WESTERN REGIONAL BOILER ASSOCIATION
 Meeting Minutes - March 12, 13, 14, 2013
45th Annual Meeting Red Lion on the River Jantzen Beach, Oregon

Tuesday, March 13, 2013
Introduction of Attendees and Board of Directors

John Boyd, WRBA Secretary and Board of Directors member, gave the opening welcome speech and thanked Scott Anderson, 2013 WRBA Chair, for putting together the conference and logistics. Following the welcome:

Lisa Harvey-Boyd, WRBA Executive Assistant, introduced herself, and asked for a headcount of the Spirit Cruise attendance. A sign-up sheet was passed around the room.

Jack Hinman, WRBA Board of Director's Treasurer discussed the following:

Financial Report – WRBA is a non-profit organization.

Legal Presentation – No items reported

Jack Hinman introduced presenters throughout the conference

Scott Anderson held drawings for prizes (WRBA and Vendor, and provided conference logistical information at each break).

Tuesday, March 13, 2013

Presentation #1: Bob Morrow – Detroit Stoker Company
Biomass combustion systems technologies

Topics: Mr. Morrow explained the Environmental Committee conference he attended last week in Washington, D.C. as follows:

Additional topics included Detroit Stoker Company domestic projects mainly being retrofits (reliability/availability), Cake and Syrup Trails, Emission Controls, Combustion Technologies (comparisons of BFB vs. Grate combustion), Existing Unit Comparison, and commented hybrid suspension grate comes from sugar. Mr. Morrow provided information on the CIBO Conference in May 2013 (see Mr. Morrow for draft agenda). No questions were asked.

Presentation #2: Craig Thiry - The Avogadro Group, LLC
Impact of recent EPA regulations to source testing field and the assiciated impacts to industry

Topics: New Source Testing Regulations (different test methods can = different results), Recent regulation and ASTM acronyms, Purpose of QSTI/QSTO and main components, Purpose of accreditation, Status 3/12/13: 21 companies with STAC interim or full accreditation, Protocol Gas Verification program (PGVP/AETB), Stationary Source Audit program (SSAP). Mr. Thiry emphasized importance of hiring tester/asking questions if they know new and old methods and stated new methods are coming soon (provided examples), Professionalization of testing being implemented, Particulate matter (primary and secondary), Test methods (old, new, and results), New method more expensive/some regulators accept it while some do not. No questions were asked.

Presentation #3: Rob Haney – Crane Environmental / Frost Engineering Service
Water treatment basics for power engineering

Topics: Steam Loop, Contaminants, and Removal for introduction to steam boiler, Typical water contaminants (ground, municipal, brackish & ocean), Basic water chemistry is very important (slide #7), Industrial water trains (1st type - multimedia filtration/depth filters, 2nd type – multimedia filtration alternatives, which are more expensive, ultrafiltration (UF), iron removal media filters, Birm/KDF filters, manganese Greensand filters), Activated carbon filters (advantages & disadvantages) Granulated activated carbon (GAC), Water softeners (ion exchange softening). Types of water softeners: Chemical dosing and types, Reverse osmosis fundamentals and terms (very effective), Spiral wound RO elements, Anatomy of RO system,

CE RO-Centric design and common optical features, CE RO-Centric design: post treatment and ultra-pure applications, preferred application - electrodeionization (EDI), Deaeration, Reasons for treating boiler feeder water, Post RO blow-down calculation

Question: Can waste water be reintroduced?

Answer: Yes, by double-pass or triple-pass RO’s and suggested talking with engineer to discuss specific situation.

Presentation #4 – Frank Neil, Jr., TesTex
Improving boiler reliability through NDT

Topics: Keys to improving boiler reliability, Water wall, Super heater, Reheater inspections, Available inspection technologies, LFET (rapid detention tool), TS-2000 scanning system and advantages, Typical defects found in TS-2000, LFET scanning and reporting, Various scanners (BEND) and low profile, Case studies and examples, Details needed for successful inspection and keys to success. No questions were asked.

Presentation #5: Kevin Tangen, Rebecca Knecht - Evergreen Engineering, Inc.
Construction and maintenance management for shutdowns and utility outages

Topics: CMS definition, CMS example projects (greenfield, retrofits, critical staffing), Outage and shutdown management, Schedule management, Follow-up reporting. Conclusion: Scalability, duration, staff size, value-added services. No questions were asked.

Board of Directors Meeting:

Jack Hinman invited attendees to join the meeting. Jack has all presentations except Karen Person who will present first on Wednesday, Jack will ensure meeting room locked at night, Scott to make announcements on Wednesday regarding where to board Spirit cruise and remind attendees to bring ticket, 3 people can board Spirit early for set-up, organizing prizes, and DJ. Prizes – 10 gift cards, member with most money end of night wins iPod, Attendance headcount ~75.

