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"They
helped us meet low NOx standards nobody had ever come
close to meeting
before!"
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Robert
Praefke
Vice
President
Billet Operations
Vista
Metals Corporation
Fontana, California
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Finding
A Manufacturer To Take On The Low NOx Challenge
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Southern California Gas, known as SoCal Gas, agreed to help Vista Metals find a prototype burner that would perform below the emissions ceiling which had to be met. SoCal Gas contacted several burner manufacturers to determine interest in the low NOx project. Ultimately, California Gas gave the nod to Stordy Combustion to design the low-emissions burner. Industrial Thermal Systems became involved in the project shortly thereafter.
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"They fast-tracked the new design," Praefke said of Stordy and Industrial Thermal Systems R&D team. "We were up and running tests in a little less than five months, which is remarkable when you think of all ITS and Stordy achieved in their new system."
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Can
That PPM Number Be Right?
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What was achieved? The new burner design, now known as the NOx Beta System, settled into a run pattern of 27 ppm of NOx at 3%
O2. This ultra low emissions level impressed California air quality officials.
Tests were conducted by California's prestigious South Coast Air Quality Management group, which has established the nation's most stringent test regimens and particulate standards. After concluding their tests, South Coast stipulated that Vista Metal's new furnace was operating at below 38 ppm of NOx, and that the new equipment met the requirements. The permit to operate the new furnace then was granted. |
Installed NOx Beta Burner produced an amazing 39% fuel savings |
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Icing On The Cake
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Further record-keeping by Vista Metals revealed an important bonus for the aluminum smelter. Gas consumption for the new furnace was reduced by 39%, while throughput remained at the same level of the company's less efficient, higher emission furnaces.
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And The Rest Of The Story
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"We're convinced that ITS has provided us with the most advanced burner systems in the world, along with the most advanced air quality controls," Robert Praefke stated. "Since the first installation came on line in early 1995, we have converted our entire operation to ITS systems."
Why the change? "The savings in fuel gives us a real competitive advantage in the market," Praefke said. "Also, we're doing our part to improve air quality in Southern California, so it's a win for us and for clean air."
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"I have the utmost confidence in the people at Industrial Thermal Systems," Praefke said. "We like to develop teams with our suppliers, and ITS is an important part of our team."
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