SPI News
Safety Power has recently released a newsletter on remote commissioning. Safety Power has a dedicated service team for maintenance and commissioning. In addition, our ability to remotely commission our systems has greatly benefited our customers during the COVID 19 pandemic. Other topics in the newsletter also included a hospital installation which has reached 36,000 run hours and a low noise installation in a populated city center.
....Download the White Paper below to read more.
November 2020 Newsletter
Yellow plumes can sometimes be observed at the exhaust of diesel and natural gas generators during certain operating conditions. This is the visible representation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) present in the exhaust gasses from an engine. NO2 is a contributer to the formation of Ozone and is a known carcinogen. Utilizing Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology such as the ecoCUBE®, NO2 is reduced to colourless and harmless nitrogen gas and steam, and then released into the atmosphere. However, without proper design considerations, yellow plumes can still appear at start-up. The white paper outlines use of SCR technlogy and design considerations for mitigating yellow smoke.
....Download the White Paper below to read more.
White Paper Yellow Smoke Mitigation
This Webinar was held on Jan 15th, 2016 and covered the following topics:
-Standard SCR Exhaust Designs (silencer positioning, expansion joints and relief devices).
-Urea Tanks, Transfer Systems and Recommended Piping Designs.
-Control Wiring and Required Electrical Connections.
-Recommended SCR Placement for both Enclosure & Indoor Installations.
-Do's and Dont's for effective SCR Ancillary System Designs.
Please click here to view the recording
New York State is planning on adopting NYSDEC Proposed 6 NYCRR, Subpart 222. This proposed regulation establishes fixed emission limits for emergency Natural Gas and Diesel generators that are taking part in Demand Response Programs. In addition this regulation also will place limits for testing of emergency generators. It applies to all emergency engines that are over 150 kW in NYC and over 300 kW in New York State. For a brief summary of the required emissions please click on the link below. Proposed NY Demand Response Regulations
Safety Power Inc. announced today it has received a new order for their patented ecoCUBE® SCR system. This order represents two (2) megawatt of diesel power generation used in a demand response application for the City’s largest utility demand generation program. Read More... NYC - Demand Response Power Project
The ecoCUBE emission Control System was for a two (2) mega-watt natural gas engine in Massachusetts. The project was sold in early 2015 and commissioned before the end of 2015. The local municipality that owns and operates the system required compliance with the very strict MASSDEP emission limits. We provided our compact ecoCUBE® design with SCR catalyst and CO catalyst in the same “CUBE” shape. Click on the link below to read more. Safety Power Commissions Ultra Low NOx SCR System
This article covers the EPA Requirements for Diesel Standby Engines In Data Centers. Please click on the read more link below for the complete article. Safety Power's article begins on page Page 16. Article Link
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have many adverse health effects and as a result are considered to be a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAPs) by the EPA. The EPA is particularly concerned about VOCs in stationary power applications as they significantly contribute to the formation of ground level ozone (smog). Ground level ozone is created when VOCs react with oxygen in the presence of sunlight.
The EPA has a complex definition for VOCs that’s described under 40 CFR 51.100(s). Simplifying this definition for stationary engines; VOCs are considered to be any hydrocarbon that is present in the exhaust stream with the exception of Methane and Ethane. Methane and Ethane emissions are excluded as they have negligible photochemical reactivity (don’t significantly contribute to smog formation).
The presence of VOCs emissions in stationary engine applications are generally the result of un-combusted fuel (undetonated fuel often stored in the crevices of the combustion chamber during engine operation) and the formation of post combustion formaldehydes. Lube oils that “blow by” the cylinder rings can also contribute to the presence of VOCs. The recent advent of low cost natural gas has made VOC reductions a topic of particular interest.
....Download the White Paper below to read more.
White Paper on VOC Emissions
The EPA announced late last year that they are planning on reducing the allowable background ozone levels from 75 ppb to between 65-70 ppb. This announcement has been widely covered by the media, but what implications does it have on diesel and natural gas power generating facilities? The final EPA rule was intended for release on October 1st, 2015; this article was written in anticipation of these changes so that design engineers can be aware of the implications and can best decide how to minimize the impact on local sites.
In order to understand the effects of reduced ozone levels, it’s best to start with some background information. The ozone emissions levels are being reduced through the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established in the Clean Air Act. The idea behind NAAQS is that every American is entitled to the same minimum standard of air quality regardless of where they are located. For example, if you are located Texas you are entitled to the same minimum air quality as living in Vermont.
The EPA has determined that there are six (6) criteria pollutants that are harmful and need to be reduced. The EPA oversees the measurement of these six (6) criteria pollutants by monitoring hundreds of different locations throughout the US. Ozone, NO2, Particulate Matter (PM) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) are the ones to be aware about when dealing with Diesel and Natural Gas Generators. NAAQS, establishes the maximum acceptable concentration levels for each of these criteria pollutants.
....To read more please download the white paper below.
