Gypsum Dewatering And Valves For Power Plant Steam Cooling Are Hot Topics For July 17, 2008
Gypsum Dewatering Will Be The “Hot Topic Hour” On July 17, 2008 At 10:00 a.m. CDT
While the decision on whether an FGD system should produce disposal-grade or commercial-grade gypsum is primarily based on economic factors including the availability of a market for the gypsum, dewatering is an essential process in either case. The objective is to meet the requirements for the disposal method at the minimum operating cost. In previous “Hot Topic Hours”, participants have demonstrated that basket centrifuges in use since the 1980s and vertical centrifuges can deliver gypsum with 90% to 95% solids with lower maintenance and energy costs than typical belt filters. Rotary drum vacuum filters can also offer reduced cost in some situations. One installation reported lower capital equipment cost and lower operating cost when compared to a belt vacuum filter. However, belt filters may be the choice as the volume of gypsum to be dewatered increases. Horizontal vacuum belt filters typically utilize a woven belt with characteristics to allow water flow while capturing the gypsum. Belts will typically last eight months in FGD applications. Life is a function of the particle size distribution. Small particles can penetrate the belt and reduce flow. To extend the life, an additional process step may be required to grow the particles prior to dewatering. The fundamental factors to consider when specifying a de-watering system or belt material for dewatering and washing are:
· Temperature
· Particle size distribution "PSD"
· Concentration of gypsum in the slurry
· Concentration of Cl- in the feed liquor
· Vacuum pump capacity
The following speakers will address these and other issues related to gypsum dewatering systems:
Jim McGillicuddy, Product Manager, Centrifuges and Filters at KMPT USA, Inc. will describe the many advantages that vertical centrifuges offer compared to conventional horizontal vacuum belt filters – lower capital cost, lower residual cake moisture, significantly lower power consumption and lower maintenance costs.
Carl Weilert PE, Principal Air Pollution Control Engineer of the Energy Division at Burns & McDonnell will give an overview of years of experience working with several different types of dewatering systems.
Michael Meadows PE, Air Quality Control Engineer at Black & Veatch, Energy Division, Air Quality Control Group will discuss the factors in the production of commercial grade gypsum by utility FGD systems.
Bob Boller, Market Manager for the Environmental and Chemical Industries in the United States and Canada at Sefar Filtration, Inc. will discuss Double Layer Weave (DLW) fabrics for horizontal belt vacuum filter applications and filter clothes for use in presses.
To register for the July 17th “Hot Topic Hour” at 10:00 a.m. CDT, click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm .
Valves For Power Plant Steam and Cooling Applications Will Be The “Hot Topic Hour” On July 17th at 1:00 p.m. CDT
There are many different types of valves available from many manufacturers to meet the various requirements for service in a power plant. Ball, plug, knife gate, butterfly, pinch rotary and diaphragm valves are all available with components or linings made from a wide variety of materials including ceramic, steel alloys, polycarbonate, hastelloy, rubber and others. In addition, several companies’ custom design valves for very specific service requirements. Which valve should you use for which application? What are the costs and operational problems with each? What other special valve designs should be considered for the application? How do you deal with corrosion? What pressures are required? What are the maintenance and operational guidelines? The presentations from the persons below are intended to help answer some of these questions:
Steve Freitas, Director, Fossil Power Development at IMI / CCI (Control Components, Inc.) will describe their technology for severe service control valves for fossil power plant applications and problem solving in the field. He describes this as follows:
“In any large utility there are a number of severe service control valve applications. The valves in these applications are subjected to very large pressure drops, high fluid velocities, and large thermal transients. This can result in damage to the control valve, loss of process control, or significant damage to downstream piping systems. This presentation will include:
· A definition of severe service.
· Examples of the types of damage that can occur and a description of their consequence.
· Recommendations for how to specify and maintain these valves.”
Mike Mashburn, Manager, North American Industrial Sales, Cameron Corp., Valves & Measurement Division will discuss butterfly valves for cooling applications.
Ed Macys, Product Manager, ITT Corp., Engineered Valves.
Mark Nord, Manager of the Power Group, Emerson Process Management
Mark Bober, Design Engineer at SPX Flow Technologies Company, Copes-Vulcan Valves will give an overview of the Copes-Vulcan control valves for high temperature and high pressure steam applications and share years of experience in the application of these valves.
To register for the July 17th “Hot Topic Hour” at 1:00 p.m. CDT, click on:
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm .
Bob McIlvaine
847-784-0012
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com