Cleaner Air Comes to PAPA

Diesel Progress - April 2009
CT2 - Compressor Tech Two - May 2009

New emissions technology helps reduce emissions on drill rigs at Wyoming's Pinedale Anticline Project Area

With New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for lean-burn natural gas engines right around the corner and EPA Tier 4 Final stationary compliance requirements an ongoing concern, CleanAIR systems has introduced its new E-POD emissions control technology to meet both federal regulations. The Santa Fe, N.M. manufacturer said diesel and natural gas engine users with Tier 1 through Tier 3 engines - either existing or new - can meet these regulations by installing the E-POD.

The E-POD is the most recent emissions control technology introduced by CleanAIR, a manufacturer of catalyzed diesel particulate filters (DPFs), oxidation catalysts and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.

The new E-POD system combines CleanAIR's closed-loop controller technology, product fabrication and emissions technologies to reduce four toxic pollutants: NOx, PM, CO and HC.

The second and largest installation to date of the new E-POD system has recently been completed on seven Caterpillar 3512 diesel generator set units operating on drill rigs in Wyoming's Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA).

The design of the E-POD combines CleanAIR's nontoxic, zeolite-based SCR catalyst, diesel particulate filters or diesel oxidation converters and a reductant mixing system into a single insulated, stainless-steel, critical-grade (or super-critical) sound attenuation silencer package.

Specifically, the E-POD offers a range of operation from 518 degrees F to 1002 degrees F exhaust temperatures. The E-POD integrates CleanAIR's nontoxic flow-through ENDURE SCR catalyst with the company's wall-flow PERMIT Filter or ASSURE diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC).

The E-POD also features CleanAIR's "all-in-one" dosing cabinet, which combines an electronic control system and injection system into one unit. Using automatic data logging, programmable setpoints and basic internal diagnostics, the CleanAIR dosing cabinet is designed to offer uncomplicated operational control and monitoring of the E-POD system.

Each system is custom designed for specific installation requirements, CleanAIR said. The corrosion-resistant shell has two removable panels for full access to the SCR catalysts and DPFs mounted inside.

CleanAIR said the E-POD with DPFs enables Tier 4 final compliance for most diesel stationary engines. For lean-burn natural gas engines, CleanAIR incorporates oxidation converters to meet NSPS compliance. Further, CleanAIR said the E-POD meets hazardous air pollutant (HAP) regulations when used with the ASSURE oxidation catalyst, providing up to a 95% reduction of VOCs.

CleanAIR said the E-POD is also designed to fit and operate on any diesel or natural gas engine, allowing dealers to retrofit and service customer's mixed fleets without brand conflicts

Working in conjunction with Caterpillar dealer Wyoming Machinery Co., Casper Wyo., CleanAIR custom engineered the E-PODs for the PAPA application using DOCs. The units were installed on the seven CAT 3512 diesel generators between September 2008 and January 2009.

A drop-in design was developed for several of the E-PODs as a solution to moving the system when relocating to a new drill site. Typically, SCR systems can be bulky and difficult to move, with most requiring dismantling, placement on a flatbed and hauling to the next drill location, where they are reassembled.

CleanAIR engineers addressed this by integrating the E-POD within the space constraints of the generator trailer. Designed to be lowered into place through an opening at the top of the trailer, the E-POD is installed above the generator, becoming part of the trailer's roof.

This approach, CleanAIR said, allows the emissions control unit to "disappear" from view. It also enables the E-POD to be transported along with the generator, without the added time and expense of dismantling, hauling or lifting a separate unit.

"Our goal was a simple design with durable components," said Ted Rasmussen, emissions business manager for Wyoming Machinery. "It had to withstand harsh conditions here in Wyoming, as well as tough drill rig conditions. We have seen NOx emissions reductions of 90% and more under steady loads, and we like the fact that the E-POD system is upgradeable; by adding a particulate filter our customers can reduce PM emissions as well."

On-site emissions monitoring at the Wyoming PAPA installation supports the 90% NOx emissions reduction reading, CleanAIR said.

See digital issue: Diesel Progress

Will High Platinum Prices Hurt Air Quality?

The Daily Green - March 3, 2008

Most Americans associate platinum with credit cards, the music business or fine jewelry, not with air pollution. But the fact remains that the biggest user of the precious metal is actually the air pollution control industry.

Platinum, usually in very fine coatings, is used as a catalyst in most catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters to rid exhaust emissions of dangerous soot, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Those emissions are major causes of respiratory illness, asthma and lung cancer.

But with growing population and industrialization around the world, coupled with increasing environmental awareness and regulation, the demand for platinum has soared, driving prices upwards. Plus, South Africa, which supplies 78% of the world's platinum, has seen a recent mine shutdown, sending prices of the metal up 41%. Last month platinum cost almost twice as much as it did exactly a year ago, and more than three times as much as it did five years ago.

So what does this mean for consumers? According to pollution control manufacturer CleanAIR Systems there is likely to be some increase in the price tag of new cars and trucks, to reflect more expensive catalytic converters. Hospitals, schools, data centers and others who use diesel backup generators are going to face higher prices in order to stay pollution compliant. The prices of some other goods may also rise, as companies have to pay more for new controls on trucks and heavy mancinery.

Unfortunately, high platinum prices mean it is going to be more difficult for cash-strapped school districts to retrofit old buses with modern pollution controls. That process, ongoing for several years, has been cited as a major priority by green groups, as well as the Bush administration, since it has such a big impact on our nation's children (who have developing lungs and immune systems, and are therefore most susceptible to damage from particulate pollution).

The one silver, I mean platinum, lining to the metal's high value is that it has long had a very high recycling and recovery rate, with junkyards doing a good business collecting and selling used catalytic converters and other devices. With higher prices, it seems likely that even more of the metal will be reclaimed.

See the Source:

The Daily Green

Technology of Clean Air: New Generator Set Filter/Silencer

Diesel Progress - June 2007
Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide - October 2007

CleanAIR Systems has expanded its PERMIT Filter/Silencer product line with the introduction of a new model targeted specifically for diesel prime power and emergency generator sets. With the enforcement of increasing stringent diesel emissions regulations, generator owners also need control technology along with sound attenuation to meet air quality regulations, CleanAIR said. The PERMIT Filter/Silencer incorporates the company's CARB-verified PERMIT Filter, and meets both noise and emissions requirements.

The Santa Fe, NM manufacturer said the new filter/silencer is designed to reduce PM emissons by 85% and carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%. The CleanAIR Filter/Silencer has an all stainless-steel construction and is fully insulated for sound attenuation, the company said.

The concept of 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.

"We designed our PERMIT Filter/Silencer specifically to fit facilities that need to reduce emissions and sound," said CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. "By combining our diesel particulate filters with a silencer, the customer no longer needs two separate units 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."

Available for all stationary engine sizes, the custom-designed PERMI Filter/Silencer is manufactured using 304 stainless steel. Utilizing CleanAIR's integrated approach, the product is designed and manufactured in-house, including: product design; flow, stress and sound modeling; filter catalyzation; and custom fabrication of the silencer shell. Each PERMIT Filter/Silencer is fully insulated to reduce heat loss and provide sound attenuation.

The stainless-steel silencer is corrosion resistant, thereby extending the life of the product. Using stainless steel also reduces the product's total weight by up to 50%, the company said.