Transcript Document

A Software Tool for Estimating
Mercury Emissions and Reductions
from
Coal-Fired Electric Utilities (EU)
Presented at the
NC Clean Smokestacks Act Sections 12 & 13
Mercury and CO2 Control Options Assessment Workshop
Raleigh, NC April 19, 2004
Jeffrey D. Cole
[email protected]
(919) 990-8606
C. Clark Allen, Ph.D.
[email protected]
(919) 990-8645
Case-By-Case MACT for
New Coal-fired EU Units

40 CFR Part 63 Subpart B, Title 5.
 Tool for evaluating alternatives for mercury
control.
 Case-by-case MACT is applicable until
nationally applicable MACT standard
 Tool is not required for a case-by-case analysis.
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http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/combust/utiltox/utoxpg.ht
ml
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Software for Electric Utility Mercury Controls
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Sponsored by U.S. EPA.
 Coal-burning electric utilities.
 Predicts the amount of mercury control for
conventional electric utility pollution
control devices.
 Allows the use of site-specific information.
 Provides very detailed reports of the results.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Basis of the Model’s Electric Utility
Equipment Configurations
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1999 EPA ICR Part III emission test reports
(79 separate units, 80 total [1 tested twice]).
 Follow up telephone interviews.
 Information provided by the EU company.
 Company review and feedback.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Fuel Usage and Characterization
Provided by the EU company throughout
1999.
Fuel characterization.
– Fuel type (bituminous, subbituminous, lignite..)
– Fuel amount combusted for each unit
– Fuel characterization, mercury content, other
characteristics
Allows the use of site-specific information.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Stack Tests for Electric Utility Mercury Controls
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Sponsored by EU companies.
 Different types of conventional pollution
controls were evaluated.
 Measured mercury rates in coal, in gas
going into the control unit, and in the gas
leaving the control unit.
 Formal reports with quality assurance.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Types of Furnaces and Conventional
Air Pollution Controls Tested
 Conventional furnace, Fluidized-Bed Combustion (FBC),
and Integrated Gassification Combined-Cycle (IGCC).
 Particulate controls:
– Electrostatic Precipitators (both hot-side and cold-side)
– Fabric filters
– Particulate scrubbers
– Mechanical collectors (multiclone).
 Sulfur controls: Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD),
Spray Dryer Absorber.
 Nitrogen oxide controls: Selective Catalytic Reduction,
Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Steps for Using the Software
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Select the plant.
 Select the unit at the plant.
 Examine the existing controls and current
estimated mercury air emissions.
 Evaluate other control options.
 Print reports.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Method for Estimating the Effectiveness of the
Mercury Controls, I Bin Method.
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Test results are grouped by similar types of
units and controls (bins).
 Identify the bin that is most similar to the
unit of interest.
 Apply the bin control efficiency to the 1999
site specific conditions.
 Estimate the mercury emission rate for the
controls that you have selected.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Method for Estimating the Effectiveness of the
Mercury Controls, II Speciation Method.
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Evaluate the mercury speciation for the coal type
and furnace type: particulate, ionic, and elemental
 Evaluate the control effectiveness of each control
type for each mercury species.
 Apply these factors to the 1999 site-specific
conditions.
 Sum the remaining mercury species for the
controls you have selected to estimate the total
mercury emission rate.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Uncertainty Analysis for the Results
 Expected
mercury air emissions from
the analysis.
 Range of results due to uncertainty.
 Detailed report of the statistics.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Special Features and Options
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Select control technology combinations not included in
the test program.
Consider site specific factors.
Examine alternative controls (fuel type, furnace
equipment combinations).
Automatic warnings.
Automatic site-specific control technology suggestions.
Are other units using the control technology
suggestions?
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool
Conclusions

Tool for estimating mercury air emissions only.
 Uses an extensive database.
 Equipped with detailed reporting utilities.
US EPA EU Mercury Software Tool