Educational Seminars on Thermal & Catalytic Oxidation Technologies

Educational Seminars on Thermal & Catalytic Oxidation Technologies

As one of the largest and long-standing manufacturers of thermal and catalytic oxidizers, Anguil Environmental always strives to educate consulting engineers, regulators and end users on system operation, components, features and capabilities. For a limited time, we are offering a complimentary course on oxidation technologies to interested firms in the environmental field. The educational seminar entitled An Introduction to Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) & Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) Abatement Systems will cover:

• • The Principles of Oxidation
  • An Overview of Emission Control Technologies
    • Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs)
    • Catalytic Oxidizers
    • Thermal Recuperative Oxidizers
    • Direct Fired Oxidizers & Vapor Combustors
    • Emission Concentrators

Operating Cost Comparison & Reduction Strategies

The presentation will also address applicable industries and applications, unique air streams, concentration ranges, Destruction Rate Efficiency (DRE), operating costs, available options and equipment selection.

Contact Anguil today to schedule a meeting either at your office or via a webinar. Depending on your local requirements, attendees may qualify for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or Continuing Education Credits/Units (CECs/CEUs).

Publisher Interview with Chris Anguil

AC: Could you please provide our readers with a brief introduction to the industries that Anguil Environmental works within?

CA: Our thermal and catalytic oxidizer systems are applied on any industrial process that is regulated for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) or Nitrogen Oxides (NOX). Some of these industries include chemical processing, pharmaceutical, automotive, composites, petroleum, printing and ethanol but there are several applications in miscellaneous industries that are also regulated.

Domestically, the control of these off-gases are enforced under the Clean Air Act but regulations are taking hold throughout the world and we are prepared to handle the increased demand. With regards to the chemical processing industry specifically, it has long been regulated for these emissions.

The applications where oxidizers are applied in a chemical plant can vary greatly in both volume and composition. I think our ability to supply custom air pollution control solutions has been crucial to our success on applications in this industry.

AC: How has Anguil Environmental grown and changed since the company was founded in 1978?

CA: Anguil has evolved into a global solutions provider, not just an equipment manufacturer. We did this while holding onto our family founded principals without the financial backing that many larger corporations have access to. There are challenges to organic growth but I think there is also value in the experiences learned. We are continually looking for ways to improve our offering by utilizing the strengths of our employees.

One of our more recent growth initiatives was implementing a process improvement program called Stage Gate. It forced us to take a closer look at how business is routed through our company. We are much more methodical about our project management now which has reduced errors and dramatically improved efficiencies.

Essentially a project cannot move to the next stage of production without making sure certain checks and balances have been met. That’s not to say that an engineer can’t still walk drawings on to the shop floor to expedite a project but they won’t start cutting metal until certain criteria is met. Ultimately we are able to offer customers a higher quality system at a lower price.

AC: Why is it important that companies operating in the Chemical Processing Industry use emission control technology and have strategies in place to deal with the process emissions they produce?

CA: When left untreated, VOCs and HAPs degrade in the presence of sunlight and contribute to low-lying ozone, or smog. In addition to their harmful effects on trees, plants and wildlife; VOCs and HAPs are known to cause respiratory ailments, birth defects, heart conditions, nervous system damage and cancer in humans.

Chemical companies that invest in the procurement, operation and maintenance of their air pollution control systems will see benefits in the form of lower operating costs, higher destruction efficiency, fewer shutdowns and a smaller carbon footprint.

AC: What kinds of emission control strategies and technologies can Anguil Environmental offer to organisations currently operating in the chemical process industry?

CA: Anguil has almost 40 years of experience supplying thermal and catalytic oxidizers to companies around the world that manufacture chemicals like Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), Polyethylene Terephthalic (PET) and formaldehyde. Other chemical related installations include the production of paints, coatings, adhesives, and resins; all of which are equally as challenging from a pollution prevention perspective.

AC: What are the key considerations to take into account when deciding upon the type of oxidizer technology which is best suited for a chemical processing application?

CA: Oxidizer selection is based on airflow, temperature, contaminants and concentrations. It is important to consider these process parameters as well as the destruction requirements and efficiency needs when determining which type of oxidation technology to apply on a given process. Since oxidizers are designed for worst case scenario it is important to fully evaluate and understand your operating conditions.

Chemical companies can lower the capital cost of an air pollution control project by making process modifications upstream that reduce the size and workload of an oxidizer downstream. This is where working with an established and experienced oxidizer supplier will really pay dividends.

