Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Technical Sessions
T1: Emerging Challenges in Boiler Chemistry
IWC Rep: Colleen Scholl, P.E., HDR, Whitewater, WI
Session Chair: John Dorminey, Chevron, Pascagoula, MI
Discussion Leader: Aizaz Ahmed, Nova Chemicals Corporation, Calgary, AB, Canada
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This session aims to share best practices, case studies, and technical insights related to boiler water treatment and steam system reliability in various industrial settings. Papers touch on effective collaboration across organization to treat challenging boiler water applications, overcoming equipment design limitations to improve steam purity, evaluating film forming amine alternatives for condensate treatment, and adapting boiler treatment programs to boiler water pretreatment upgrades.
IWC 24-29: Considerations When Changing BFW Quality to Industrial Steam Generators & Waste Heat
Robert Bryant, Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, Missouri City, TX
This paper will discuss things to consider when BFW (boiler feedwater) quality changes occur. Contingency plans are often discussed regarding what to do regarding makeup water or condensate contamination. However, upgrading the makeup water pretreatment scheme can also significantly change the BFW and should be considered. Overall, upgrading makeup water quality should be a positive for your steam cycle equipment, but there are some potential pitfalls to avoid.
Discusser: Edward Beardwood, Beardwood Consulting & Technologies Inc., London, Ontario, Canada
IWC 24-30: Evaluation of a Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) Waste Heat Boiler (WHB) Steam Separator Performance, Boiler Chemistry & Steam System Reliability
Christopher Day, Chevron Technical Center, a Division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Houston, TX
This paper explores a Waste Heat Boiler (WHB) steam drum and separator design issues, boiler water chemistry and the shortcomings of steam drum internals modifications. Also discussed are proposed modifications to improve steam separator performance and steam system reliability. Design parameters for the steam drum, steam risers and steam separation equipment were evaluated with observations to explain physical damage and performance gaps. Discussion includes a WHB HTRI model developed to evaluate impacts of potential modifications.
IWC 24-31: TLE Water Quality: Leveraging Cross-Organizational Collaboration to Improve Chemistry Control and Increase Steam System Reliability
Jacob Tilley, Veolia WTS, Prairieville, LA; Anna Akker, ExxonMobil; Carl Peterson, Veolia
Water chemistry control within the ethylene unit can be complex due to shared responsibility of the operating organization and the third-party water chemistry partner. Building a successful partnership between the two depends heavily on agreed standard quality control practices, active communication and clearly outlined responsibilities and expectations. Without this cross-organizational collaboration, TLE and overall ethylene plant reliability can be compromised. A business case for this collaboration promoting control and reliability of a steam system will be presented.
IWC 24-32: Application of Film Forming Substances
Dale Stuart, Chemtreat, Glen Allen, VA; Robert Jeffers, Ashland, VA
A review of film forming substance applications and how to measure their success. A discussion about research and experience comparing methods used to convey a successful application from water droplet formation to iron residual monitoring.
Discusser: Gregg Robinson, Solenis LLC, Wilmington, DE
T2: Water for the Energy Transition – focus on hydrogen and carbon capture – without ‘blue’ there can be no ‘green’
IWC Rep: William Kennedy, P.E., Stantec, Charlotte, NC
Session Chair: Andrew Hodgkinson, Worley, Clifton Hill, VC, Australia
Discussion Leader: Juvencio Casanova, Veolia WTS, Houston, TX
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Without water, there can be no hydrogen. Burgeoning demand for green hydrogen requires hitherto unthinkably large quantities of ultrapure water. How will this be done in practice? What are the implications for treatment processes? Wastewater? Carbon capture in the huge tonnages in prospect also depends critically upon reliable supply and management of water and salinity. This session will the address big picture issues and also delve into some important details in these key energy transition enabling technologies – water for green hydrogen and carbon capture.
IWC 24-33: Water Considerations for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Systems
Keith Ambrose, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA; Kirk Ellison, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Charlotte, NC
IWC 24-34: Economic Considerations for Optimizing the Balance of Water Efficiency and Water Stewardship in Clean Hydrogen
Jesse Toepfer, Stantec Consulting, Inc., Fairfax, VA
Everything is relative. When energy production is scrutinized as a function of time, money, waste, water footprint, and carbon footprint, the question of hydrogen as a viable energy source becomes an effort to achieve an “optimum entropic balance” between production, economic cost, and environmental impact. This paper will present holistic financial and non-financial comparisons of selected water processes involved in clean hydrogen production.