Reception and Dinner

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Presentation #6: Karen Person - GE Water and Process Technologies
Film forming polyamines for full system boiler corrosion protection

Topics: Polyamine technology, Key differences between polyamine and traditional neutralizing amine technology, Potential benefits, Polyamine performance evaluations (papers available to attendees for review), Polyamine corrosion performance, Reviewed lab simulations, Polyamine corrosion evaluation, Polyamine volatility and distribution, Oxygen scavenger compatibility, Applications case study, Additional applications.

Presentation #6: Karen Person (continued)

Question: How often can polyamine be injected into DA (continuous or one time)?

Answer: Continuous, or not that frequent. Dosing procedure of minimum rate required to maintain typical deposition.

Question: Will high pressure cause turbine damage?

Answer: Ammonia/polyamine blend got the level down to 1.2.

Research: High levels of iron formed.

Presentation #7: Edmundo R. Vasquez, Ph.D. / Dennis Shanahan Clyde Bergemann Power Group
How improving combustion can reduce MACT air pollution control footprint investment and operating costs

Edmundo R Vasquez, Ph.D. presented Maximum Achievable Combustible Technology (MACT)
Project Goal: Begin with the end in mind, Boiler MACT Facts: Emission limits, Existing units, Solid fuels

Topics: Biomass combustion (ash formation), Combustion products, Gases and gas pollutants, In-furnace emission control technologies, Stacked air systems (conventional over-fire air system, CBAM stacked air system), Combustion modifications impact on APC technologies, Clyde Bergemann stacked air system schematic (being build, projected installation July 2013), Clyde Bergemann windbox nozzle, positioned and components, SAS modifications

Case study: Interlaced vs. SAS, SAS reduces excess O2, CO reduction, Reduction in boiler exit gas temperature

Dennis Shanahan presented SAS Impact on ESP Design

Topics: ESP inlet design parameters, Boiler / Fuel type impact on ESP, ESP operating conditions and flue gas, Flue gas and particulates design inputs, ESP outlet requirements, Technology CBPG rigitrodes, CBPG collecting plates and rigitrodes, Rigitrode electrodes, Collecting plate rapping, RD 3000 automatic voltage controls, APC performance case study, Flue gas and combustion air, ID and FD auxiliary power savings, ESP - SAS economic analysis, Conclusions for ESP impact, ACI – SAS performance analysis, DSI-SAS performance analysis, Conclusions for ESP, ACI, and DSI impact

Question: Is there any nozzle design erosion?

Answer: None. Worldwide, 40 installations with no problems on wall condition

Question: What happens when lowering O2 and increasing heat?

Answer: It will burn properly

Presentation #8: Rudy Steur, Online Cleaning Services

Utilizing the online linear blasting technologies in boilers

Topics: Initial performance claims, Process (reviewed all the steps of cleaning boiler), Logistics requirements, video presentation of process (before, during, and after), References.

Customer example: Rudy presented the following about the process at Marion, a customer of 6 years: fouling cycle, boiler schematic, cleaning requirements, observations, and moving forward.

Question: Can the camera be left in place during process?

Answer: No, the camera would be destroyed.

Question: Is there an emissions hike during process?

Answer: No, unless the boiler is in very bad condition.

Presentation #9: Mark Plafcan / Tom Cabezut – Westchem, Inc. / LAKOS
Filtration and zero blow-down in a cooling system: quit cooling dirt!

WCTI presentation and Introduction

Topics: RFP operating history, WCTI features, Effects of scale on energy usage, WCTI inspection (tower fill) after 18 months, System performance and financial costs/savings, LAKOS inspection, LAKOS separators for cooling towers, LAKOS separators maximize cooling capacity, video of process presented, benefits of a clean tower, Result (maximize heat transfer efficiency), Summary of WCTI program and LAKOS separator system. No questions were asked.

Presentation #10: John Zora / John Marone - Nalco
Expanding existing technologies to meet operational objectives. Essential expertise for water, energy, and air.
Meeting Operational Objectives for your Boiler House – John Zora

Case Study: Boiler Cycle Control: Roseburg Forest Products and PGE Coyote Springs AUX Boiler (presented graph of cycle)

Case Study: Automated amine feed / control (Roseburg Forest Products (presented graph cycle).

Operational Efficiency – John Marone

Topics: KPI visibility generates opportunities for efficiency gain in bio-mass fired steam plants, Boiler efficiency (many variables), Grab Sample Trending (tedious and feedback after the process takes place) as opposed to Automated System Report (which provides better and more usable data), What is company measuring, i.e., fuel moisture, Available Tool (plant model and map which provides information on financial impact to plant). No questions were asked.