White Paper on the Effects of the new EPA Ozone Limits
San Jose, California, June 3, 2015 – Safety Power Inc. announced today it has received three (3) new orders for their ecoCUBE® SCR systems. These orders represent over five (5) megawatts of natural gas power generation used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Demand Response (DR) applications. All three (3) projects are for stationary natural gas engines that required the use of after-treatment exhaust cleaning systems to meet or exceed the stringent federal and local environmental emissions requirement for these areas. Safety Power’s products were chosen for all three (3) of these applications because of the small footprint and the proven reliability of the ecoCUBE® systems based on similar applications in North America. These orders are scheduled to be delivered in the 3rd quarter of this calendar year.
New 5MW USA orders
San Jose, California, June 2, 2015 – Safety Power Inc. announced today it has expanded its operations to the Silicon Valley area with the opening of a new sales office in San Jose, CA. The Silicon Valley has a rich history of technology companies being very successful when either locating or starting here because of the immense talent in this area. There has been a lot of demand from current and prospective clients to expand Safety Power’s presence coast-to-coast. The West coast sales office will help support the corporate growth initiatives while improving local customer satisfaction.
Safety Power Opens West Coast Office
San Jose, California, June 1, 2015 – Safety Power Inc. announced today that it has achieved ISO certification for “design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution and sales, project management, commissioning and after sales support and maintenance of large emissions control systems technology” used for diesel and natural gas engines. A core value of Safety Power is the high quality manufacture of emissions equipment that results in minimal maintenance and higher customer satisfaction. Safety Power strives to provide the most reliable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems in the power generation industry.
ISO 9001 - Press Release
Summit, New Jersey, March 31, 2015 – Safety Power Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement with the Critical Power Group (CPG) based in Ashburn, Virginia as their manufacturers’ representative for the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. This new agreement will provide Safety Power the additional sales and marketing coverage in the mission critical capital and help with significant sales growth in the USA.
Safety Power Inc. signs agreement with Critical Power Group as exclusive Manufacturer’s Representative
NOx Control for Cogeneration Facilities:
The price of natural gas makes it an attractive fuel source for electricity production. While natural gas turbines have often been used as the prime mover, natural gas reciprocating engines are becoming increasingly popular because of their relatively rapid startup times and their relatively high simple cycle efficiencies. This article looks at EPA requirements for natural gas engines which are commonly used in Cogeneration Facilities. It then looks at 2 specific Cogen installations with natural gas engines from the standpoint of emission control. Comments from the owner and the engine dealer are provided to give proponents an idea of what factors they must consider for emission control associated with a natural gas engine installation.
NOx Control for Cogernation Facilities
The Air Health Indicator (AHI)
[1] provides an overview of the public health impacts attributable to outdoor air pollution in Canada. It shows an upward trend in cardiopulmonary mortality (deaths from heart-and lung-related diseases) attributable to ozone (O3) exposure. No upward or downward trend in cardiopulmonary mortality attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is observed
The O3 component of the AHI model indicates a slight increasing trend since 1990 and suggests that about 5% of cardio-pulmonary mortalities were attributable to ozone exposure overall at the national level. The PM2.5 component of AHI suggests neither an increasing nor decreasing trend between 2001 and 2010. About 1% of cardiopulmonary mortalities could be attributable to PM2.5exposure.
Read more here
Safety Power Inc. signs agreement with Power Equipment Group as Manufacturer’s Representative
Expanding sales and marketing coverage in key markets for increased demand in the U.S. Summit, New Jersey, December 3, 2014 – Safety Power Inc. announced today that it has signed an exclusive agreement with the Power Equipment Group (PEG) based in Irving, Texas as their manufacturers’ representative for the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. This new agreement will provide Safety Power the additional sales and marketing coverage in the growing energy capital and help with significant sales growth in the USA.
About Safety Power Inc. (SPI)
Safety Power is a leading manufacturer of emissions control systems for large diesel and natural gas engines. The technologies include Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, oxidation catalyst, diesel particulate filters and silencing that can all be integrated into one cube shape named the ecoCUBE® product line. The ecoCUBE® product line has been successfully deployed in mission critical applications such as data centers, hospitals, banks, and municipal utilities applications. In addition to these areas, Safety Power markets to power generation (stand-by, demand-response, peak-shaving), combined heat and power (CHP), marine and industrial applications. Safety Power Inc. has offices in the USA and Canada. The headquarters is in Mississauga, Ontario.
About Power Equipment Group (PEG)
Power Equipment Group represents the very best manufacturers in the power packaging industry. We have sales offices in Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth and San Antonio For more information about PEG, contact us at www.peghou.com or call us at (512) 219-3603. More service, less policy.