Discusser: Liron Ophek, IDE Technologies, Kadima, Israel
IWC 24-35: The Role of Clean Water for a Robust and Reliable Production of Green Hydrogen
Jordi Bacardit, DuPont Water Solutions, Tarragona, Spain; Matt Roth, DuPont Water Solutions, Wilmington, DE
Green Hydrogen, which is produced by water electrolysis, has emerged as a central topic in the pursue of global decarbonization. Water quality can influence the lifetime of electrolyzers’ parts, and efficiency of electrolysis. This work will focus on water aspects of electrolysis, in particular for proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, including water quality and specific pollutants, treatment needs, a holistic view of treatment schemes, and with special emphasis on the challenges of PEM recirculation loops and its specific polishing requirements
Discusser: Alexander McDonald, Xylem, Missouri City, TX
IWC 24-36: Special Ion Exchange Resin Process for Treating Process Water in PEM Electrolysis for Green Hydrogen Production
Hans-Juergen Wedemeyer, LANXESS Deutschland GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Zhendong Liu, Ph.D., LANXESS Corporation, Birmingham, NJ
Because of the fact that green hydrogen is needed in the future energy supplying, we are expecting PEM electrolysis will play an important role in the transition towards a hydrogen economy. For the process is demineralized water needed and also a solution to remove ion impurities from the big PEM water cycles. The paper will show an effective way to have a stable water quality do this with ultrapure ion exchangers for the water treatment.
Discusser: Kaitlyn Clark, Purolite, an Ecolab Company, King of Prussia, PA
T3: Emerging Water Challenges and Opportunities in the Energy Industry
IWC Rep: Brandon Delis, EPRI, Charlotte, NC
Session Chair: Michael Bluemle, Solenis, LLC, Wilmington, DE
Discussion Leader: Mark Owens, UCC Environmental, Waukegan, IL
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The growth of emerging energy technologies, such as carbon capture, green hydrogen, and lithium-ion batteries, has increased water demand and created water sourcing challenges. Like thermal power generation plants, these developing industries require water streams of varying quality for cooling, steam generation, and direct process usage. This session provides project examples of water conservation, wastewater treatment, and lithium extraction, while examining the potential impact of decarbonization technologies on the design and operation of industrial plants.
IWC 24-37: Energy Transition Water Needs – Operational Implications and Resolutions
Kathryn VanderEspt, Electric Power Research Institute, Louisville, KY
This paper will utilize calculated water usage rates for decarbonization technologies to determine impacts to plant operations. Discussions will focus on the energy transition’s potential implications for plant structures and development, such as intake structures, pollutant discharges, and thermal discharges. While water will be the focus, other environmental-related considerations that must be addressed for successful implementation of low-carbon technologies will be included. Afterwards, resolutions for discussed complications will be suggested, such as the utilization of alternative water sources.
Discusser: Kenneth Chen, P.E., Brown and Caldwell, Las Vegas, NV
IWC 24-38: Dealing with Ammonia in Wastewater from Carbon Capture Projects
Dave Guinta, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO; Ali Khan, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO
Discusser: Jack Ma, UCC Environmental, Waukegan, IL
IWC 24-39: Full Scale Comparison of Multimedia and Ultrafiltration for Pretreatment to Reverse Osmosis
William Sellerberg, P.E., Con Edison, New York, NY; Gary Thorn, P.E., Con Edison, New York, NY; Joe Habib, Wigen Water Technologies, Chaska, MN; Joseph Kelly, DuPont, Tully, NY; Jordan B. Cancel, Con Edison, New York, NY; Justin Noehre, New York, NY
This paper illustrates the overall improvement of a filtration and RO system for a boiler feed application. The work evaluates the temporary side-by-side performance of two different pretreatment filtration technologies (MMF and UF) which simultaneously received the same influent water. The study then quantifies the volume of water conserved through the increased RO efficiency and partial concentrate recovery. The results highlight both a clear sustainability benefit as well as a compelling financial return.
