“NO_x Control for Gas Turbines” was Hot Topic Hour on Thursday, February 14, 2013

Thomas D. Martz, Senior Project Engineer Fossil Energy Research Corp., covered “Gas Turbine SCR Performance Optimization and Management.” There are several common causes of diminished gas turbine SCR performance, including poor NH₃/NO_x distribution, flue gas bypass and catalyst deactivation. Fossil Energy Research Corporation (FERCo) has developed instrumentation and methodologies to help the gas turbine operator quickly identify and fix SCR performance problems. There are also practical steps the operator can take to monitor and manage SCR performance, such as monitoring catalyst activity and ammonia slip. Being proactive with SCR optimization and management can extend catalyst life and help the operator avoid unplanned and expensive outages due to NO_x non-compliance. FERCo has developed a catalyst activity in-situ measuring device which can be very useful in the planning of catalyst replacement.

Stewart Bible, Senior Manager Process Engineering at Fuel Tech, Inc, offered "An Economical Alternative for HRSG SCR Reagent Supply."  Fuel Tech's ULTRA™ process is a patented approach that converts urea to ammonia for use in new SCR systems and in retrofit applications for existing systems. The ULTRA technology offers a cost-effective solution for simplifying on-site ammonia generation for SCR applications of all types. Urea products are non-hazardous sources of ammonia, so their transport, storage and use are greatly simplified. Presently urea systems are competitive with alternatives. China has opted for this approach for several reasons including the lack of ammonia

Robert (Bob) McGinty, Senior Manager Business Development SCR NO_x Control Systems at Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc,  reviewed fundamental SCR system design, catalyst selection, ammonia vaporizing and distribution technology, tempering air systems and maintenance concerns for reliable control of NO_x from simple cycle and combined cycle gas turbine applications and for long life of the NO_x control systems. Bob pointed out that while catalyst can be operated at high and low temperatures, the economics dictate medium temperatures even if tempering air is required. Mitsubishi offers to supply the SCR system in modules for substantial reduction in construction cost

Kelly M. Flannery, Chief Thermal Engineer at Vogt Power International, covered three product lines for emissions control from combustion turbine exhaust: 1) Simple Cycle Exhaust Catalyst System, 2) Combined Cycle HRSG Installation with Catalyst and 3) Steam Injection for NO_x Control.  Vogt has over 500 HRSG installations. The company has considerable experience in adding HRSG and SCR to existing turbine installations.

Donald Wyatt of Yokogawa reviewed the history of tunable diode lasers for measuring ammonia slip and other gases. The company now has over 50 installations of ammonia slip monitors. These include coal-fired power plants with SNCR, gas turbines with SCR, and a number of installations on industrial boilers in refineries. The TDLS 200 operates in situ and can accurately measure both high and low levels of NH₃.  It is most frequently used as a control instrument due to its quick reaction time. However, it can also be used for regulatory measurement even though it achieves a wet gas value. Moisture can also be measured and simply deducted from the primary reading. Solids are not an obstacle. In a coal-fired power plant the accuracy has been proven despite the presence of substantial flyash. As long as a portion of the beam reaches the detector, accurate measurements will be achieved.

One of the most important uses of the TDLS 2000 is as a catalyst management tool. Increases in ammonia slip are proportional to decreases in catalyst activity. Catalyst replacement is one of the more costly aspects of NO_x reduction. With the TDLS 2000, the utility can better manage the catalyst replacement cycle.

The advantages of TruePeak 200 vs. Straight Extractive or Dilution Extractive System

• No gas transport
  • Fast response time – 5 seconds or less
  • No loss of components in a sample system
  • No filters, sample lines, pumps to clean

• Lower planning expenses
  • No support for heated sample gas lines
  • No analysis container
  • No disposal of sample gas and condensate
  • Improved catalyst management

• Lower installation and operation cost
  • No heated sample gas lines ($50/ft). Mounts in-line
  • Smaller component inventory
  • Smaller replacement requirements
  • Smaller cost for shelter or space in existing analyzer rooms

Yokogawa links.

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/images/video/hth2-14-13addendum.html

https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/733353679

NOTE: If first link doesn’t work try the second link.

Bios, Abstracts and Photos can be seen at:

BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS - February 14, 2013.doc

The individual presentations are as follows:

• NOx Control for Gas Turbines - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013
   

• Gas Turbine SCR Performance Optimization and Management by Tom Martz, FERCo. - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013.

• An Economical Alternative for HRG SCR Reagent Supply by Stewart Bible, Fuel Tech - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013.

• SCR DeNOx Systems by Robert (Bob) McGinty, Mitsubishi Power Systems - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013

• Vogt Power Emission Control Solutions by Kelly Flannery, Kristen Cooper and Andrew Heid - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013.

• NH3 Slip Measurement by Donald Wyatt, Yokogawa Electric - Hot Topic Hour February 14, 2013