HOT TOPIC HOUR

Co-firing will play a Big Role in Greenhouse Gas Reduction - Hot Topic March 19, 2009

The Hot Topic Hour on March 19 combined the European experience with the embryonic efforts in the U.S. relative to co-firing biomass. The conclusion is that it is technology which can immediately result in CO₂ reduction but there are challenges.

Andrew (Andy) Miller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, provided results on two stoker-fired boilers which were operated with biomass replacing a portion of the coal. Air pollutants were reduced as well as the net CO₂ generation.

Bill Livingston, Group Leader, Fuels and Chemistry at Doosan Babcock R&D, discussed the co-firing of biomass by pre-mixing with coal and co-milling and the co-firing of pre-milled biomass materials by direct injection. The co-firing by injection of pre-milled material into the coal pipes will be used in a large project at Drax. More equipment is required than with pre-mix but there are fewer potential problems. Europe has a great deal of successful experience with co-firing.

George Richards with the R&D group at DOE discussed biomass utilization for coal gasification. The gasified product can produce liquid fuels with a zero carbon footprint providing sequestration is also used. If the gas is used for power then the system would actually be a net reducer of atmospheric carbon. Torrefaction is a way to treat biomass for use in standard coal mills.

Patrick Travis of Energy Products of Idaho presented an update on fluid bed gasification of biomass in the utility industry.  Options include use of the gasified product as a reburn fuel or for co-firing.  A wide variety of wastes and biomass can be gasified. Reduction of NO_x and mercury can also be achieved.

Bill Belden, consulting manager for Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc., described feedstock development, logistic activities, test burns, construction, planning operations, environmental evaluations and permitting to co-fire switchgrass at Alliant Energy. The challenge is not in the operation but in the cost of handling and treating the grass. Innovative measures are being developed to bale and then further treat the grass.

The bios can be viewed as follows: March 19, 2009 Bios, Photos and Abstracts - Hot Topic Hour.htm

The individual power points are in the NO_x Decision Tree and can be viewed as follows:

Bill Belden – Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc.

Andrew Miller – EPA

George Richards - DOE-NETL

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Biomass Fuels

Co-firing of Biomass in Coal-fired Boilers. Presented by Bill Belden, Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc. Hot Topic Hour March 19, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Bill Belden No. 1thru 4.pdf
 

Co-firing Biomass & Coal - Emissions Impacts. Presented by Andrew Miller, EPA. Hot Topic Hour March 19, 2009.
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Andrew Miller - EPA.pdf
 

Co-gasification - an introduction. Presented by George Richards DOE-NETL. Hot Topic Hour March 19, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/George Richards - NETL DOE.pdf

W.R. Livingston – Doosan Babcock Energy 

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products

Biomass Co-firing in Large Pulverized Coal Utility Boilers. Presented by W.R. Livingston, Doosan Babcock Energy. Hot Topic Hour March 19, 2009.
http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Bill Livingston - Doosan Babcock.pdf
 

Patrick Travis - ETI

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products

 Options for Conversion of Utility Boilers to Biomass. Presented by Patrick Travis, EPI. Hot Topic Hour March 19, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Patrick Travis - EPI.pdf
 

“NO_x Reagents” is the “Hot Topic” on March 26, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. CDT

Systems utilizing reagents to control NO_x emissions have been in use for many years. This Hot Topic Hour will focus on reagent selection and use. We are all still learning. What are the reagent options available and how can we improve the efficiency and minimize cost?  What are the pricing differentials?  How can we maximize reagent effectiveness (mixers, flow modeling, duct design, etc.)?  What can we do to minimize maintenance cost while maximizing performance?  What pitfalls do we need to avoid - contamination in makeup water or storage and mixing tanks, oil from compressors and others?  What about monitoring and control systems?  What are the safety issues?  What combustion technologies can be utilized to minimize the need for NO_x reagents? 

These are some of the many questions that the following speakers will address during this Hot Topic Hour:

Kevin R. Dougherty, Vice President Business Development and Marketing, Fuel Tech, Inc., will discuss the reagent alternatives.

Bernard (Ben) P. Breen, Ph.D. President Breen Energy Solutions will discuss the benefit of combustion tuning to minimize ammonium bisulfate formation and reagent waste.

William (Bill) Hankins, Vice-President of Sales of U2A for Wahlco, Inc., will describe the many installations of urea-to-ammonia systems they have. Wahlco and Hamon Research Cottrell are the co-exclusive licensees for EC&C's patented U2A process.

Jodi Crawford, Business Development Manager, and Blaine Davis, Manager of Engineering Services for Airgas Specialty Products, Inc., will discuss some of the advantages of ammonia products, how to ensure the quality of ammonia for DeNOx applications and SAFE (Safe Ammonia Facilities Education) offered by Airgas.

Robert (Bob) Ferrell, the principal member of RJF Consultants, LLC, will review the current status of Ozone-based Low Temperature Oxidation of NO_x including the recent startup and operation of several large scale NO_x control installations at refineries.

Tim Shippy, Peerless Manufacturing Company.