For more information about Safety Power Inc., call 1-800-657-1280, email info@safetypower.ca, Alternatively visit www.safetypower.ca
Press Contact:
Randy Sadler
Vice-President of Sales & Marketing
randy.sadler@safetypowerinc.com
908-277-1826 office
Safety Power Inc. signs agreement with Power Equipment Group as exclusive Manufacturer’s Representative
In order to get the Air Emissions Permit for facilities that have diesel standby generators, it is necessary to comply with EPA and local regulatory requirements. Even though diesel standby generators do not operate for many hours per year, EPA requirements can have a significant impact on large data centers. The EPA regulations are relatively complex and are constantly changing. This article provides an overview of the EPA regulatory framework with a concentration on those requirements for stationary diesel emergency standby generators that are greater than 500HP. This size range is commonly encountered in larger Data Centers. This article also focuses on new installations only – it does not offer insight into the rules that govern existing retrofit installations. This article attempts to identify some of the key EPA terminology such as National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), Tier 2,3,4 and put them in a framework that allows the Critical Power Engineer to understand the current regulations and how those regulations influence the design of new facilities. Safety Power 7x24 Article on EPA Regulations for Data Centers
On May 9 at 10:30 EDT a webex will be held with a focus on EPA requirements for natural gas engines. This session is ideally suited to consultants and engine dealers who want to learn more about EPA requirements for natural gas engines commonly used in cogen applications. Important EPA terminology is explained in a context that relates to cogen applications. In addition to covering the EPA requirements this session looks at the technologies – Oxidation Catalysts and Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR ) that address the regulatory requirements.
Safety Power's ecoCUBE® SCR systems have been successfully commissioned on 3 MW and 4MW natural gas engines used in 2 separate cogeneration facilities.
The ecoCUBE®’s are mounted above the engines in a separate room close to the heat recovery equipment. Temperature losses in the ecoCUBE® were extremely low to maximize the available energy for the downstream heat recovery equipment .
Each installation has 1 vertical ecoCUBE®’s. Space was a major constraint. As a result the ecoCUBE®’s are mounted in a a vertical orientation so that they take up less floor space. One of the ecoCUBE®’s, a 5 series, is being used with a CAT CG260-12 3MW gas natural gas engine. The other ecoCUBE®, an 8 series, is being used with a CAT CG260-16 4MW gas natural gas engine. The picture shows the series 8 vertical ecoCUBE®. Exhaust gas from the engine comes through the floor and exits into downstream heat recovery equipment. The ecoCUBE®’s are being used to provide NOx reduction using Safety Power’s advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR ) technology.The ecoCube®control panel for the 8 series can be seen in the picture.
Safety Power’s ecoCUBE® SCR system has been applied to a 1MW GE Jenbacher JGS320 natural gas engine used in a municipal facility.
The ecoCUBE®s is mounted above the engine in the same room as the engine.
The facility has been designed to participate in a Demand Response program offered by the local electrical utility. This Demand Response progam offers attractive incentives to genset owners that can provide electricity support during times of high loading on the electricity grid.
In January 2014 ecoCUBE® Selective Catalytic Reduction units were commissioned for CAT CG260-12 and CAT CG260-16 natural gas engines. The units were installed at two different natural gas cogen facilities. In addition this newletter contains infornation on EPA regulations associated with emergency standby diesel engines.
The ecoCUBE®’s are mounted above the engines in a separate room close to the heat recovery equipment. Temperature losses in the ecoCUBE® were extremely low to maximize theavailable energy for the downstream heat recovery equipment .
There are two separate sites for the engines. Each installation has 1vertical ecoCUBE®’s. Space was a major constraint. As a result the ecoCUBE®’s are mounted in a a vertical orientation so that they take up less floor space. One of the ecoCUBE®’s, a 5 series, is being used with a CAT CG260-12 3MW gas natural gas engine. The other ecoCUBE®, an 8 series, is being used with a CAT CG260-16 4MW gas natural gas engine. The picture shows the series 8 vertical ecoCUBE®. Exhaust gas from the engine comes through the floor and exits into downstream heat recovery equipment. The ecoCUBE®’s are being used to provide NOx reduction using Safety Power’s advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. The ecoCube®control panel for the 8 series can be seen in the picture.
SCR for CAT CG260-12 and CG260-16 commissioned
The November 2013 newsletter contains information about Selective Catalytic Reduction 's for CAT MWM natural gas CHP installations. In addition a new hospital application of the ecoCUBE® requiring full Tier 4f compliance AND 52 dB noise reduction is discussed.
This installation is for 2 vertical ecoCUBE®’s. The units will be mounted in a vertical orientation so that they take up less space. One of the ecoCUBE®’s, a 5 series, is being used with a CAT MWM 3MW gas natural gas engine. The other ecoCUBE®, an 8 series, is being used with a CAT MWM 4MW gas natural gas engine. Both ecoCUBE®’s are being used to provide NOx reduction using Safety Power’s advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR ) technology.
A new Hospital installation requires Tier 4f emissions reductions AND silencing of 52 db for 5 large scale engine generators. The chart above shows the acoustic reductions at each octave band. The ecoCUBE® is ideally suited for this application because it accomplishes all of the functions ( silencing, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, Diesel Particular Filters and Selective Catalytic Reduction) within a single compact housing.
This session is ideally suited to Consulting Engineers who want to learn more about EPA requirements for diesel engines used in emergency and standby applications. Important EPA terminology such as RICE NESHAP, NAAQS, NSPS, Tier 4 etc are explained in a context that relates to emergency applications. In addition to covering the EPA requirements this session looks at the technologies – Diesel Oxidation Catalysts ( DOC ), Diesel Particular Filters ( DPF ) and Selective Catalystic Reduction ( SCR ) that address the regulatory requirements.
