Qualifications and Experience

Applied Utility Systems, Inc. (AUS) has extensive experience in NO_x reduction projects, including support of California utilities and industries to comply with air emissions rules and regulations. These projects have included engineering studies, design tasks, preparation of comprehensive build-to specifications, design and fabrication of combustion and post-combustion based NO_x control systems, installation of equipment, plant start-up, and testing. Extensive work in optimizing combustion processes to reduce NO_x has also been performed by AUS.

• Designed urea injection systems, including urea storage, transport, injectors and controls, and provided turnkey installations for several units.
  
  
• Assessed potential NO_x emissions reductions and cost effectiveness for gas- and oil-fired boilers. Control techniques considered included low NO_x burners, combustion modifications, selective non-catalytic reduction systems (SNCR), and Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems (SCR).
  
  
• Designed LNBs for gas and oil firing in utility and industrial boilers.
  
  
• Prepared engineering studies to apply catalytic air heaters (CAT-AH) to utility boilers. Units studied ranged in size from 200 MW to 750 MW. CAT-AH involves the coating of Ljungström air heater baskets with SCR catalyst whereby the heater can provide for the preheating of combustion air and reduction of NO_x emissions in a single step.

AUS has provided significant regulatory support for several electrical utility and industrial clients. Assessments were performed for a variety of these clients to determine the most cost-effective approach to comply with their respective compliance limits. Control strategies that were examined included combustion and post-combustion systems. The types of activities performed include:

• For the Cities of Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena (Cities) and Southern California Edison (SCE), AUS developed compliance strategies for two (2) South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) NO_x emissions regulations: Rule 1134, which restricts emissions from gas turbines and Rule 1135, which restricts emissions from electric utility boilers. The compliance strategies included the installation of advanced emission controls, utilization of alternative resources, and implementation of operational changes. The development of the compliance strategies required that numerous NO_x reduction technologies be assessed.
  


• Provided direct regulatory support to the Cities to obtain more favorable compliance requirements for Rule 1135.
  


• Provided direct regulatory support to SCE to obtain more favorable compliance requirements for Rule 1134.
  


• Conceived and implemented an alternative emissions reduction strategy to allow the merger between SCE and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E).
  


• Provided significant support to SDG&E as their technical consultant for the Rule 69 rule-making process. Activities which were performed included analysis of individual generating units and system loads, technology evaluation of NO_x control alternatives, and cost and cost-effectiveness analysis of alternatives.
  


• Drafted a proposed Rule 69 for regulatory agency consideration on behalf of SDG&E. The proposed draft rule was ultimately adopted saving SDG&E millions of dollars.
  


• For SCE, AUS assessed future electricity demand, electricity consumption, and fuel use impact of the committed and uncommitted control measures contained in the SCAQMD 1989 Air Quality Management Plan. Control measures having the potential for major impact were analyzed to estimate accurately the electricity and/or fuel use impact and the cost effectiveness of the available emissions control options.
  


• On behalf of SCE and the Cities, presented direct testimony to SCAQMD on the assessment of NO_x reduction technologies. Areas reviewed were pre-combustion controls, such as windbox modeling, windbox FGR, and reduced air preheat; LNBs and optimization of combustion processes; and implementation of post-combustion controls, such as SNCR and SCR systems.

AUS has also provided direct regulatory support and licensing efforts in the reduction of the emission of volatile organic compounds in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Permit applications to construct and to operate have been prepared for clients. These application packages were submitted, in turn, to the SCAQMD for approval.