renewable Energy Program as Electricity
Project of the Year
Republic Services, Inc. announced that its Sand Valley Landfill Gas-to-Energy
(LFGTE) project in Collinsville, AL has been named Electricity Project of the
Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) The EPA's Landfill
Methane Outreach Program recognized the Sand Valley renewable energy project
with the award at a workshop in conjunction with the Solid Waste Association of
North America's 38th Annual Landfill Gas & Biogas Symposium.
The Sand Valley LFGTE project has a generating capacity of 4.8 megawatts and
supplies power to approximately 4,000 homes in the area. Renewable power
generated at the site is sold to the Tennessee Valley Authority, and exported
through an interconnection with Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative. The project
was announced in April 2014, and is believed to be the largest LFGTE project in
Alabama.
Republic Services' Sand Valley Landfill comprises 233 acres and accepts
approximately 1,600 tons of waste per day.
Egyptian Government and Sky Power IGD Sign Historic Solar Power Agreement
SkyPower Global and International Gulf Development (IGD) have signed a historic
agreement with the Government of Egypt for the development of 3,000 megawatts
(MW) of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be built over the next
four years.
The agreement represents an unprecedented milestone in Egypt's strategic plan to
develop a sustainable renewable energy industry, creating thousands of new green
energy jobs and attracting billions in capital investment.
Yingli Green Energy Begins Construction of a 50 MW Solar Power Plant in China’s
Hubei Province
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited a leading solar panel manufacturer,
known as "Yingli Solar," announced that it has begun construction of a 50
megawatt (MW) solar power plant on former mining lands in in Huangshi City,
Hubei Province, China. It is the first project developed by Yingli on land that
has been degraded by mining activities.
The 50 MW power plant occupies over 100 hectares of land in western Huangshi
City, a region known for its rich mineral resources and extensive mining
operations. The project will contain about 170,000 YGE 72 Cell Series
multicrystalline solar panels that are expected to generate approximately 55,000
megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity annually, which will offset the
consumption of nearly 22,000 tons of coal and the emission of over 50,000 tons
of carbon into the atmosphere. The system is scheduled to interconnect with the
local utility grid and begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2015.
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 – March 20, 2015
UTILITY E-ALERT
#1215– March 20, 2015
Table of Contents
COAL – US
• We Energies will hold on to Upper Peninsula Coal-fired Power Plant
• Martin Drake Coal-fired Power Plant resumes Operations after Fire last Year
• Rockport, Indiana Coal Gasification Project Canceled
• Medical Center may convert Power Plant to Natural Gas
COAL – WORLD
• Orascom, IPIC to build 3,000 MW Coal-fired Power Plant in Egypt
• Japan to develop Coal-fired Power Plant in Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia
• Beijing shuts down Major Coal-fired Power Plant to Cut Pollution
GAS/OIL – US
• Maryland PSC to take longer with review of revamped Mattawoman Gas-fired Power
Project
GAS/OIL – WORLD
• Siemens to build 4.4 GW Beni Suef Power Plant in Egypt
• Gas-fired Power Plant for Walvis Bay, Nambia
• E.ON withdraws Killingholme CCGT Power Plant from Grid
BIOMASS
• $90 Million Kauai Energy Plant to begin selling Power to Utility in May
NUCLEAR
• Diablo Nuclear Power Plant Safe from Extreme Natural Events
BUSINESS
• Air Pollution Markets shifting toward Asia
• Lawsuit could impact R.E. Ginna, Cayuga Power Plants
HOT TOPIC HOUR
• Hot Topic Hour Yesterday (March 19) offers Perspective on the Ground
Limestone, Catalytic Filter, and also a Hybrid SDA
• “NOx Control Options” analyzed in March 26, 2015 Hot Topic Hour
• 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
McIlvaine 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
DATE SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
April 9, 2015 Direct Sorbent Injection (DSI)
April 16, 2015 Air Monitoring
April 23, 2015 No Webinar but on-site interviews at Electric Power in Chicago.
April 30, 2015 MACT Update
May 7, 2015 Wet Calcium FGD
May 14, 2015 Gas Turbine Intake Filters
May 21, 2015 Power Plant Valves
May 28, 2015 No webinar but on-site interviews at Industrial Valve Summit in
Bergamo, Italy
Click here for the Subscriber and Power Plant or Cement Plant Owner/Operator
Registration Form
Click here for the Non-Subscribers 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