New Project for Natural Gas Cogen
This document presents in table format the type of pollutants that are of concern and the appropriate technology to deal with each pollutant. For example unburned hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide ( CO ) are best dealt with by using a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC ). A Diesel Particulate Filter ( DPF ) is best for Particulate Matter ( PM ). A Selective Catalytic Reduction ( SCR ) is best for NOx. Safety Power's ecoCUBE can be configured to deal with any combination of these pollutants plus silencing if required - all in a single compact housing....
Safety Power can assist you with proven engineered diesel emissions control solutions for your stationary generators that can meet global emission standards including US EPA Tier 4 and Euro 6
Solutions for Diesel Engines
This document consists of a set of slides that was presented at Data Center World in Orlando in October 2013. The slides outline important considerations for the Critical Power Engineer when seeking an air permit for a new facilities with Diesel Engine Emergency Generators....
EPA Reqmts for Emerg Gensets presented at Data Center World Oct 2013
This article provides important information on the regulatory framework to allow the Critical Power Engineer to understand the current EPA requirements for large scale diesel engines used to provide emergency power. Key EPA terminology such as National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Tier 2,3,4 are explained so that the Critical Power Engineer understands the associated regulatory requirements. This article was published in CSE magazine in November 2013. Safety Power also presented similar information at Data Center World in October 2013.
Emergency Engines Used in Data Centers Hospitals WatEPA Requirements for Emergency Engines in Data Centers Hospitals Water Treatment Life Safetyer Treatment Life Safety
The size of on-site power systems is continually increasing. It is not unusual to see a hospital with over 5 MW’s of emergency standby power. Water pumping stations can have over 10 MW of emergency standby power and large data centers often have over 20 MW of standby power. With the low price of natural gas we are seeing large scale natural gas engines being used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installations. CHP plants can often be over 5 MW in size. Large on-site power installations have multi-engine installations to deal, not only with the high levels of required electrical power, but also with the need for increased reliability. Increasingly these large sites have Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to deal with the high potential levels of NOx that are emitted when the engines are tested...
Urea Supply Systems for Multi-engine SCR Systems
The EPA’s RICE NESHAP initiative has accelerated the integration of the emissions system and the silencer for on-site power applications. As emission standards continue to tighten it is likely that we will see continued exhaust system integration. A “single cube” exhaust system makes it easier for engine manufacturers, dealers and packagers to meet the regulatory requirements for any air shed in North America and beyond...
An Integrated Approach to Emissions and Silencing
This installation consists of 2 ecoCUBE’s - both 5 series units. One is for an existing Mitsubishi S12R-PTA engine with a 1.2 MW output. The second unit is for a new CAT 3512C engine with a 1.5MW output. The ecoCUBE’s were roof mounted requiring a crane hoist of 22 stories. The system is located in a major North American City. The lift was done early on a Sunday morning to minimize any impact to traffic flows in the downtown core. These ecoCUBE’s are configured with internal SCR’s designed to provide NOx reductions in excess of 90%.
Rooftop Installation on tall building
A total of 4 ecOCUBE's have been installed and commissioned on large container mounted gensets for a large hospital. Each of the gensets are 1.6MW units. The system meets US EPA Tier 4 Final requirements and allows the gensets to be used for peak shaving and for participation in various revenue generation programs such as Demand Response and the Operating Reserve market.
Emissions Reduction for Large Hospital
Company Profile
The Tim Hortons chain was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The chain's focus on top quality, always fresh product, value, great service and community leadership has allowed it to grow into the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada specializing in always fresh coffee, baked goods and homestyle lunches.
DISTRIBUTION:
Five warehouse distribution centres, located in Guelph, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta; Debert, Nova Scotia (Truro); Kingston, Ontario; and Aldergrove (Langley), British Columbia presently service the Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada and the U.S. TIM HORTONS INC. TOTAL REVENUES (2011):$2.9 billion (CDN)
FRANCHISE RESTAURANT SALES (2011):
Canada $6.0B
U.S. $439M
CORPORATE STRUCTURE:
The TDL Group Corp. employs over 1,800 people across their principal offices, regional offices, distribution centres and manufacturing facilities. The franchised restaurant locations retain a staff of over 83,000 people.
Project Summary
With new technologies and a growing population, Ontario’s electricity needs continue to grow. Seasonal periods of high demand can drive up wholesale prices and put a strain on the grid, affecting the reliability of everyone’s electricity. Under the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) Demand Response Contractual DR3 (DR3) program organizations such as Tim Hortons agree to make a firm commitment to reduce its energy use during periods of peak demand. In exchange, the participant receives an annual incentive from the OPA.
