DILEMMA
Ships are a major source of Port air pollution and Ports around the world are under increasing pressure to reduce this pollution.
SOLUTION
Advanced Cleanup Technologies Inc.
ACTI
Advanced Maritime Emissions Control System
AMECS
BACKGROUND
Advanced Cleanup Technologies, Inc. is an environmental services and manufacturing company.
Our services and product line fall into three broad segments:
- 24-Hour Emergency Spill Response
- Environmental & Industrial Services
- Green Technology & Manufacturing
In 2008, Advanced Cleanup Technologies Inc. successfully tested Advanced Maritime Emissions Control System (AMECS) at the Port of Long Beach. AMECS removes criteria pollutants, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Oxides (SOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) from exhaust gases from auxiliary engines and boilers while ships are hotelling.
The testing was sponsored by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Industry representatives, air quality regulators and government officials attended a demostration of AMECS at the dock in the Port of Long Beach. AMECS consists of a bonnet that is placed over the ship's stack at berth or anchorage to collect emissions from the exhaust stack. The captured emissions are conveyed through a duct to a dock or barge mounted Emission Treatment System (ETS). The ETS removes 95-99% of the NOx, SOx and PM pollutants emitted from the stack.
The system is currently located in the Port of Long Beach. The capacity of the AMECS demonstrated in Long Beach is 12,000 SCFM. System capacities may be scaled accordingly to accommodate various ship sizes. An AMECS with a capacity of over 50,000 SCFM is now being designed.
TECHNOLOGY
Exhaust Capture System
The Bonnet
Using a specially designed crane, a bonnet is lifted over and remotely secured to the exhaust stack of the ship. The Bonnet, which is designed to fit over a wide variety of ship stacks, collects the exhaust gas. A seal closes the open area between the perimeters of the bonnet and ship's stack to limit the amount of tramp air entering the bonnet as well as to prevent exhaust gases from escaping. The gases from the ship's auxiliary engines and the boilers are conveyed at a slight vacuum through a flexible duct to the dock or barge mounted Emission Treatment System (ETS) where the pollutants are removed.
Emissions Treatment System
The Pre-Conditioning Chamber
The ETS utilizes a Pre-Conditioning Chamber (PCC), which is a counter-flow spray system that removes particulate matter (PM) and water soluble VOC's. The spray water is dosed with sodium hydroxide to simultaneously remove SOx. Larger PM particles are removed by the PCC water spray and filtered. The cleaned water is re-circulated back to the PCC. In the PCC, the water spray cools the exhaust gas and aggregates particles into larger agglomerations that are more efficiently captured in the Cloud Chamber Scrubber (CCS).
The Cloud Chamber Scrubbers
Three Cloud Chamber Scrubbers (CCS), developed by Tri-Mer Corp., remove the remaining PM. The CCS located downstream of the PCC are very effective at removing the smaller PM particles. These units generate a fog of very fine water droplets with a high electrical charge. The charged water droplets attract and capture multiple PM particles. The PM laden water is circulated through filters where the PM is removed. The three cloud chambers are identical except for the polarity of the charge imparted to the water droplets. Sodium hydroxide is metered into the water streams of both the PCC and the CCS to remove sulfur oxides which are converted into the water-soluble salt, sodium sulfate. When a predetermined concentration of this salt accumulates in the water, some of the water is discharged into the sewer system.
The Selective Catalytic Reduction Reactor The Selective Catalytic Reduction Reactor (SCR), provided by Argillon Corp., removes NOx. Liquid urea is injected into the hot gas stream ahead of the SCR just downstream of the heater. The urea is converted to ammonia by the hot gas. The ammonia reacts with the NOx while passing through the catalyst to form a nitrogen and water vapor, which are vented to atmosphere. The SCR Reactor is designed to remove at least 99% of the oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
The Continuous Emissions Monitoring System
A Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) measures emissions in and out of the ETS. This system is used both to measure system pollutant removal efficiency and to control the injection of sodium hydroxide and urea.
The Future
ACTI is also preparing to build a barge based AMECS system in which the entire ETS and ECS are placed on a barge. The barge mounted unit offers flexibility to move from vessel to vessel to remove criteria pollutants from the vessel’s exhaust gas while the vessel is hotelling. We are also developing the use of a “direct connect” system, tying into each exhaust pipe inside the stack.
CONTACT INFORMATION
At ACTI, we are a diverse team of professionals whose expertise is implemented through our disciplined approach to solving complex issues and it is our continued commitment to provide quality and innovative environmental solutions.
Advanced Cleanup Technologies, Inc.
18414 S. Santa Fe Avenue
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221
Toll free: 800.334.2284
Phone: 310.763.1423
Fax: 310.763.9076
E-mail: mstewart@actird.com
Website: www.advancedcleanup.com
FOR SALES
Matt Stewart