NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                    FEBRUARY 2016

Rapid Changes in the DeNO_x Market

The market to reduce NO_x from stationary and mobile sources is changing rapidly due to two factors:  regulations and innovations.  More stringent regulations in one country have a cascade effect resulting in increased stringency in many countries. Innovations in one industry eventually lead to incorporation in other industries but the pace at which this occurs is too slow. It is, therefore, necessary to take a worldwide holistic approach to NO_x reduction.

Regulations

China is the most recent country to embrace NO_x control for stationary sources.  A $20 billion investment has been made in adding selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to most coal-fired power plants.   Some sort of NO_x reduction device is now common for waste incineration and cement plants.  Gas turbines in the U.S. are held to such low emissions that they must install SCR.  Europe is considering equally stringent levels but presently is more lenient.

The most widely publicized regulatory dispute involves mobile sources.  Diesel powered vehicles in motion are found to emit much more NO_x than had been predicted through stationary measurements.  As a result, the market for SCR for mobile sources will rise at double-digit rates over the next few years.

Innovations

The ability to add DeNO_x capability to particulate filters promises to greatly reduce capital cost.  Several companies are offering lower temperature (350°F) combinations.  Others offer combinations which operate at 850°F.  Acid gas removal can also be achieved, so that one device is removing three pollutants.  Glass, biomass and incineration plants have added these 3 in 1 filters.  The coal-fired power industry needs to evaluate this success and determine if the technology is entirely transferrable.

The refinery industry has successfully used ozone generators combined with wet scrubbers to meet its DeNO_x requirements.  At the very least other industries should consider this technology as potentially complimentary to SCR.

The use of hydrogen peroxide in combination with scrubbers is another successful approach but one so far not widely used.

The cross pollination is highest for suppliers of reagents and catalysts.  Johnson Matthey is supplying both stationary and mobile catalysts.  Yara is supplying the urea and ammonia for all the applications.  Delivery is straightforward for the large stationary applications.  However, for AdBlue, the water, urea mix for diesel vehicles, the needs are for large numbers of delivery points with small quantities.

McIlvaine is facilitating the cross pollination in multiple ways.  A webinar is scheduled for March 24, in which technology in coal-fired power generation, cement manufacturing, waste-to-energy, steel and diesel vehicles will be shared. There is no charge to participate. Click Here to Register

The decision guides and recordings of discussions are displayed in the FGD & DeNOx Knowledge System.  Information on this service is shown at:  3ABC FGD and DeNOx Knowledge Systems.

This information is also included in the market report N035 NOx Control World Market