AIR-311E: NOx Control for Industrial and Utility Applications

Time to Complete:

This course will take approximately 10 hours to complete. Registrants will have 4 weeks to complete the course. Note: Once registered in the A&WMA E-Learning Center, students will have unlimited access to their Student Notebook and Transcripts. (For more information about these features, click here.)

Promotional Overview:

This intermediate course is focused on control of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for industrial heating equipment, including boilers, kilns, fired heaters, furnaces, and thermal oxidizers, as well as coal-fired boilers and gas turbines used for power production. Economical "front-end" changes in combustion equipment and more expensive "end-of-pipe" post-combustion controls are covered. United States regulations that affect allowable NOx levels are also reviewed. The knowledge gained in the course will allow attendees to comply with myriad regulations and promote safe and economical operation. Please note, although this course is based on U.S. regulations, information may be able to be applied in other countries.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites, however, a scientific, engineering, or operations background would be beneficial, as would some knowledge of industrial applications (e.g., steam boilers, gas turbines).

Outline:

The curriculum is divided into four modules:

Module 1: Introduction to the Course

Module 2: Combustion

1. Combustion Basics
2. Combustion Calculations
3. Alternate Fuels
4. Miscellaneous Combustion Issues and References

Module 3: NOx Control for Stationary Industrial Applications

1. NOx Formation, Emissions, & Estimation
2. NOx Regulations
3. NOx Control Methods, Stack Gas Sampling, CEMs, Controls, and Monitors
4. Cost Data and Case Studies
5. NOx Costing Tool Program Information

Module 4: NOx Control for Utility Applications

1. Coal Fired Boilers
2. Gas Turbines and Diesel Generators

Participants are expected to follow the course curriculum as indicated through the modules. This will involve viewing the module pages and following links to a variety of information, exercises, and discussions. The course will proceed in a linear fashion, in that one part of the curriculum (page, section, module, etc.) must be completed before moving on to the next. More specific guidance is provided in each course offerings' schedule. Following completion of the modules, participants will complete a final exam.

Objectives:

The learning objectives include:

• Why NOx must be controlled
• How it can be controlled by front-end (combustion related) and back-end (end-of-pipe add on controls)
• What are the major regulations and levels that are required for primary sources
• How to comply with regulations and promote safe and economical operation

Audience:

The intended audience is personnel that are involved in purchasing, operating, designing, and regulating thermal and chemical systems to reduce NOx emissions. The types of firms needing this course are electric utilities; chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical firms; pulp and paper; stone, clay, and glass; general manufacturing; waste treatment firms with thermal processes; engineering firms; consultants; and regulators. Firms with very high temperature processes and high NOx emissions rates, such as cement kilns and pulverized coal boilers, and those located in non-attainment areas are particular candidates for this course.

Instructor: Thomas F. McGowan, P.E. President TMTS Associates, Inc. Atlanta, GA

Thomas F. McGowan, P.E. has worked for 30 years in engineering of thermal systems and air pollution control. He is President of TMTS Associates, Inc., an engineering consulting firm working on combustion, air pollution control, and thermal treatment systems. He was formerly a Principal of Four Nines, Inc., (later sold to RMT, Inc) and head of the Atlanta office. Previous employment includes serving as Vice President of Thermal Destruction at Envirite and Manager of Technology at American Combustion. He received a US DOE National Energy Award, and is holder of patent No. 4,601,730. He is a contributor to Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 7th ed., and McGraw Hill Standard Handbook of Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal, 2nd ed. Mr. McGowan is the primary author of NOx Control for Stationary Sources, A&WMA, 1995 and a co-author of The Industrial Wood Energy Handbook, Van Nostrand 1984. He has authored numerous papers, journal, and magazine articles on energy, pollution control, waste treatment, thermal processes, and solids handling.

Tom has been an instructor for A&WMA and ASME combustion and air pollution control courses for more than a decade and has provided in-house training courses for multiple clients. He gave a half-day shortcourse "NOx Control For Stationary Sources: Special Utility Edition," at The 5th Annual EUEC Conference, Tucson, AZ, January 25, 2002, sponsored by EPA, DOE, EPRI, EEI. He also presented, with co-instructor Joe Santoleri, "NOx Control for Stationary Sources," an 8 hour shortcourse presented at A&WMA International Conference on Acid Rain and Electric Utilities, Tempe, AZ, January 22, 1995.

Tom’s educational background includes:M.S., Industrial Management, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 1985; M.S., Chemical Engineering, Manhattan College, New York, NY, 1974; and B.S., Chemical Engineering, Manhattan College, New York, NY, 1972.

System Requirements:

• There are no computer hardware requirements.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or better, or Netscape 4.7 or better, is required. You can check your browser version by pulling down the "Help" menu on your menu bar and clicking on "About...". To download the most recent version of either browser, click Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator.
• The browser must be configured to accept cookies.
• Your browser should be set to enable JavaScript. In Netscape, this is typically accomplished by pulling down the "Edit" menu, clicking on "Preferences", then selecting "advanced", and checking the "Enable JavaScript" check box.
• Recommend: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat Reader

Registration Fees:

Please review the System Requirements (above) and the Registration Information before enrolling in an online course.

Four-Week Online Course: $390 Members, $555 Nonmembers

Click here to register online with a credit card, or download a registration form (see right).