When Rodan Energy Inc., one of the authorized Demand Response Providers in the province approached Ken Hare, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability for Tim Hortons Distribution Limited, Guelph facility, with a proposal for participation in the DR3 program using the existing standby generators, he immediately recognized the economic, social and environmental benefits and commissioned Rodan Energy and their partner Safety Power Inc., to submit a detailed plan for executive consideration. “Although the business case submitted by Rodan Energy and Safety Power had a significant capital investment requirement,” said Ken Hare, “it proved to be a sound economic investment for the organization in addition to providing a positive environmental and social impact for the community, which is keeping with the company’s mission and vision for sustainable development.”
Technical Situation
In order to enroll a standby generator into the DR3 program with the intent of displacing grid supplied energy by drawing on the generator’s capacity, the Ontario Power Authority requires proof of environmental approvals issued by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
Under the Ministry of Environment regulation 010-2463, stationary generators operated in non-emergency scenarios must meet emission limits for NOx, PM, CO, and NMHC. These emission limits are amongst the most stringent in North America.
Solution
Safety Power is the global innovator and largest Canadian supplier of emission control products for large scale stationary engines. Safety Power’s proposal to reduce the air and noise emissions from the existing standby generators in order to meet the MOE emission limits was to retrofit the engine exhaust systems by installing Safety Power’s ecoCUBE™ emission control package, which included Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), and Hospital Plus Grade silencing in a single modular package. The compact design of the ecoCUBE™ along with some minor structural additions allowed for a simple retrofit of the engine’s exhaust system. Installation of the ecoCUBE™ reactor housing was completed in a few hours minimizing the downtime of the standby generators. The balance of the electrical and mechanical work was completed over a few weeks without impacting the availability of the generator.
Project Facts & Benefits
- ecoCUBE™ solution also provided 35 – 42dB[A] sound attenuation.
- Total capital cost of retrofit including permitting - $470,000 CAD.
- Simple payback – 3.5 years.
The Ontario Power Authority Demand Response DR3 program offers a compelling financial incentive to participants. Depending on where the load reduction is located on the Provincial electrical distribution system and the terms and seasonal criteria of the contracts between the participant and their Demand Response Provider, DR3 annual payments can be up to $130,000/Megawatt/Year.
“Participating in the OPA DR3 program was a natural fit for our organization”, said Ken Bohill who manages the plant and facilities at the largest of Horton’s distribution centers located in Guelph Ontario. “Energy costs are a significant portion of our annual operating costs so we are constantly assessing means of reducing those costs through best practices and the latest in energy efficient technologies.”
Rodan Energy Products and Services
Rodan is a leading North American smart grid company delivering integrated energy solutions to electricity consumers, distributors and power producers. Combining their expertise in metering, energy management and demand response, they are enhancing power system reliability, reducing energy costs and developing a sustainable energy future. Rodan Energy’s full suite of energy management solutions includes:
Metering & Smart Grid Services
Rodan Energy are one of the largest independent metering service providers (MSP) in North America.
EnerShift Demand Response
It’s easy. Reduce load, shift load or self generate. No cost, no risk, easy to enroll and a big payment for participation.
EnerVu Energy Monitoring and Shadow Billing
Let Rodan turn your raw energy data into meaningful information to improve energy productivity. Find out how.
Power Systems Engineering & Construction
Rodan Energy’s Generation Team has in-depth knowledge and industry experience, which are reflected in both the breadth and quality of the services they provide. This includes: feasibility assistance, regulatory submissions, connection impact assessments, metering, monitoring, settlement, project management and turn-key EPCM services.
Safety Power Products and Services
Safety Power Inc. designs and manufactures Selective Catalytic Reduction, Diesel Particulate Filter and Oxidation Catalyst after-treatment systems to control Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon emissions for diesel and natural gas engines. As a global innovator Safety Power make extensive use of advanced control technologies and Computational Fluid Dynamics to deliver state-of-the-art custom solutions. Safety Power provide complete environmental solutions that allow diesel and natural gas engines to meet all major global emissions standards with the smallest possible size and pressure drop. Safety Power’s design can integrate silencing into the emissions control products allowing a traditional silencer to be replaced by a fully integrated emissions solution. Safety Power offer a family of pre-engineered products that allow very flexible exhaust input and output connections allowing you to fit an emissions solution into any space.
Case Study - Tim Hortons Guelph Distribution Centre Commits to Reducing Peak Demand Power - Earn Significant Revenue
WEB Site – powerful tool for Consultants & Specifiers
Our new WEB site makes it easy to configure an emissions system for a large scale diesel or natural gas engine. The system will give you the approximate dimensions of the required ecoCUBEtm and a generic product specification.
At www.safetypower.ca go to the ecoCUBEtm tab. Select the engine manufacturer from the drop down list. Then select the engine from that manufacturer. Over 40 engine types are listed in our database, reflecting the large range of engines Safety Power has already configured. In the event your emgine is not in our database simply enter its emission parameters from the engine manufacturer’s spec sheets.
The next step is to specify what emissions reductions you require. You can choose from the list of various global regulatory requirements (ie Tier 4, Euro VI etc) or you can indicate which emissions you wish to mitigate. Simply follow through the remaining steps in the Configurator to identify the required inlet configuration, outlet configuration, mounting method and whether you would like silencing in the ecoCUBEtm. Once you have answered the required questions the Configurator gives you all of the associated drawing views and the associated dimensions. If you wish you can then send the output of the Configurator to Safety Power for a quote.