Discusser: HC Liang, Ph.D., PChem, BQE Water, Vancouver, BC, Canada
IWC 24-40: Lithium Extraction using Lithium Aluminum Double Hydroxide: A Kinetic Model-Based Optimization
Leslie Miller, OLI Systems, Reston, VA; AJ Gerbino, OLI Systems, Parsippany, NJ
Lithium aluminum double hydroxide (LADH) is a promising technology for direct lithium extraction (DLE). This study develops a kinetic model for the LADH DLE process using lab data and process simulations to optimize extraction. The validated model suggests that lab data, combined with thermodynamic simulations, can design, scale up, and optimize LADH DLE plants, assessing process variability impacts without additional experimentation.
T4: IWC’s First Ever Food and Beverage Session
IWC Rep: Lyndsey Wiles Pence, ZwitterCo, Los Osos, CA
Session Chair: Anthony Amendola, Newterra, Coraopolis, PA
Discussion Leader: Bill Malyk, WSP Global, Cambridge, ON, Canada
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The Food and Beverage industry, including agriculture, accounts for ~70% of the freshwater consumption of the world. Now more than ever due to environmental regulations, internal sustainability/ESG objectives, and consumer demands, Food and Beverage companies are looking at ways to minimize water use in their production facilities, as well as reuse water for both direct and indirect purposes.
In this first ever Food and Beverage Technical Session in IWC history, the speakers will discuss regulatory impacts related to wastewater treatment and water reuse in the Food & Beverage industry, and share strategies and case studies to help the industry overcome challenges and concerns with implementing solutions to solve this very important need.
IWC 24-41: Advancing Water Reuse Within the Beverage Industry
Norton Fogel, GHD, Farmington Hills, MI; Theresa Mazure, PepsiCo, Bradenton, FL; Paula Kehoe, San Franscico Water, San Franscico, CA; Brian Arntsen, Veolia, Oakville, ON, Canada; Peter Capponi, GHD; Paul Bowen, GHD, Clemson, SC; Greg Fogel, WateReuse, Alexandria, VA; Lydia Silber, WateReuse, Alexandria, VA
Complex water challenges motivated a diverse group of corporations, regulators (include FDA), consultants, and technology providers to develop a road map for water recycling in beverage manufacturing. This group published a USEPA WRAP white paper in March 2024, which identifies priorities challenges, solutions, and tactics to enable water reuse by beverage manufacturers. In this paper, we will summarize activities that have taken place since the publication of the paper and seek feedback from IWC attendees for next steps.
Discusser: Anthony Zamarro, P.E., CDM Smith, Boston, MA
IWC 24-42: Comprehensive Reuse at Bush Brothers Facility
Houston Flippin, Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN; Michael Mecredy, Brown and Caldwell, Nashville, TN; Joe Wong, Brown and Caldwell, Walnut Creek, CA; Charlie Gregory, Brown and Caldwell, Atlanta, Georgia; Terry Dockery, Bush Brothers & Company, Dandridge, TN
Drought resilience and greater nitrogen removal prompted a new award-winning facility which has been operational for 6 years. Facility provides screening, anaerobic treatment, biological nutrient removal in a membrane bioreactor and 30 percent effluent reuse following reverse osmosis treatment. Circular economy entails screenings as cattle feed, biogas as boiler feed, effluent as utility water and irrigation supply, and biosolids as onsite and offsite soil amendment.
Discusser: Otto Morales, Stantec, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
IWC 24-43: Impact of new Part 432 ELG regulations on the Meat Packing Industry
Brian Mulinix, HDR, Omaha, NE
Meat processing industries are a vital component of our country’s food supply. EPA published modifications to 40 CFR Part 432 Meat and Poultry Products regulations that include reducing total nitrogen effluent, adding a total phosphorus limit, new pretreatment standards for indirect dischargers, and other limits. This paper will review regulation impact on these facilities and present several case study analyses for direct and indirect dischargers on how these facilities can achieve lower effluent limits.
IWC 24-44: Novel Zwitterionic Membranes Enable High-Strength Food & Beverage Wastewater Treatment & Reuse
Christopher Roy, ZwitterCo, Woburn, MA; Andrew Hunt, ZwitterCo, Woburn, MA
The application of zwitterionic membranes to treat increasingly challenging wastewater streams continues to expand with successful pilot demonstrations in the Food & Beverage wastewater segment. This paper focuses on the award winning and patented zwitterionic membrane chemistry that is immune to irreversible organic fouling and its application to recover both clean water and valuable biocides for reuse while reducing treatment costs in meat and poultry plants.
Discusser: Ed Greenwood, P.Eng., BCEE, WSP Global, Cambridge, ON, Canada