AC: How does Anguil Environmental differentiate itself from its competitors in the emission control market?

CA: Each one of the oxidation technologies uses high temperature combustion in a unique manner with distinct advantages for varying process conditions. The fact that we offer all of the abatement and concentration technologies gives us a distinct advantage over our competitors. It ensures that our customers get an unbiased equipment recommendation based on their process conditions, destruction requirements, and efficiency demands.

For example, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs) are arguably the most widely applied abatement technology on the market. However, catalytic oxidizers have a distinct advantage on many chemical processing off-gases. We routinely run capital and operating cost comparisons for chemical companies so they can make an informed decision.

Our service capabilities also differentiate us from most competitors. Anguil has almost four decades of experience servicing thousands of oxidizers of all makes and models. In today’s volatile market there aren’t many of our competitors that can make that claim. The fact is quite a few of our service customers own oxidizers from manufacturers that just aren’t around anymore. In fact last year we serviced systems made by 20 different oxidizer manufacturers.

AC: Do you have any recent case studies from the chemical processing industry which you are particularly proud of?

CA: It’s always gratifying when existing customers comes back to us for a new oxidizer system. One such customer in the Middle East had purchased a catalytic oxidizer from us back in 1990’s for their PTA plant process. When the plant decided to double production capabilities they asked us to take a look at the oxidizer options. We replaced their existing Anguil catalytic oxidizer with two, energy-efficient Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs).

When compared to the old catalytic oxidizer, the new RTOs collectively emit 5,000 fewer tons per year of CO2 emissions and 5 tons each year of NOX emissions, which corresponds to approximately 10 MMBTU/hr of reduced auxiliary fuel consumption.

The plant essentially doubled the capacity of the abatement device, lowered operating costs and reduced their carbon footprint all while achieving greater than 98% destruction of the targeted pollutants.

AC: How do you see the emission control industry progressing over the next ten years and how do you see Anguil Environmental being part of this change?

CA: Some experts argue that while oxidizer systems prevent hazardous chemicals from being released into the atmosphere, they also emit significant amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Nitrous Oxides (NOX). Contrary to popular belief, CO2 and NOX are not necessarily a by-product of these air pollution control devices, especially the newer technologies.

However, there are certain features that an oxidizer should have in order to achieve self-sustaining, fuel-free destruction. With mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting on the horizon, oxidizer operators will really need to pay attention to operating costs and look for ways to reduce the energy demands of their oxidation systems.

Over the past twenty years, Chris Anguil has devoted his career to the technical sale and application of Anguil Environmental’s air pollution control and energy recovery systems.

About Chris Anguil

As the President, he is currently responsible for both the revenue and profit for this internationally recognized supplier.

Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He serves on the environmental committee for numerous trade associations and is intimately familiar with the air pollution control needs of industry.

Anguil Environmental Systems is proud to be a family owned and operated company headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and engaged in an industry that ensures future generations a sustainable environment. The entire organization remains dedicated to its’ slogan, “Committed to Cleaner Air.”

Click here to read the article on AZoM.com.

Frac Water Recycling White Paper

Balancing the risk of well damage with the economic benefits of frac wastewater reuse can be difficult. In conjunction with Environmental Daily Advisor, Anguil Environmental Systems has sponsored a detailed report which answers some of the tough questions about fracking and water use.

Minimizing Operator Risks While Implementing a Frac Water Recycling Program

• Why Recycle?
• Why isn’t recycling a widespread practice?
• How to manage the perceived risks of wastewater reuse
• What are the emerging technologies?
• What are the regulatory risks?

The reduced U.S. dependence on foreign oil and the increase in U.S. exports of natural gas are directly related to natural gas resources in the United States that have become more accessible through hydraulic fracturing. However, companies have come to realize that due to the amount of water needed in the fracking process, the use of freshwater is unsustainable. Recycling frac fluids would not only mitigate the need for freshwater, but would also provide an alternative to the costs and problems of disposing of wastewater.

Concerns that the use of recycled frac fluids would damage wells have held operators back from embracing recycling even though recycling has proven to be much less expensive than using freshwater. However, major operators are demonstrating that certain frac fluids that are recycled properly do not damage wells, making recycling increasingly attractive to operators.

Contact us for copy of the report to learn this and more about the evolving landscape of hydraulic fracturing.

