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GE Energy Receives Patent for Mercury Management ORLANDO, FLORIDA (November 30, 2004) — GE Energy was recently awarded a patent for a new Mercury Management System. The Mercury Management System goes beyond the typical control system to create a solution for coal-fired power plants that helps manage the pollutant from initial generation through preparation for disposal. The patent extends and integrates concepts previously proven effective for mercury control such as GE Energy's Combustion Optimization System (COS) and Max-9™ technologies. The new solution is being developed to help companies meet the proposed U.S. federal mercury emission reduction requirements. GE Energy's COS has achieved industry emission reduction milestones by integrating multiple technologies into site-specific solutions that utilize existing equipment, minimize capital expenditures and decrease downtime. The new Mercury Management System expands the COS technique by adding mercury collection and concentration to the existing mercury testing and reduction capabilities. The Mercury Management System process involves combustion staging to generate reactive ash containing carbon to better absorb the mercury emissions; capturing the ash in GE Energy's Max-9 electrostatically-enhanced fabric filter (EEFF) or other ESP or fabric filter systems; and treating the ash to separate and condense the mercury to significantly reduce waste disposal and handling fees. The mercury management system has the potential to achieve over 90% reduction in mercury emissions and allow continued sales of fly ash. The U.S. Department of Energy has recently announced its intent to jointly sponsor a program with GE Energy to field demonstrate the effectiveness of combustion optimization for controlling mercury in a coal fired utility. Field-testing is scheduled to begin in 2005. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also played a critical role in development of GE Energy's Max-9 EEFF technology, which joined GE Energy's environmental services portfolio through the recent acquisition of BHA Group, Inc. The Max-9 is based on a technology originally developed and patented by EPA, which integrated discharge electrodes and fabric filters into a single casing. BHA then advanced this design utilizing high permeability filter media creating the Max-9, which has a particulate matter collection efficiency of 99.99+ %. "The integration of the Max-9 technology into our portfolio will help provide a more comprehensive mercury solution," said Ricardo Artigas, president of energy services for GE Energy. "Our recent acquisition of BHA provides the environmental services platform with more comprehensive solutions, not only for mercury, but also for other pollutants like Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate matter. Now, more than ever before, customers can feel confident in our ability to help them reduce emissions and improve performance." Accurate emissions testing and monitoring also play an integral part of GE Energy's Mercury Management System. Testing can help determine mercury composition in flue gas emissions, help define optimum coal selection and blending strategies, and help identify the most cost-effective components of a control solution. Another critical element in tracking effectiveness and maintaining compliance will be GE Energy's new Mercury Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS). Currently in field testing, GE Energy's Mercury CEMS will measure mercury to single digit levels, minimize mercuric chloride (HgCl2) interaction with the sample extraction and transport system, convert HgCl2 to Hg0 suitable for measurement and maximize mercury trading credits. The system's launch is anticipated in mid-2005. About GE Energy GE Energy (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2003 revenues of nearly $18.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries. For more information, contact: GE Energy: Dennis Murphy GE Energy +1 678 844 6948 dennis.murphy@ps.ge.com Ken Darling or Gina DeRossi Masto Public Relations +1 518 786 6488 kenneth.darling@ps.ge.com gina.derossi@mastopr.com > Press Contacts > More 2004 Press Releases |