Blue Tower plants are among the most environmentally friendly in the world. European technologies must meet strict EU and national standards. Usually with simple filtering systems, a Blue Tower plant easily meets or exceeds environmental standards. No pollutants are created within the Blue Tower system. Of course, as with any process, the output is directly related to the input. Therefore, with some types of input, additional adaptations to the Blue Tower and more complex filtering and treating may be necessary, but easily workable. In fact, most organic pollutants (dioxins, furans, etc.) are “cracked” and reformulated in the steam reforming stage. Carbon monoxide gas is an essential part of every gasification plant. However, in the Blue Tower, the product gas is handled in a manner that is completely separated from the atmosphere and thus, only negligible CO or other components of the product gas are set free.
Environmental Highlights of Blue Tower:
CO2 emissions are comparable to that of a small car
Closed-circuit system
Process creates no pollutants or heavy metals
Organic pollutants are decomposed in the process
Practically no components of the product gas are set free
Please Note: These Values are non binding sample values based on biomass input material. Received from M+W Zander FE GmbH. These values only represent the Blue Tower process without any filtration.
US EPA standard*
German/EU standard
Blue Tower
Particulate Matter-dust
(Mg/m3)
24
5
0
Dioxins/Furan
(ng/m3)
13
10
0
NOx-nitrogen oxides
(ng/m3)
500
200
200
CO-Carbon Monoxide
(mg/m3)
100
50
0
HCL-Hydrogen chloride
(mg/m3)
29
10
7.08**
SO2-Sulfur dioxide
(mg/m3)
31
50
4.2**
HFI-Hydrogen fluoride
(mg/m3)
?
4
0
Lead
(mg/m3)
0,2
0,2
0
Mercury
(mg/m3)
0,08
0,03
0
Cadmium
(mg/m3)
0,02
0,05
0
*for current W2E plants
**) Note: The values for HCl (hydrogen chloride) and SO2 (sulphur dioxide) are estimated values. They are dependent on the respective feedstock. A suitable cleaning system will be installed to fulfill any required standard.
Limits of Emission for the Blue Tower
The maximum permissible values for the emission of the Blue Tower will be within the limits of the very restrictive German law according to TALuft, 4.BImschV and 17.BImschV.
These laws describe the maximum permissible values for
motors
combustors of non waste material
waste combustion
These specifications can be fulfilled in the Blue Tower with normal biomass without extensive cleaning processes. If the feed stock is highly loaded with harmful or toxic substances specific cleaning procedures need to be applied to fulfill these specifications. This might require a higher invest.
Limits of Emission Cogeneration
In this case mainly the components
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen oxides (generated inside the motor)
are important. Heavy metals will be found in the syngas only in traces. Most of those will be removed in the syngas cleaning unit.
Component
Permissible Value (mg/m_)
Comment
Sulfur dioxide
350
<50
Nitrogen oxides
500-1000
Depending on the type of motor in use
Carbon monoxide
650-2000
Depending on the type of motor in use
By using an additional Oxi-Cat for the motor flue gas the values Nox and CO can be decreased by 95 to 98%. Such a catalyst will produce extra operation and maintenance cost.
News
FMM in India
Together with our partners Concord Blue we are building a 8MW Blue Tower Waste to Energy plant expected to commence operating in March 09!
FMM in India - 15MW MSW in Mumbai
The Blue Tower has qualified for the tender process for a 15MW municipal solid waste to energy plant in Mumbai.
Environmental