Precipitator market rising despite inroads by fabric filters
Despite the increasing frequency with which fabric filters are chosen instead of electrostatic precipitators, the market for these devices is rising. Between 2005 and 2008 the market for electrostatic precipitator systems will rise 28 percent from $2.6 billion to $3.3 billion per year. However, the growth is less impressive if measured from the 2001 peak of $2.9 billion. Between 2001 and 2008 the growth will be only 14 percent. This is the latest online forecast in the McIlvaine report, Electrostatic Precipitator: World Markets.
There are two basic types of electrostatic precipitators used in large air pollution control applications. In the dry electrostatic precipitator design, the collection plates are cleaned by rapping. In the wet design, the plates are cleaned with a washing fluid. The market for wet precipitators is growing much faster than the market for dry precipitators. The reason is the ability of the wet precipitators to capture sulfuric acid mist.
A number of coal-fired boilers in the U.S. have installed selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to reduce NOx. They have also installed scrubbers to capture SO2. This combination of air pollution control devices causes increased quantities of sulfuric acid mist to form near the site. Widely publicized damage to nearby communities has caused the industry to find a solution to the problem. Wet precipitators will capture over 90 percent of this mist and reduce outlet emissions of the mist to less than 5 ppm. As a result, they have been installed in existing plants such as Xcel Energy Sherburne and are slated for new plants such as We Energies Elm Road.
This new market will help double sales of wet precipitators worldwide from 2001 levels of $330 million to over $660 million in 2008. Traditional markets for acid mist removal in copper smelters and refineries will remain strong in Asia and South America.
The biggest market for dry precipitators is in China. In 2005 over 40 percent of the orders for new dry precipitators will be for installation in Chinese plants. China is building more than 20,000 MW of new coal-fired power plants per year. It also is a leader in new smelters, cement plants, and pulp mills, all of which utilize precipitators.
The market for repair and servicing of precipitators is equally as large as the new system market. Tougher regulations in the U.S. and China will force many utilities to upgrade their existing units.
Some utilities will switch to fabric filters rather than enlarge or replace existing precipitators. This decision may in part be driven by the need to remove mercury. Fabric filters have advantages over precipitators in the removal of mercury with the use of activated carbon.
The supplier industry has changed radically over the years. Today the largest suppliers of precipitators are Chinese companies. Ownership changes and mergers have impacted all the European precipitator suppliers.
The U.S. companies which pioneered the technology 90 years ago are now divisions of other companies. Research Cottrell is now part of Hamon, a Belgian based company. Western Precipitation is now part of Babcock and Wilcox. Leaders in the U.S. in terms of installed MW are as follows:
SURVIVING COMPANY MW (1000)
Hamon/Research Cottrell 99
Babcock & Wilcox 55
Marsulex 45
Alstom 31
Wheelabrator 31
Environmental Elements 20
FLS 18
For more information on Electrostatic Precipitator: World Markets, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/air.html#N018 .
Bob McIlvaine
847-784-0012
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com