On the ecoCUBEtm main page you will find generic specifications included as WORD files. These can be easily downloaded and edited to suit the needs of your project.
MagRelieftm – important safety innovation for emission systems
The ecoCUBEtm system carefully monitors its overall pressure drop. It is important to maintain the overall pressure drop to a value within the engine manufacturer’s specification to avoid possible damage to the engine and to the ecoCUBEtm itself. While the ecoCUBEtm control system generates alarms associated with over-pressure there may be times that an operator does not or cannot respond (for example in the event of an engine backfire). When these safety conditions occur, the built in MagRelieftm valve opens to bypass components within the ecoCUBEtm. Once the over-pressure system is over, the MagRelieftm resets itself. The MagRelieftm valve is a patent pending device that uses temperature compensated magnetics (not springs which can drift based on the high exhaust temperature) to provide the holding and the automatic re-seating capability. A video showing the operation of the MagRelieftm valve on a 1 MW engine is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B3aiCxSVaA&feature=plcp
July 2012
2 New Projects Completed – Financial Data Centers
Safety Power Inc (SPI) has just finished commissioning two new installations with a total of ten Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems at two major data centers. Each project included the SCR reactor, Control & Dosing system, urea storage with a capacity for 72 continuous hours of operation at full-load and a duplex urea transfer pump system. For security reasons the name of the customer and the location of the data center cannot be released. Safety Power’s system provides emissions control for Caterpillar C175 engines. The Safety Power system was required to meet NOx reduction of 95%. Each of the CAT generator sets is capable of producing 3.2 MW of electrical power at full load. Safety Power has a large installed base of units at other financial data centers. “We are very pleased to be able to enhance our relationship with customers in the financial services business”, says Robert Desnoyers, President of Safety Power.
The financial institution hired an independent engineering firm to witness and validate the environmental performance of the Safety Power equipment. The detailed testing done by the independent engineering firm confirmed that the system exceeded its design target of 95% reduction of NOx across the complete load range for each generator.
FOxtm Module Test – eliminating smoke and odour
If you have a problem with smoke and odour from your diesel generator, the FOx module may be a perfect solution. The picture on the left shows a 100kW Tier 3 engine starting up without the FOx. On the right you can see the engine running with the FOx – no smoke or odour in this picture. Checkout a video taken of the test at: http://youtu.be/_t_-AMqJ4lM
April 2012
New Project Completed – Major Financial Data Center
Safety Power Inc (SPI) has just commissioned a new installation of 5 Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems at a major financial corporation’s data center. For security reasons the name of the corporation and the location of the data center cannot be released. Safety Power’s system provides emissions control for 5 Caterpillar 3516C HD engines. The Safety Power system was required to meet NOx reduction of 95% using a closed loop control system. Each of the CAT generator sets is capable of producing 2.5 MW of electrical power at full load. Safety Power has a large installed base of units at other financial data centers. “We are very pleased to be able to enhance our relationship with customers in the financial services business”, says Robert Desnoyers, President of Safety Power.
The financial institution hired an independent engineering firm to validate the environmental performance of the Safety Power equipment. The detailed testing done by the independent engineering firm confirmed that the system exceeded its design target of 95% reduction of NOx across the complete load range for each generator. These results make the system compliant with the current NOx requirements of Ontario Ministry of Environment EBR 010-2463 and meet the associated US EPA Tier 4 final targets. In addition to dramatically reducing the NOx emissions, noise and visible particulates are also significantly reduced.
Bob Charlton of Safety Power was responsible for the commissioning of the emissions systems. “The installation and start up of the equipment went smoothly. We are very appreciative of the excellent support we had from the engine supplier and the installation contractor.”
New Product Update from Robert Desnoyers
Robert is the President of Safety Power and has been with the Company since its inception in 2005. Robert started out his career in the Navy and has worked in several technology and management positions in the facilities and energy sector since then. Robert is a keen sailor (no doubt the call of the sea did not end after his Navy days) and hockey fan. We talked to Robert about some of the issues that we felt might be of interest to our readers. We asked Robert about some of the new products available from Safety Power.
“We are proud to release 2 new products that address key environmental concerns that have been raised raised by our customers: (1) For customers with existing, older installations of diesel generators there is a concern about odour and smoke (particulate matter). Many of these older installations have significant emissions of particulate matter. These installations typically have space and budget constraints. For these customers we offer our innovative FOxtm module. The FOxtm module reduces visible smoke dramatically (even for a cold start engine driving into a full load) and significantly reduces diesel odour. It is relatively low in cost and is easily installed even in locations where space is a premium.
(2) For new installations with NOx compliance issues many jurisdictions have a 30 minute averaging interval. When the generator is being tested this means that startup time of the SCR is critical. Our systems are designed with low temperature activation catalysts which allow us to achieve activation within less than 10 minutes. For applications which require even quicker activation we offer a preheat system.”
