Problem
A 42 million gallon expansion at an ethanol production plant in
Nebraska was certain to put the dry mill out of emission compliance
for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and
particulate matter (PM), all regulated by the EPA. Ethanol
production facilities in the United States are permitted to operate
under a 'minor source' status as long as the total tonnage of key
pollutants are below the 100 tons per year limit but operating
restrictions, penalties and fines, as well as community pressures
are forcing many plants to strive for the lowest possible emission
levels, enabling future capacity expansions.
Action
Anguil Environmental Systems Inc. has been awarded a
multi-million dollar contract to assist the ethanol plant in
meeting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory
requirements.
Solution
Anguil, a leading emission control equipment provider was chosen
after demonstrating their ability to provide a cost-effective,
reliable solution for the Nebraska ethanol plant. Known for
their low operating cost and high destruction rate efficiency, the
Anguil Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) was selected as the best
available control technology for the application. The
pollution control device will consist of two side-by-side Anguil
RTOs handling a process volumetric flow of 120,000 SCFM (Standard
Cubic Feet per Minute). The system will achieve greater than
99% destruction rate efficiency for air pollutants and odorous
emissions with 95% thermal energy recovery, insuring low fuel
usage. Portions of the equipment will be constructed of
304-stainless steel to protect against corrosion from the ethanol
process stream. The project scope consists of equipment
design, manufacturing, installation supervision, process
integration and start-up.
While several options and
suppliers were considered, Anguil was awarded the contract after
the Nebraska producer evaluated system reliability, capital costs,
destruction rate efficiency and operating cost estimates.
Production has begun on the oxidizer system and the project is
slated to be up and running by April of 2007.