Catalyst Improvements are Increasing Life - Hot Topic July 23

Larry Muzio co-founder of FERCo told the participants that there are many problems that can affect performance including NH₃/NO_x maldistribution, velocity, maldistributions, catalyst inactivity, gas sneakage, and AIG ammonia oxidation. FERCo has a multipoint measurement system which can pinpoint the problems.

Volker Rummenhohl, Vice-president of Catalyst Technologies at Fuel Tech, Inc., pointed out some of the advantages of combining SNCR and SCR. The capital cost is 30 to 60 percent of conventional SCR. Removal efficiency as high as 85 percent with 2 ppm ammonia slip can be achieved.

Mike Cooper, technical director, CoaLogix/SCR-Tech, indicated a number of positive aspects of catalyst regeneration. All catalyst types can now be regenerated including those heavily plugged and those with high arsenic. DeNO_x activity can be brought back to the original performance with even better (lower) conversion rates of SO₂.  Regenerated catalyst outperforms new catalyst in terms of mercury oxidation.

Thomas "Nathan" White, Sr. Account Executive at Haldor Topsoe, cautioned participants relative to the use of biomass for co-firing. There will be no noticeable increase in catalyst problems when up to 20 percent biomass is burned, but at higher ratios there are poisoning problems.

Bob McIlvaine addressed the potential catalyst supply problem. Present catalyst manufacturer capacity is 100,000 m³/yr. Catalyst demand is going to be much greater than the present supply in 2020. Predicting demand accurately and then adding supply capability in a timely manner is going to be essential to maintain an orderly market. One factor is the size of the installed base of SCR.  Here is our forecast for 2020.

So at 1 m³/MW we will need a capacity increase from 95,000 m³ to 238,000 m³. But there are variables other than MW of SCR. A second factor is volume/MW. The catalyst volume requirement will vary by region. In the U.S. because of mercury oxidation and SO₃ conversion minimization, the ratio is as high as 1.5 m³/MW. With increasing efficiency requirements the ratio could be higher. In some parts of the world the ratios are well below one.

A third factor is the replacement rate. Is five years going to be the average? Catalyst cleaning and renovation is extending the original catalyst life. On the other hand, the requirement for either cleaning or replacement is higher than anticipated in the U.S. What will be the Chinese experience? It is too early to tell.

The bios, abstracts and photos can be viewed as follows: July 23, 2009 Bios, Photos, Abstracts.htm

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

Larry Muzio - FERCo

NO_x Continuing Decision Process For: Products

Why Doesn't the SCR Work, presented by Larry Muzio, FERCo. Hot Topic Hour July 23, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Larry Muzio - FERCo - July 23, 2009.pdf
 

Volker Rummenhohl – Fuel Tech

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products

SCR Catalyst Performance Update, presented by Volker Rummenhohl Fuel Tech. Hot Topic Hour July 23, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Volker Rummenhohl - Fuel Tech - July 23, 2009.pdf

 Mike Cooper – SCR Tech / CoaLogix

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products

SCR Catalyst Performance Update, presented by Mike Cooper SCR Tech / CoaLogix. Hot Topic Hour July 23, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Mike Cooper Mike Mattes - SCR TechCoaLogix.pdf
 

Nathan White – Haldor Topsoe

NOx Continuing Decision Process For: Products

The Influence of Biomass in the Design and Operation of an SCR Installation, presented by Nathan White Haldor Topsoe. Hot Topic Hour July 23, 2009.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/NOx_Decision_Tree/subscriber/Tree/DescriptionTextLinks/Nathan White - Haldor Topsoe - July 23, 2009.pdf