Lunch, Bonneville Dam Tour, Dinner and Entertainment – Portland Spirit Vessel (see next presentation for pictures!)

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Presentation #11: Frank DeSilva / Steve Foor – Loprest Water Treatment Company / Resin Tech
Ion exchange

Troubleshooting Water Softeners

Topics: Troubleshooting chart, Ion Exchange Softening, Steps to Troubleshooting (gathering data, creating a model, comparison of model against real world results, decision about changes, evaluation & follow-up), What do we need to know?, Basic data about the system, Create a model, What (if anything) is really wrong?, Types of problems, Why differentiate, Why construct a model, Study the model, Make a list, Decide what to suggest, Follow-up, Monitoring performance softeners, Resin sampling and testing results, Softener troubleshooting

Question: If resin is hydrated when it is received, should it be frozen?

Answer: No, it should be brought indoors and allowed to thaw out. If resin has been repeatedly frozen, it becomes damaged. Note: If resin dries out, it can be rewet by adding salt/brine.

Presentation #12: Jim Mitchell – Plastocor, Inc.
Use of coating for maintenance and life extension for condensers

Topics: Specific heat exchanger / condenser applications, Tubesheet problems (provided examples), Environmental control equipment and steps, Tube-end problems and examples, Full length tube problems, Objectives for tube coatings (Goal: Apply one coat, keep it thin, and manage tube inventory), Sealing pits and holes, Tube coating specifics, Before and after examples, Characteristics of the tube coating, Case studies, actions taken, and results, Elements of quality (challenges to a consistent outcome), Water boxes, Flange sealing, equipment packages. If anyone has question, Jim asked attendees to stop by Plastocor booth.

Presentation #13: Eric Albright – Environ
Major sources boiler MACT

Boiler MACT & Related Rules

Topics: Clean air act rules recently finalized, NESHAP (National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Pollutants): Definitions (major source boiler MACT applicability and exceptions), Fuel categories (gas, liquid, solid), New and existing units, Major sources boiler compliance dates, Emission limits, Work practice standards, Initial compliance demonstrations (existing and new), Continuous compliance, Operating limits, Initial notifications and reporting, Record keeping (5 years total, 2 years onsite – electronic is ok, 3 years offsite), Area source rule applicability and exemptions, Area source rule requirements, Area source compliance dates, Tune-up for area source boilers, Energy assessments overview and requirements

Presentation #13: Eric Albright – Environ (continued)

Question: How do I establish operating limits?

Answer: It depends on operating system, and needs to be on a rolling average. Eric suggested checking test methods in Rules.

Question: Is there a default limit?

Answer: Eric suggested checking test methods in “Rules”.

Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials rule (NHSM):

Topics: Processing NHSM, NHSM legitimacy criteria

Question: What are the demolition criteria?

Answer: C&D legitimate rule is listed on website

Question: If fuel is developed onsite using harvesting and logging of wood be in compliance?

Answer: Yes, it is in compliance because it is under your control.

Presentation #14: Desmond Smith – West Salem Machinery

Feedstock Diversity Drives Machinery Development at WSM

Topics: Where is fuel coming from? (traditional, municipal, agriculture), Significant growth area (wood pellets, agricultural wastes), Types of equipment needed, Industries served.

Case History 1: Pellet plant Case History 1A: Industrial pellet plant

Case History 2: Mulch operation Case History 4: Green waste recycling

No questions were asked.

Presentation #15: Mark Peterson – Bay Valve Service LLC
Steam system condensate drainage and stall conditions

Condensate Drainage

Topics: Demonstrated steam powered condensate and steam trap/gauge, Equipment drainage and system stall, Normal drainage, Equipment drainage, Stall and stall solution, Cause of problems and solutions, GP10 pump application, Heat exchange

Comment: Steam is an efficient transfer of heat

No questions were asked.

General Discussion:

The 2014 WRBA Conference will be held on March 11, 12, 13, 2014, in Port Angeles, WA

John Boyd, WRBA Secretary and 2014 WRBA Chair, presented slides of the new Nippon Paper Industries Co-Gen facility under construction in Port Angeles, WA as a prelude to the 2014 conference tour in P.A. of this new facility. The majority of the equipment in this facility was supplied by WRBA supporting vendors who will base their presentations on this construction and will be on hand during the tour.

Lisa Harvey-Boyd described Port Angeles and the surrounding areas to provide information to those planning to attend the 2014 WRBA Conference.

Lisa thanked all of the suppliers and the Board of Directors members for their contrubutions to the 2013 conference.

If anyone has suggestions, comments, or ideas, please e-mail Lisa from the WRBA website.

Vendor and Grand Prize Drawing wrapped up the conference

Attendees were invited to join the Board of Director's meeting after lunch

WRBA Conference March 2013

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