Cleaning Up Dirty Generator Exhaust with CleanAIR’s Big Stainless Steel Box

Diesel emergency generators made “greener” using emissions control technology

Santa Fe, NM – February 14, 2008 – In today’s “green” economy, there’s a dirty little secret hiding behind many hospitals, colleges and data storage centers. It’s the diesel emergency generator.

Belching soot, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, diesel exhaust created by back-up generators is a proven cause of cardiovascular and pulmonary health problems. The National Air Toxics Assessment estimates the cancer risk from exposure to diesel emissions is ten times higher than the combined cancer risk from all other hazardous air pollutants. Diesel emissions also contribute to atmospheric haze, smog, acid rain and global climate change.

Although a necessity when the power grid fails to deliver, industrial diesel generators create an unhealthy situation, particularly when operated next to hospitals and schools. Back-up generators are also a little-known “ungreen” reality of today’s giant data storage facilities.

When sooty generator emissions are clouding the horizon, there is a solution. Turning brown emissions “green” can be done with a big shiny, stainless steel box developed by CleanAIR Systems. When attached to an emergency generator, brown smoke and toxic emissions are almost eliminated.

What’s in this mysterious box that makes emissions disappear? Is it all just smoke and mirrors? Hardly. The answer can be found in multiple self-regenerating diesel particulate filters enclosed in a sleek, stainless steel, ultra-quiet silencer shell manufactured by CleanAIR Systems, a leader in emissions control technology. The CleanAIR PERMIT™ Filter/Silencer system dramatically reduces dirty soot (particulate matter) from generator exhaust by more than 85%. The amount of smelly hydrocarbons and deadly carbon monoxide also plunges by 99%.

How many emergency generators are in use pumping toxic emissions into our atmosphere? Taking into account that the majority of hospitals, colleges and data centers require back-up power to operate in case of a power failure, consider these statistics:
- According to the American Hospital Association, there are over 5,700 registered U.S. hospitals. Critical care facilities rely heavily on back-up generators in the event of a power outage.

- The American Association of Community Colleges lists 1,195 community colleges. Most colleges have at least one emergency generator (and some have several) on campus to keep buildings up and running in case of a blackout.

- AFCOM (Association for Computer Operations Management) counts 3,600 of the world’s largest data storage centers as members, representing every major industry. Back-up generators are a critical element of every data storage facility in order not to loose crucial data when the power goes out.

When other commercial and public facilities such as mining operations, semiconductors, and credit card companies are included in the count, there are an estimated 100,000 industrial standby generators currently operating in the United States alone.

What’s being done to control emissions on thousands of emergency generators? In California, air quality regulations for emergency generators are stringent and well enforced, many times requiring emissions control technology such as CleanAIR’s Filter/Silencer to be installed by the facility, especially if a generator is in operation within the vicinity of a school. But regulations in other parts of the country have more leeway, allowing many emergency generators to be operated without air pollution controls.

With thousands of large, emergency generators spewing harmful air pollution into our environment, maybe it’s time we clean up our dirty little secret.

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About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Our products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

Cleaning Up Emissions

Santa Fe, NM – May 15, 2007 – CleanAIR Systems, a leading manufacturer of air pollution control products, has launched the PERMIT Filter/Silencer as a new addition to their line of diesel particulate filters. The Filter/Silencer is designed to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce noise from prime power and emergency generators. Facilities and companies with generators are already familiar with silencers installed to lessen engine noise. In today’s green economy, silencer products need to do more. With the enforcement of stringent pollution regulations, generator owners also need emissions control technology along with sound reduction to meet demanding air quality laws. Using CleanAIR PERMIT Filters, which are verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet the strictest air pollution laws in the United States, the PERMIT Filter/Silencer meets both requirements.

In the United States alone, there are an estimated 100,000 industrial standby generators. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them. Most are used on a limited basis by commercial and public facilities such as colleges, critical care facilities and data storage centers in case of an emergency. These generators are run periodically for routine testing and maintenance. But some facilities also use their generators as prime power to minimize peak power loads on the electrical grid. During operation diesel generators emit a variety of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons – all of which can cause serious health issues, especially for children and older adults. Due to our need for energy, generators and the air pollution they produce have become a part of every community.

Recent reports by the Clean Air Task Force, Environmental Health Perspectives and The Coalition for Clean Air all detail the dangers of fine particulate matter (PM) pollution. The health impact of particulate air pollution ranges from asthma attacks and lung cancer to cardiac problems and decreased life expectancy. The World Health Organization estimates that thousands of deaths each year may be caused by exposure to PM. And the American Lung Association believes fine air-borne particulate represents our most serious health threat. Not only is particulate matter a global environmental hazard, but also a dangerous health problem.

With this in mind, CleanAIR Systems designed the PERMIT Filter/Silencer to be installed on the exhaust of a generator, eliminating visible black smoke, toxic diesel odor and noise while the engine is running. Available for all stationary engine sizes, emissions of particulate matter are substantially reduced by more than 85% and emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%.

“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

The PERMIT Filter/Silencer is custom designed to fit each job. Its stainless steel construction is corrosion-resistant; thereby extending the life of the product. By using more durable, light-weight stainless steel, the Filter/Silencer offers a 50% total weight reduction over average silencer-only products, allowing for easier installation and shipping. Each PERMIT Filter/Silencer is also fully insulated to reduce heat loss and provide sound reduction.

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

Although we have come to rely on diesel generators for essential backup power, as in the case of school, emergency facilities and hospitals, they can also be cleaned up with readily available emissions control technology. Diesel particulate matter and other pollutants are eliminated when a generator is retrofitted with a CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer, helping to decrease the impact of diesel air pollution on our health and the environment.

For more information on the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer visit http://www.cleanairsys.com/products/filters/index.htm

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.


Extras:
The Facts:
-- CleanAIR Systems introduces the PERMIT Filter/Silencer, an air pollution control product for generators, to substantially reduce emissions of dangerous particulate matter by greater than 85%, and carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%., as well as reduce noise levels.

-- Particulate matter is considered a global environmental hazard and a dangerous health problem. There are an estimated 100,000 industrial emergency and prime power generators in use in the United States. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them.

-- The PERMIT Filter/Silencer can be installed by any facility with a generator to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce sound. Examples: schools and college campuses, waste water treatment centers, hospital and critical care facilities, emergency shelters, data storage centers, manufacturing facilities, private companies, municipal buildings, correctional facilities, mining operations, farm operations using pumping equipment, and power generation facilities.

-- The CleanAIR Filter/Silencer combines the benefits of a silencer for sound reduction and the benefits of diesel particulate filters for emissions control, into one space-saving unit. Containing CARB verified PERMIT filters, the CleanAIR Filter/Silencer has all-stainless steel construction and is fully insulated for sound attenuation. Available for all engines sizes, the custom-designed PERMIT Filter/Silencer is rust resistant, light weight, and easy to install.

Quotes:
“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

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Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com