Indian River Power LLC has requested permits to construct selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) systems on Generating Units 1 and 2 at their facility at 29416 Power Plant Road in Millsboro. The SNCR systems are designed to reduce the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from Generating Units 1 and 2.
According to the World Bank, the technology was initially demonstrated in boilers fired by oil or natural gas, but the use of SNCR in coal-fired boilers is now under way. The technology has been used in more than 15 utility-scale boilers in the United States and Europe (especially in Germany and Austria).
With SNCR, NOx emissions in the boiler’s flue gas are converted into elemental nitrogen and water by injecting a nitrogen-based chemical reagent, most commonly urea or ammonia.
The World Bank’s information said several technical issues with SNCR remain to be addressed, including:
• The ability to satisfactorily minimize deposition of ammonium bisulfate on the air heater baskets, which plugs them. This problem is experienced mainly by boilers burning high-sulfur coal (above 2-2.5 percent);
• Ammonia contamination of the ash; ammonia is odorous at concentrations as low as 20 ppm.
According to the World Bank, SNCR technologies can reduce NOx emissions by 35 to 50 percent without significant impacts on unit performance. Two to five weeks of outage are required to retrofit a boiler with SNCR, they said.
The public can review the application for the Indian River power plant permit may at the offices of the Division of Air and Waste Management, 156 S. State Street, Dover, Delaware or 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, Delaware. For additional information or for an appointment to review the application, contact Joanna Austin at (302) 739 9402.
A public hearing on any of the application will not be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for a hearing, in writing, by Sept. 13. The request must also show a familiarity with the application and a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.
Any comments on an application must be submitted in a letter form. All comments and public hearing requests should be mailed to: Air Quality Management Section, Division of Air & Waste Management, 156 S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901. For more information, call (302) 739-9402.