URS and the LJUNGSTRÖM Division of ARVOS Group have signed an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, demonstrate, and market a novel approach to improve the energy efficiency of coal-fired power plants by 1 to 3 percent, with a corresponding reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
As a consequence, power plants can realize significant operational cost savings by burning less coal and generating less air pollution and coal combustion residual (CCR) wastes.
“We’re pleased to be working exclusively with the leading supplier of Ljungström® air preheater technology to bring this efficiency solution to the power industry,” said Sterling Gray, URS business development manager. “It offers a reasonable and cost-effective approach to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, while lowering the cost of electricity generated from coal.”
The approach involves combining URS’ successful SBS InjectionÔ sorbent injection technology for sulfur trioxide (SO3) control with the proven air preheater technology of LJUNGSTRÖM. Sulfuric acid and other acidic compounds found in coal combustion gas cause fouling and corrosion of the air preheater equipment. By eliminating these acids, the thermal performance and efficiency of a coal-fired power plant can be improved.
Long-term testing of the combined technologies at the LJUNGSTRÖM Division research facilities in Wellsville, N.Y., has shown recovery of thermal energy from combustion flue gases to temperatures as low as 220°F; an improvement in overall plant efficiency of as much as 3 percent, or about a 300 Btu/kW-hr heat rate reduction. Similar efficiency gains can be achieved at most power plants with relatively simple modifications to the air preheater. Furthermore, lowering the flue gas temperature exiting the air preheater can significantly increase the capture of mercury in existing air pollution control equipment, thereby reducing mercury emissions from the power plant.
“We’re excited to partner with URS to offer this exclusive solution to the ever-changing challenges of plant operations and efficiency enhancement,” said David Breckinridge, vice president of ARVOS Group’s LJUNGSTRÖM Division. “Our combined experience and expertise offers our customers the latest technology to provide meaningful benefits in plant operations.”
About URS
URS, an AECOM company, is a leading provider of engineering, construction, and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. The company offers a full range of program management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; operations and management, management and operations, information technology; and decommissioning and closure services. URS provides services for federal, oil and gas, infrastructure, power, and industrial projects and programs. Combined, URS and AECOM have nearly 100,000 employees in a network of offices in more than 150 countries (www.urs.com).
About ARVOS Group
ARVOS Group is a global leading industrial equipment provider. The group is active in both, the new equipment market and aftermarket service across the three divisions LJUNGSTRÖM for Air Preheaters and Gas-Gas Heaters for thermal power generation facilities, SCHMIDTSCHE SCHACK for process critical heat transfer applications in a wide range of petrochemical, chemical and metallurgical processes and RAYMOND BARTLETT SNOW for Thermal and Pulverizing Processing Equipment and Systems for wide variety of industrial applications. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, ARVOS Group operates eight manufacturing facilities and additional sales and execution offices in Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Japan, Switzerland and the USA. The ARVOS Group brands Ljungström®, Schmidt’sche®, Schack®, Raymond® and Bartlett-Snow™ are highly recognized for their outstanding quality and performance. ARVOS Group employs more than 1,700 employees. To learn more about ARVOS and the LJUNGSTRÖM Division, please go to