Power Supplies For Precipitators Is The Hot Topic For September 4th At 10 a.m. CDT
How significant are the new developments in power supplies in improving precipitator efficiency and reducing energy consumption? This was the question for the participants at the last Hot Topic Hour on Power Supplies for Precipitators on August 2, 2007. The consensus of opinion was that Switched Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) or High Frequency Power Supplies (HFPS) offers significant advantages over the linear transformer/rectifier sets and SCR-based controls that have been used for many years. The SMPS may increase ESP performance (reduction in power consumed with improved collection efficiency as well as reduced installation and maintenance costs) and the price of a SMPS is becoming very competitive with the TR/SCR systems.
The new switch mode power supplies have dramatically different performance and physical characteristics compared to the linear power supplies. They consist of one physically-integrated package, unlike the separate units in current systems. They are smaller in size and weight than the equivalent 60-Hz transformer, use significantly less cooling fluid and have lower power consumed per kilowatt of power delivered to the precipitator load. Since the new switch mode power supplies have dramatically different performance and physical characteristics than linear power supplies, they can have a major impact on many aspects of precipitator design, construction, operation and maintenance.
For retrofit applications, modular SMPS with all components factory installed and pre-wired are shipped as a complete units significantly reducing job site installation labor. Although there is growing evidence that the new switch mode power supplies provide improved collection for many precipitator applications, testing done as of the last Hot Topic Hour on the use of SMPS was not considered to be conclusive proof of enhanced precipitator collection under all conditions.
Now with another year of experience to draw on, the following presenters will demonstrate this improved performance as well as discuss other aspects of acquiring a SMPS with a new precipitator or as an upgrade to an older precipitator.
Presenters are:
Ralph Altman, Project Manager at EPRI managed two projects related to ESP Power Supplies - "Advanced ESP Power Supply Development" conducted several years ago and "Hot Side ESP Advanced Power Supply Tests" completed in mid 2007. He will discuss some of the conclusions of these projects.
Paul Leanza, Partner of Pollution Control Services, Inc. (PCS). PCS are Consultants specializing in Post Combustion Control Services primarily in the utility industry.
Power supplies for electrostatic precipitators (wet & dry) for use at coal-fired power plants has advanced over the last decade with the commercial acceptance of High Frequency Power Supplies (HFPS) Sets. The conventional means for powering electrostatic precipitators is Transformer-Rectifiers (TR) Sets and have become a reliable and predictable means for maintaining collection efficiencies. HFPS Sets have become a reliable alternative to TR Sets on new units and a performance enhancing option on existing units bringing higher collection efficiencies with lower capital and O&M costs.
Corey Deye, Proposal/Project Engineer at Alstom Power, Inc., Boiler & Environmental Plant Services.
The Alstom Switched Integrated Rectifier (SIR) is a high frequency power supply that has proven effective on hundreds of applications worldwide. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the SIR and discuss the benefits of high frequency power supplies on ESP's. Additionally, the results of the TVA Johnsonville SO2 reduction project will be reviewed. The reduction was achieved without any upgrades to the ESP internals; only high frequency power supplies and T/R controllers were used.
Helmut Herder, Vice-president, NWL, Inc., Environmental Technology Division, will present the operational results with their Power Plus SMPS for ESP applications and provide an overview of the operational and installation advantages.
Jeremy Timmons of Neundorfer, Inc., will provide details on improving the efficiency and reducing the power consumption of precipitators by using an optimization system which controls power input to the precipitator.
To register for the September 4th “Hot Topic Hour” at 10:00 a.m. CDT, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm .
Bob McIlvaine
847 784-0012
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com