The The Electrical Power Research Institute releases a report highlighting Airborne Clean Energy

April 19, 2006

EPRI (the Electrical Power Research Institute of the United States) has released a 106-page report titled: Status of Integrated Emission Control Process Development.  This report briefly discusses almost 50 different pollution control systems but provides an in depth technical and commercial review of the Airborne Clean Energy Process.  The report develops more information on Airborne than any other technology with the inclusion of 10 pages of very comprehensive information. 

The following are quotes from the report:  

Airborne Process 

The Airborne Process™ uses a sodium bicarbonate scrubbing technology combined with post scrubbing oxidants to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur trioxide (SO3), nitrous oxide (NOx), and mercury (Hg) from combustion flue gases, while producing a saleable fertilizer byproduct. Additionally, the process removes other heavy metals and toxics release inventory substances, such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and hydrofluoric (HF) acid.
Flue gas desulfurization using sodium carbonate or bicarbonate has been previously identified as a highly effective process. However, sodium reagent costs are often economically prohibitive, and the sodium sulfite byproduct can pose a disposal problem. Airborne Clean Energy (ACE) has developed a process where the sodium sulfite byproduct can be used to regenerate sodium bicarbonate reagent, while simultaneously producing an agricultural grade fertilizer. 
The Airborne Process™ has demonstrated 99.5% capture of both SO2 and SO3 when the combination of dry/wet process is utilized. 
Airborne has demonstrated … two (oxidants) solutions that effectively absorbed both NOx and Hg … and removed both NOx and Hg at levels near 100%. 
ACE has a proprietary granulation process that significantly improves the mechanical properties of the fertilizer, producing a round uniform sphere of high strength that dissolves quickly in the soil.

The regeneration component of the Airborne Process™ was successfully demonstrated at Airborne’s commercial sodium sulfate mine in Ormiston, Saskatchewan, Canada.  The demonstration plant at Ormiston produced a 98%+ sodium bicarbonate product and 99%+ ammonium sulfate from a sodium sulfate feed stream. 
The cost comparison … indicates that the Airborne Process™ is a viable alternative for boilers firing PRB, bituminous, and lignite coals. 
Credit for sale of the ammonium sulfate co-product results in significantly lower operating costs than the base cases for all three coals. This effect is most pronounced for higher sulfur coals, making the technology especially appealing for boilers firing bituminous and lignite coals.

“Airborne is excited that the EPRI report captures the technical and commercial excellence of our technology” said Murray Mortson P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of Airborne Clean Energy.

The complete report number 000000000001010338is available as a PDF file from the EPRI website www.epri.com