J. G. Seebold,1 R. T. Waibel,2
T. L. Webster3
FOREWORD
Innovative lean premix and fuel conditioning approaches to near-zero NOx emission technology for the industrial
process heating sector are described in this paper together with application results.
These advanced technologies emerged from a unique research and development process in which no formal alliance was
struck. Rather there was formed a de facto better-than-alliance high-performance
team. Neither the usual guarantee squabbles nor quote-after-quote-after-quote
but rather best efforts, getting on with it and going the extra mile characterized the collaboration. In short, a classic “skunkworks” emerged.
Extraordinary effectiveness, passion and commitment characterize skunkworks. Fired-up champions emerge to make sure that innovators come forward, grow and flourish, even to the extent
of indulging a little madness.4 For many participants, this collaborative burner development project
was the most exhilarating ever experienced. The result was SCR-equivalent ca.93%
reduction of NOx emissions — but without the huge expense of selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) flue
gas treatment plants — that far exceeded ChevronTexaco’s corporate ideals of operational excellence and capital
stewardship.
There is a huge business incentive not to install selective catalytic reduction
(SCR) flue gas treatment plants on large furnaces or strings of furnaces emitting something like a million pounds per hour
of flue gas. For each SCR of that size not installed by obtaining equivalent
reduction through burner modification or replacement, there accrue
·
capital cost savings approximating $10-million and
·
operating cost savings approximating $2-million per year.
Thus, instead of the usual antagonism between the often conflicting goals of
capital stewardship and environmental responsibility, a remarkable synergy arose in this landmark development of innovative approaches to near-zero NOx emission technology for the industrial
process heating.
For
a .pdf of the complete paper email
and include the paper title so I know
what to send!
ChevronTexaco(Ret); John
Zink Co. LLC; John Zink Co. LLC;
4 For more on “skunkworks” see In Search of Excellence – Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies,
Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr., Warner Books Edition, 1982.
