August 2003 ARI Newsletter

“The Rentar in-line Fuel Catalyst has the potential to reduce emissions from combustion sources,” said John Pohl, ARI researcher.

  
Everett Merritt Middle School furnace in Delaware

A new fuel catalyst may be helpful in the reduction of toxic nitric oxides (NOx) and other compounds from fuel emissions.

In an effort to reduce harmful nitric oxides (NOx) from fuel emissions, ARI researcher, John Pohl, has tested a Rentar’s Fuel Catalyst in number 2 oil with and without soybean oil.

“The Rentar in-line Fuel Catalyst has the potential to reduce emissions from combustion sources,” Dr. Pohl said.

NOx produces ozone—three oxygen atoms attached to each other forming part of a photochemical smog. Ozone may cause irritation to the “skin, eyes, mucous membranes and the respiratory system,” states the “Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials,” by N. Irving Sax.

The reduction of NOx in fuel emissions can have health benefits, Pohl said.

The Rentar Fuel Catalyst performed well in three tests. It reduced NOx ten to nineteen percent in various tests with number 2 oil. It also reduced carbon monoxide (CO) from nine to twelve percent and soot from twelve to thirty-nine percent.

The tests were conducted on the Everett Merritt Middle School furnace in Delaware, a stationary diesel engine and a fleet of school buses.

Dr. Pohl also tested a blend of soybean oil to determine whether the Rentar Fuel Catalyst would change NOx emissions when twenty percent soybean oil was blended with number 2 oil.

“Soybean oil is a large crop. Producing soybeans into oil requires less energy than producing corn in to ethanol. It can replace petroleum products such as diesel oil, but has a slightly higher nitrogen content and hence slightly higher NOx emissions than number 2 oil,” Pohl said.

Participants and sponsors include: Environmental Solutions of Delaware, Rentar Environmental Solution of West Palm Beach, FL, Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Delaware Soybean Board and Delaware Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Control (DNREC) and Appoquinimink School District.

For more information, please contact John Pohl

A Discussion of Combined Heat and Power

Combined Heat and Power (CHP), a distributed energy system, can reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the air, decrease the cost of energy, create an energy savings and increase reliability of power.

Because of its benefits, CHP may help the air quality in non-attainment jurisdictions, or areas where pollution levels exceed approved standards.

“When properly developed, the CHP market offers several benefits. In addition to reduced emissions, benefits include: greater energy productivity; lower energy costs for owner/operators; enhanced power quality and reliability; independence from utility control; and increased energy security,” said Michael Willingham, CHP researcher and ARI adjunct professor. “An additional benefit is that local jurisdictions implementing CHP projects can market themselves as forward-looking ‘green’ communities.”

The energy savings from accelerated development of Virginia’s CHP potential can lead to consumer savings of $1.8 billion through year 2012, and would reduce annual nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions statewide by more than 10,000 tons/year over baseline projections. Reductions in sulfur oxides (27,766 tons/year) and CO (3.85 million tons/year) also would be achieved, Willingham said.

While the primary CHP markets in Virginia lie in the commercial and institutional sectors, energy and cost savings in the public sector area can be considerable. Energy costs-for operating offices, schools, libraries, colleges, public housing, medical facilities, police stations, fire stations, correctional facilities, airports and other facilities represent five to seven percent of local and state government annual expenditures.

With all the benefits of CHP serving local government activities and associated commercial development, the technology has not been fully used. A combination of significant barriers tied to financing, regulations, policy and information reveal why.

“First of all, successful CHP systems require considerable thermal demand combined with high electricity demand, and the demands should be somewhat coincident. For the public sector, this requires an assessment of critical systems and their associated energy needs. Even with an established need, such as a guaranteed reliable and available energy source, independent of the grid - local codes may not address many newer CHP technologies, local officials may be unfamiliar with the technologies, and zoning issues may arise (is this a permitted use?)” Willingham said.

For more information, please contact Michael Willingham

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