ATLANTA — Siemens Industry, Inc. today announced that a Siemens mobile test unit for electrostatic precipitators will make its North American debut July 19–20, at the 2010 APC Round Table & Expo in Concord, N.C.
Electrostatic precipitators filter the exhaust gases emitted from industrial plants, power plants and refuse incineration plants, collecting and removing pollutants such as dust, soot and aerosols. Sometimes, changes in operational conditions or new emissions regulations require an increase in ESP collecting efficiency. When this happens, plant operators can either mechanically expand the precipitator itself or upgrade by installing new control equipment.
Installing new equipment is a faster, lower cost solution than mechanical expansion. Plant operators can gather information about the status of an ESP and its optimization potential by installing test equipment that mimics the planned controls upgrade. Test operation usually involves rounding-up all the necessary components, transporting them to the site, setting them up and connecting them to the ESP. This work can take several days and may lead to interruptions in ESP operation – possibly bringing the entire plant to a standstill.
Previously available only in Europe, Siemens’ container-based mobile test unit provides the plant operator with information about the status of a connected ESP within the shortest possible time, while also providing data on ways to improve performance and save energy. Easy transport and quick installation eliminate the need for complete precipitator shutdown.
“Our aim is to provide our customers with a quick and inexpensive way to gather the data they need to make informed decisions about upgrading their plants,” said Roland Metz, principal business developer, Siemens Industry Solutions Division, Siemens Industry, Inc.
On the outside, the testing unit looks like a standard, blue shipping container. Inside the 20-foot-long container, however, are a high-voltage power supply and all the control and optimization systems necessary to operate one ESP field on-site. The pre-installed equipment includes an IGBT-based inverter, a high-voltage transformer rectifier, a PC with monitoring and optimization software and all necessary cables.
The container comes equipped with a PC workstation for running pre-installed test procedures and requires only minor adjustments to adapt to specific local conditions. Its advanced power electronics and proprietary software optimize energy use and reduce harmful plant emissions. The test unit can also be used to bridge malfunctions and ESP failures.
“Our European customers really benefitted from having us bring the test unit out to their facilities so they could see for themselves the emissions reductions and energy savings provided by Siemens’ ESP technology,” said Metz. “So, we decided to offer the same service to plant operators in the United States.”
The device will stay in the United States indefinitely, travelling by truck from plant to plant in response to customer requests. Setup and commissioning of the mobile test unit takes one business day, roughly a third of the time required to construct a test installation on-site from the ground up. In addition, the unit can be installed with no interruptions to ESP operation. Customers interested in scheduling an appointment or learning more about how the Siemens ESP mobile test unit can help them may contact Roland Metz at (770) 740-3708 or roland.metz@siemens.com.
The Siemens ESP mobile testing unit will be on display during the APC Roundtable & Expo, July 19-20, 2010, in the parking lot of the Concord, N.C. Embassy Suites Resort Hotel. For more information about Siemens ESP technology, visit www.usa.siemens.com/energymgmt.
About Siemens
A division of Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII), Industry Solutions (IS) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, IS’s business activities include building and commissioning plants for end customers as well as providing support during the entire life cycle. Business units at the global level include Siemens VAI Metal Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industry Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany). With nearly 31,000 employees worldwide, Industry Solutions posted worldwide revenues of $9.3 billon in fiscal year 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/industrysolutions
Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII) is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens’ global Industry Sector business—the world’s leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company’s integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA. With nearly 222,000 Siemens Industry Sector employees worldwide, the Industry Sector posted a worldwide profit of $2.7 billion on revenues of $47.7 billion in fiscal 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/Industry