May 2011
New Projects – Major Financial Data Center
Safety Power has just commissioned a new installation of 3 Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems at a major financial corporation’s data center. For security reasons the name of the corporation and the location of the data center cannot be released. Safety Power’s system provides emissions control for 3 MTU 16V4000 G43 diesel powered generator sets. Each generator set is capable of producing 2MW of electrical power at full load. Safety Power has 4 units at another data center for this same financial corporation which was installed a few years ago. “We are very pleased to be able to continue our relationship with this important customer”, says Robert Desnoyers, President of Safety Power.
The Safety Power system met its design target of 90% reduction of NOx across a broad load range for each generator. These results make the system compliant with the current requirements of Ministry of Environment EBR 010-2463. In addition to dramatically reducing the NOx emissions, noise and visible particulates are also significantly reduced.
Ernie Arriesgado is CIM Project Co-ordinator for Harper Power Products, the engine supplier, “We were pleased with the support that Safety Power provided for the project. The installation and start up of their equipment went very smoothly.”
Emissions technology interview with Bob Charlton
Bob Charlton is the Engineering Director of Safety Power, a position he has held for the last 4 years. Bob has extensive experience in the process industries and has led project teams on many global projects. He is a recognized expert in advanced process control. Bob is committed to having a positive impact on the environment and prides himself on bringing a combination of practical experience and engineering discipline to his role. He is an ardent sailor and enjoys gardening. We talked to Bob about some of the issues he feels would be of interest to our readers.
Q: What are some of the trends that you see related to diesel and natural gas driven generator emissions systems?
We are seeing changes that can be grouped into 2 major sectors: technology driven trends and regulatory driven trends.
The technology driven trends relate to more effective use of the basic building blocks which go into these systems. This means increasing the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimize the systems from a size and cost standpoint. It also means the increased use of model based control algorithms to achieve ever higher levels of emissions reductions. We currently have projects on the design table which have target emissions reductions exceeding 95%. These targets cannot be achieved without highly effective technology. With increased emissions reductions we are also seeing a requirement to clearly validate the performance of the equipment. As a result it is becoming increasingly necessary to have remote monitoring so that the performance of the equipment can be validated on a 7/24 basis.
Of course, regulatory driven trends vary by jurisdiction. In Ontario new targets were established through EBR 010-2463 that specify NOx, Particulate Matter (PM) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) limits for reciprocating engines used to produce electricity for non-emergency use. The new targets can be achieved in a very cost effective manner as a result of the technology driven trends mentioned above. Many facilities, such as data centres, water treatment facilities and hospitals, are choosing to meet the targets outlined in EBR 010-2463 even if they do not have the intention of generating electricity for non-emergency use. Another Ontario based trend relates to the seismic requirements outlined in the Ontario Building Code. Many critical installations (especially data centres and hospitals) are specifying that the installed systems meet Ontario Building Code (2006) section 4.1.8. “Earthquake Load and Effects” and in particular section 4.1.8.17, “Elements of Structures, Non-Structural Components and Equipment”.
Q: What are some of the factors that are important to customers of your systems?
The factors vary depending on the lifecycle of the project. At installation and commissioning time the key factors are meeting the cost, schedule and environmental performance targets in a manner which integrates smoothly with the overall project. Once the project is completed a key factor becomes effective support and regular maintenance of the system.
Q: What types of air emissions issues does Safety Power Inc (SPI) deal with?
We deal with all of the traditional by-products of combustion: CO, NOx, Particulate Matter (PM) and unburned HydroCarbons (HC’s). We offer 3 technologies to deal with these emissions. These include NOx reduction (through our Selective Catalytic Reduction system), CO and HC reduction (using our oxidation catalyst) and finally PM reduction (through our particulate filter). Most of our installations focus on the NOX, CO and HC reduction by installing the SCR and the Oxidation Catalyst. This system reduces PM and provides 90% reduction in HC, CO and NOx. The net effect on a diesel generator is that there is very little visible smoke, virtual elimination of unpleasant diesel smells and a significant noise reduction at the exhaust of about 25 dB.
March 2010
New Projects – Toronto Hydro
Toronto Hydro serves over 18% of the electricity consumers in Ontario and employs over 1500 people making it one of the largest electricity distributors in Ontario. It serves 688,000 customers. Toronto Hydro has a deep commitment to environmental stewardship.
Toronto Hydro has an emergency standby generator system that provides backup for its main data centre, call centre and system operations centre. The emergency standby generator system consists of generators which run on 100% biodiesel. Safety Power has completed installation of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system on the 1.2 MW generator at their facility. The system dramatically reduces the NOx emissions, noise and visible particulate matter from the generator.
The Safety Power system is mounted on the roof of the facility. Safety Power was responsible for the design of the system, overall installation of the equipment and interfacing it to the existing diesel generator. The overall project was completed on time and on budget. Toronto Hydro has an annual maintenance contract with Safety Power to ensure the system continuously meets its environmental objectives.
Emissions technology interview with Robert Desnoyers
Robert Desnoyers, the President of Safety Power, has been involved with the Company since its founding in 2005. Robert’s family background includes a First Nations heritage. Ensuring our environment is protected is very important to him. Robert enjoys sailing and is an ardent hockey fan. We talked to Robert about some of the issues he feels would be of interest to our readers.
