Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

Nationwide Boiler Inc. recently booked a new low NOx boiler rental for Holly Refining in Utah. The rental includes a CataStak SCR system that will aid in decreasing emissions at the refinery.

Check out the news article here:

http://www.standard.net/topics/business/2009/10/06/holly-requests-two-new-boilers

Today the EPA published the final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases rules in the Federal Register today.  The final rule is effective December 29, 2009, with reporting requirements in March 2011. Emissions of the six (6) major GHGs must be reported, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), from combustion sources. Emissions of these GHGs are converted to carbon dioxide equivalents, CO2e, and must be reported in metric tons.

Does this apply to you?

The EPA set-up four broad categories in order to identify sources that must report under the program:

(1) Specifically designated facilities, including electric generating facilities.

(2) Facilities that emit more than 25,000 metric tons (MT) of CO2e per year in combined emissions from stationary fuel combustion units and sources in listed categories.

(3) Facilities that meet the following three conditions:

• not identified in either of the other two categories;
• aggregate design heat input from stationary fuel combustion units at the facility is greater than 30 MMBtu/hr; and,
• the facility emits more than 25,000 MT CO2e per year.

Want to learn more? Click the link below for more information:

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

We recently came across an article in Pollution Engineering that highlights an important issue for all major facilities - air fines and how to avoid them. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure compliance and the best way to do so is by educating yourself and your team and by networking with others in the industry. Below highlights the main points from the article, but please visit the link above for a more detailed approached.

1.     Compliance is a team effort and the best preventive measure is to keep the entire team aware and fully briefed on where the facility stands in regards to compliance. With everyone in the know, compliance becomes a vested interest and a shared responsibility.

2.     A basic review of your facility's Title V permit, a federally enforceable document that provides parameters on plant emissions, is a good first start. A review of the basic allowable permissions contained in the permit will lead the way.

3.     Set a date for a frequent (yearly) review of the Title V permit. This will help flag inconsistencies and avoid further inspections and notices of violation (NOV).

4.     Get to know your local inspectors and do not hesitate to ask them for guidance. Ask them informative questions about what common violations they have seen lately and what others in the industry are doing to keep in good standing.

5.     Check out the following websites: The EPA's Acid Rain Inspectors Guide and the Clean Air Markets Division.

6.     To help keep abreast of changing regulations, join an association membership and attend industry events (conferences, seminars and tradeshows). Organizations such as the ABMA, CIBO and others update their members on a continual basis.

7.     Subscribe to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Monthly Digest Bulletin. This e-magazine can be subscribed to by emailing usaepa@govdelivery.com. 

8.     Show pride in maintaining compliance and recognize and reward employees for their efforts in maintaining compliance.

9.     When evaluating vendors for stack testing, check their references, inquire about their experience in performing the tests needed to stay in compliance, and make sure that their work is conducted to the highest standards. Ask vendors if they are a Qualified Stack Test Individual, or QSTI.

10. Let your customers know about your compliance goals and your efforts to maintain "green" in your facility. Also promote this message to your stakeholders in the community.

Our latest case study, highlighting a major food processor is another example of how Nationwide Boiler can help achieve the best performance standards (BPS) for your boilers. We presented a E²Stak solution with a CataStak SCR system and an EconoStak economizer to a food processor in CA to achieve 5 ppm NOx and decease the plant's energy use, which resulted in the customer receiving a rebate check of almost $150,000. Not only did the we help the boilers achieve optimum performance, we also improved the operation and maintenance of the boiler. The plant manager's quote says it all: "This was the first year we could operate the boiler in automatic!"

If you are interested in decreasing your operating costs by saving energy and if you need to comply with tough emission standards, give Nationwide Boiler a call today at 800-227-1966. Our experience and expertise will provide you with additional options you may never have thought possible.