From Pollution Control to Combined Heat and Power Technology Systems

John A. "Skip" Laitner, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Keywords

Abstract

Conventional pollution control technologies do just that: they control pollution to acceptable levels but provide little else in the way of economic benefits. But what if the redesign of such systems makes it possible toproduce useful by-products beyond the so-called “end of pipe” controls? In the case of industrial plants required to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC), the conventional abatement technologies include regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) that have an efficiency removal rate of 98% and higher. Environment and Power Systems International, LLC (EPSI) has developed an alternative technology that uses the VOC-containing gases enriched with natural gas to generate both electricity and useful thermal heat as a by- product of pollution control. This paper describes the alternative technology and reviews the potential contribution to the nation’s electricity supply. Preliminary data suggests there may be 100,000 industrial facilities that might be able to take advantage of this alternative technology. If 60% of these facilities adopt the EPSI system by 2025, the primary energy savings might exceed one quad of energy. This is equivalent to the petroleum production that might be provided by opening the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.