Q: Why has there been such a focus on emergency standby generator emissions lately?
In Ontario emissions from these units have traditionally been exempted by Regulation 419/05 which covers air emissions. Emergency standby generators (called Standby Power Sources in the Regulation) are covered under the Certificate of Approval Air (CAA). The biggest constraint for these emissions is generally NOx. NOx is a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The CAA process allows a Director of the Ministry to approve an installation that emits up to 1880 ug/m3 of NOx provided there are no sensitive receptors present. Most of the larger installations are now choosing to meet the lower 500 ug/m3 limit specified in Reg 419/05. Some are even choosing to meet a lower target of 350 ug/m3 NOx. There are varied reasons for this. In some cases there are health concerns (especially for hospitals and water pumping stations), in others (such as data centres) there is concern that their weekly testing cycle may be constrained if NOx is too high, in other cases there may be a desire to eliminate a tall stack that disperses the pollutants as opposed to removing them at the source. Whatever the reason, the technology to achieve these reductions is well proven and the incremental cost for large scale standby generators is relatively low if the system is “designed in”.
Q: What types of air emissions issues does Safety Power Inc (SPI) deal with?
We deal with all of the traditional by-products of combustion: CO, NOx, Particulate Matter (PM) and unburned HydroCarbons (HC’s). We offer 3 technologies to deal with these emissions. These include NOx reduction (through our Selective Catalytic Reduction system), CO and HC reduction (using our oxidation catalyst) and finally PM reduction (through our particulate filter). Most of our installations focus on the NOX, CO and HC reduction by installing the SCR and the Oxidation Catalyst. This system reduces PM and provides 90% reduction in HC, CO and NOx. The net effect on a diesel generator is that there is very little visible smoke, virtual elimination of unpleasant diesel smells and a significant noise reduction at the exhaust of about 25 dB.
In a future issue we will explore how the technology works to achieve these results.
November 2009
New Projects – York Region
York Region is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario. It spans an area that extends from Lake Simcoe in the north to Steeles Avenue in the south. Over 1 million people and almost 30,000 businesses call York Region home. York Region has always prided itself on environmental stewardship and ensuring it builds a strong sustainable energy portfolio. Safety Power has completed installation of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system on a 1 MW generator at York Region’s Aurora Pumping Station. The system dramatically reduces the NOx emissions from about 1200 ppm (parts per million) to around 100 ppm (a reduction of over 90%). Melloney Syrotiuk is the Sustainable Energy Initiatives Co-ordinator for York Region. “The Demand Response program offered by the Ontario Power Authority and operated by Rodan Energy has helped to ensure effective energy usage in York Region at critical times when the supply infrastructure is heavily constrained. This particular project enables us to use the Region’s existing generator in a way that increases our Demand Response capability and provides the opportunity to supply much needed peaking power to the region. The emission reductions achieved by Safety Power’s system will allow us to meet the provincial government’s stringent environmental standards.”
In addition Safety Power has completed the installation of electrical equipment which allows the system to reduce the electrical load on the grid. PowerStream, the Local Distribution Company, was a key proponent of the project. According to Brian Bentz, the President and CEO of PowerStream, “Peak electricity loads are a concern in many parts of Ontario. The system designed by Safety Power makes it possible to offset some of our electrical load during peak times. It was very important to us that any solution comply with the environmental requirements set up by the Ministry. To our knowledge this is the first application of a policy sanctioned by Ministry of Environment in February of 2009 that allows non-emergency use of standby generators provided stringent environmental limits are met.”
The Safety Power engineering team was very pleased with the results of the project. Bob Charlton is Safety Power’s Director of Engineering. Bob’s assessment is that “the Aurora Project met all of our technology targets. We also used the site to test our new closed loop control system. This new system employs sophisticated model based control technology and new sensor technology which allows us to easily reach NOx reductions that exceed 90%. This puts our system at the leading edge of the technology for large scale engines.” New Ministry of Environment (MOE) Policy
In February 2009 MOE published a new policy through its Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) process. This policy received extensive stakeholder input. The net effect of this policy is that any reciprocating engine based generator (whether run on natural gas or diesel fuel), provided it meets stringent emissions requirements, can be utilized beyond its original intended emergency use. For example engines that realize appropriate emissions limits can be used in non-emergency applications such as Demand Response. This allows the generator to participate in attractive programs offered by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). In order to qualify it is necessary for the generator to obtain a new Certificate of Approval (CofA) for the air emissions and for the generator to comply with more stringent emissions limits. Many generator owners are planning to comply with the new policy even if they have no aspirations to use their generator for Demand Response applications. Robert Desnoyers is the President of Safety Power and has been involved closely with MOE during the verification of Safety Power’s technology through extensive testing over the last 3 years. According to Robert, “by equipping their generators with our technology, asset owners significantly reduce the risk that there will be potential future health issues or complaints from neighbours. Our technology offers significant emissions reductions and is well proven in many installations in Canada.”
September 2009
