U.S. DOE Selects REI to Develop Advanced NOx Control Technologies for Utility Boilers

Project will test for NOx emissions less than 0.15 pounds per million BTU through in-furnace NOx control

E-Wire--The U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE NETL) has selected Reaction Engineering International (REI) for a project that may enable coal-fired power plants to meet current and proposed NOx control regulations in a cost-effective manner. REI was awarded this project as a part of NETL's Advanced NOx Emissions Control Program that is focused on developing advanced technologies capable of controlling NOx emissions to a level at or below 0.15 lbs/million Btu at significantly reduced costs.

In this project, REI will evaluate the ability of its Advanced Layered Technology Approach (ALTA) to reduce NOx emissions below 0.15-lb/MBtu on a cyclone boiler by combining deep staging from overfire air, Rich Reagent Injection (RRI), and an innovative SNCR system. Testing will include firing 100% bituminous coal and bituminous/PRB coal blends. ALTA is an attractive NOx control approach as it results in lower capital and lifecycle costs compared to an SCR while requiring significantly shorter plant outage time. The tests conducted at the AmerenUE Sioux plant will also evaluate the impact on balance-of-plant issues such as the amount of unburned carbon in the ash, slag tapping, ammonia slip, waterwall corrosion and heat distribution. This testing builds upon REI's previous experience and success at Conectiv's (connective's)136 MW BL England Unit 1 and AmerenUE's 525 MW Sioux Unit 1 where significant NOx reduction was achieved using RRI and overfire air during the testing timeframe. EPRI and AmerenUE will work with REI on this project.

Making the announcement, Dr. Bradley Adams, President, REI said, "We envision this program as an opportunity to enhance the development of REI's NOx control technologies for utility boilers in general, and historically high NOx emitting cyclone-fired boilers in particular. The objective will be to demonstrate a cost-effective, in-furnace approach to achieving NOx emission levels below 0.15-lb/MBtu with minimal balance of plant impacts. These NOx levels represent reductions up to 90% below initial cyclone baseline emissions, reductions that were previously possible only with SCR technologies. We are excited to further develop and demonstrate this technology, and are pleased that the DOE has selected us for this award."