Mercury Marine’s Environmental Stewardship

A recent expansion at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac Wisconsin has caught the attention of professionals in the energy and environmental industries.

At an event this past May, the Wisconsin Association of Energy Engineers (WAEE) showcased Mercury’s new process equipment and pollution control system. The 75 attendees consisted of facility engineers, plant managers, project managers, contractors, vendors, and energy consultants. They were given in-depth presentations and a plant tour of the expansion project as well as the air pollution control system being utilized on the new engine test lines.

Anguil Environmental was honored to be a part of this project and event. The engine exhaust treatment device is Mercury Marine’s third abatement system designed, fabricated and installed by Anguil. The Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system targets Carbon Monoxide, Total Hydrocarbons, Non-Methane Hydrocarbons, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), and Particulate. The custom-designed SCR system utilizes an integrated air-to-air heat exchanger that reduces the facility’s energy consumption and lowers Mercury’s carbon footprint.

Focus on Energy (FOE), Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable resource program, worked with Mercury Marine to determine the energy saved and contributed funds for the project based on those savings. FOE representatives were at the event to present Mercury Marine with a reimbursement check of $170,688 for their environmental stewardship efforts.

Employees at Anguil Adopt A Highway

As part of Anguil’s commitment to our community and environment, the company has adopted a highway just North of the corporate headquarters in Milwaukee. Through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program, employees will help reduce litter along a local highway and enhance the beautify of Wisconsin’s roadsides.

Volunteers from the company are responsible for a stretch of Mequon Road in Ozaukee County. “It allows our employees to give back to the community and we support their efforts” said Chris Anguil, President of Anguil Environmental.

Teams of Anguil employees will walk the 1.5 mile section of highway three times per year to cleanup trash. During the first spring cleaning of 2014, the Anguil volunteers collected nearly 15 garbage bags full of paper, cans, bottles, plastic bags, wrappers and even car parts.

Anguil Expands Into Australia

Two leading suppliers in the air pollution control industry are partnering-up to meet the needs of Australian companies with emission control requirements. Australia’s single-largest air pollution control company, Total Air Pollution Control (TAPC) has teamed up with Anguil Environmental Systems, Inc. (Anguil), a global provider of oxidation and vapor combustion technologies.

Both Anguil and TAPC specialize in technologies, products and services that destroy Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) from a broad range of applications. When released into the atmosphere these pollutants contribute to smog as well as the destruction of agriculture and forests. In humans they can cause birth defects, nervous system damage, respiratory ailments, heart conditions or even death during massive accidental releases.
TAPC’s current product offering includes gas scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters. With access to the Anguil thermal and catalytic oxidiser technologies they can now offer a control technology increasingly being used in the region to meet the more stringent environmental regulations for VOCs and HAPs.

Anguil, founded in 1978, has gained its recognition and reputation as one of the leaders in manufacturing, servicing and installation of oxidation technologies and heat recovery systems for various applications and industries. TAPC will incorporate Anguil’s oxidizer designs and heat recovery systems with their existing gas cleaning technologies for facilities throughout the region.

This partnership provides a local Anguil presence for sales, installation, fabrication and service needs. Customers in Australia can expect state of the art air pollution control equipment, dependable service and responsive support from two of the most reputable companies in the industry.

For more information on TAPC, please visit www.tapc.com.au

New Senior Sales Manager Joins Anguil

Anguil Environmental Systems is pleased to announce that Jim Stone has joined the company as a Senior Sales Manager. Jim brings with him over 25 years of experience with air pollution control, exhaust gas treatment and heat recovery applications.

Located in Milwaukee WI, Anguil designs, manufactures, installs and services thermal and catalytic oxidizers, vapor combustion technologies and energy recovery systems throughout the world. Jim’s sales and application knowledge will be used to apply Anguil’s equipment design into a variety of industries, from composites and printing, to chemical and packaging. The addition of Jim further enhances Anguil’s ability to efficiently and effectively reduce emissions and energy consumption at industrial facilities.

New Clean Air Techniques for Carbon Fiber Processes

As a material, carbon fiber has fundamentally changed many of the products we use every day, making them lighter, stronger and more durable. The manufacturing process is typically unique to each supplier and it can be as complex as the fiber molecules themselves. Equally as challenging are the air pollution control systems used on the production equipment. This year, two institutions have rolled out new processing techniques that utilize different, yet highly effective air pollution abatement technologies that also drive down production costs.

