Implementation of the “Utility MACT Rule”- Hot Topic Hour on Thursday, February 28, 2013

 

Four good speakers and lots of discussion made this a very good session.

 

Block M. Andrews, Strategic Environmental Solutions Associate Burns & McDonnell Engineering, discussed current MATS implementation, risks and strategic considerations. Block presented some very interesting graphical comparison. A utility can spend very little compared to a new CCGT and achieve compliance with their existing coal-fired power plant.  However, the total hourly cost for operation would be equal to or greater than a new gas turbine plant. This choice is a good one only if the intention is to operate the coal-fired power plant for a limited time.

 

If lots of money is spent on the coal-fired power plant, the investment will approach that of a new CCGT but the life cycle cost will be more than competitive. There are lots of variables, the most important being the future price of natural gas

 

Block also addressed the problems with startup and shutdown. This is going to cause problems in meeting the limits. He pointed out that if the plant starts up without the precipitator in operation it could emit more in a few hours than it would in months of normal operation. The new PM mass CEMs are going to reflect these excursion periods.

 

Richard (Rich) A. Mimna, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate at Calgon Carbon Corporation, outlined a whole program for evaluating mercury control options and then selecting the best one. Calgon Carbon has several new products. One is a carbon designed to work in conjunction with bromine added with the coal. This solution is proving to be very cost effective and reduces the quantity of carbon needed. Another new product is designed to provide high efficiency in the presence of SO3. 

 

Ann Weeks of the Clean Air Task Force discussed the history and current status of the MATS Rule and the expected timeline for both the current litigation and for MATS Rule implementation. She indicated that the compliance costs are likely to be less than anticipated by the utility industry. She pointed out the health and other benefits. One assumption was a substantial increase in the use of natural gas as these coal-fired power plants are eventually retired.

 

Ann believes the price of natural gas is likely to remain low and encourage utilities to phase out their coal-fired power plants. Bob McIlvaine asked the following question.  What if EIA is right and we are burning as much coal in 2035 as in 2009? Won’t utilities regret taking a low capital cost high operating cost approach such as outlined by Block?  Furthermore what about Franken MACT? The required expenditures will keep on increasing. Ann cited various sources predicting low gas prices in the future and discounted the risks of gambling on low gas prices.

 

Jarret McClendon, Applications Engineer at Natronx Technologies, LLC, explored “HCl Reduction with Trona for MATS Compliance.”  Trona is a very effective way to remove HCl.  It is, however, somewhat temperature sensitive. Very high efficiencies are obtained at the air heater inlet temperatures and lower efficiency if the Trona is introduced at air heater outlet temperatures. Nevertheless the efficiency is still very high.

 

Bios, Abstracts and Photos can be seen at: BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS - 2-28-13.htm

 

The individual presentations are as follows: