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Show OTHER INDUSTRIAL COMBUSTION APPLICATIONS The UL TRAMAX SPO technology has been applied to many production processes over the past 10 years, including a few in the industrial combustion sector. • Five cogeneration boilers that produced steam for chemical processes as well as electricity for a utility grid. The objective was to minimize NOx emissions to avoid the cost of expensive 10w-NOx burner retrofits. NOx reductions from 10% to 25% were achieved to avoid retrofits on four of the units and save more than $1 million. • Multiple continuous cooking ovens for preparation of meat patties. Steam rates, oven temperatures, feed rates and dwell times were optimized for quality, production rate and yield improvements. A production rate increase of more than 15% resulted in annualized savings exceeding $1 million for only one line. • A heat treatment furnace for the improvement of quality and the reduction of cycle time. Temperature, rise rate, hold time and cooling time were optimized to achieve a 100/0 improvement in cycle time and improved quality consistency in the production of automotive parts. Many opportunities exist in the industrial combustion industries to secure more profitable operation of existing critical processes by utilizing SPO and similar tools. These opportunities should be realized before expensive capital expenditures. Larger improvements than have been thought possible can be achieved from this new generation of tools that enable advanced empirical modeling and optimization. Ease of optimization, on-line continuous improvement, operator advisory capability, rapid response to changing conditions or objectives, and a high return on investment are capabilities now available to nearly all industries. References 1. Moreno, C.W., and Yunker, S.B. "UL TRAMAX: Continuous Process Improvement Through Sequential Optimization." Paper presented at EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, June, 1992. 2. Boyle, R.J.; Patterson, P.O.; and Pech, J. "TVA Exceeds CAAA NOx Requirements." Article in Power Engineering, August 1995 issue. 3. Stallings, J., and Petril, E.M. "EPRI APECS Tools for Optimization of NOx Emissions and Performance in Fossil Power Plants." Paper presented at AWMA Conference and Expo, Nashville, TN, June 1996. . 4. Dharmarajan, N.N., and Patterson, P.O. "Boiler Tuning with SPO: Critical First Step in NOx Compliance Strategy of Central & South West Corporation." Paper presented at AWMA Conference and Expo, Nashville, TN, June 1996. 9 |