When the first conversion plants came online, operating costs were not critical design parameters and neither were the environmental effects of production. Today, the manufacturing of carbon fiber is heavily regulated by the environmental community and producers are continually looking to reduce energy demands of this heat intensive process. The oxidation and carbonization furnaces and industrial ovens have the potential to emit hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of these pollutants are immediately dangerous to human health, even in very small quantities. Other pollutants of concern for carbon fiber producers include harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOX). These emissions not only contribute to global warming but also have a direct correlation with the manufacturer’s consumption of energy.

Recycling at the Forefront

The strength, durability and light-weight characteristics of carbon fiber make it perfect for many manufactured products like airplanes and automobiles. However, most waste ends up in landfills where those same attributes do not allow the carbon fiber to break down like other organic material. A major university has opened a new, state of-the-art facility dedicated to the reuse of this valuable resource.

In conjunction with industry partners, they have developed a pilot scale carbon fiber recycling plant. The team set out to develop and commercialize recycled fiber that maintains the material strength at a cost-savings to manufacturers using carbon fiber in their products. The result was a lightweight, low cost material made from recycled carbon fiber that gives users a competitive advantage over virgin carbon fiber.

The university knew that an air pollution control device would be necessary to meet the local emission requirements for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and ammonia (NH3). They also realized that there was the potential to reuse some of the energy released during the combustion of these carbon fiber processing emissions.

Anguil Environmental Systems (Anguil) was selected to provide the air pollution control system. Their experience with similar applications and ability to make a custom designed system to meet the unique needs of this pilot-scale recycling facility were the primary determining factors. Anguil manufactured, installed and recently brought online a Thermal Recuperative Oxidizer with dual heat recovery.

A metallic heat exchanger within the oxidizer reduces the amount of supplemental fuel required to bring the process emissions up to combustion temperatures. In addition, a secondary heat recovery system downstream of the oxidizer captures nearly all of the remaining heat for process heating needs. The extremely efficient system drastically reduces the operating costs of the carbon fiber manufacturing process. In addition, the Anguil oxidizer has been achieving over 99% destruction rate efficiency.

A Technology Transfer in the United States

Recognizing the need for this industry to develop a lower cost carbon fiber material, The United States Department of Energy built a custom designed conversion process at Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL). The process equipment, designed by Harper International, makes this one of the most sophisticated and capable facilities in the industry. The carbon fiber technology line in Oakridge, Tennessee allows commercial partners to test the scalability of emerging carbon composite materials before commercial production.

To treat the exhaust streams coming from the carbon fiber process, Anguil Environmental Systems was commissioned to design, manufacture and install a multi-stage Direct Fired Thermal Oxidizer (DFTO). The abatement system is capable of destroying nitrogen compounds without the formation of NOX which is a typical by-product in conventional oxidation processes. Gases move through zones within the DFTO under varying conditions where the total emission destruction efficiencies are over 99% with minimal NOX generation.

Even though this application does not warrant additional NOX reduction, the Anguil DFTO has the capability of adding Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SCNR) to further reduce the environmental impact.

Anguil Environmental is a system provider of air pollution control and energy recovery solutions. We are intimately familiar with the capture, control and compliance hurdles of the carbon fiber industry. View our Carbon Fiber page for more information.

Home Market Foods Solves Odor Control Issues

The Norwood Bulletin recently highlighted the odor and pollution control efforts at Home Market Foods in Norwood, Massachusetts. Anguil is supplying a 30,000SCFM Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) at this frozen food manufacturer to elimate emissions and odors. The Anguil RTO is an effective, efficient abatement device for many food processing applications.

We were pleased to be selected for this project and happy to help Home Market Foods with their environmental stewardship efforts. The full article can be found here.

Anguil Receives State & Regional Recognition from the SBA

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the winner of its annual Jeffrey Butland award. Anguil is honored to be the 2013 recipient for both the state of Wisconsin as well as the Midwest region. The SBA acknowledges the contributions that small businesses make towards America’s economy by honoring the owners of these outstanding small businesses. The Jeffrey Butland award specifically highlights family owned and operated-small businesses that have transitioned to the second generation.

The news release for these SBA awards was published on Tuesday April 23rd 2013. Of the fifteen state winners, Anguil was one of four small business selected to receive regional recognition. Gene, Deb and Chris Anguil will be attending the 28th annual presentation breakfast on Friday May 31st at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee, WI. An SBA Regional Administrator will be visiting Anguil Environmental in June to present the certificate for the company’s regional award.