Contact: Rick Felde / (503) 534-0800
Date: April 21st, 2008
For Immediate Release
CLEAN-BURNING COAL-FIRED ELECTRIC PLANT
ADOPTS HI-PERFORMANCE DUST SUPPRESSION
[Peoria, IL] -- One of the largest generators of electricity in Hawaii has adopted a high-efficiency dust
suppression system to control fine airborne coal particles, helping the energy producer to maintain its
reputation as the cleanest power plant in the state. AES Hawaii, Inc. (Kapolei, HI)
owns and operates the only coal-fired generator on Oahu, an innovative and environmentally
responsible facility that also burns such waste products as shredded tires, used motor oil and spent
carbon from water filters as supplemental fuels. Opened in 1992, it’s the only electricity generator in
the state with the technology, capacity and permits to process all of these waste products in an
environmentally sound manner.
The AES facility employs a DustBoss DB-60 to control airborne particulates, a powerful, water-fed
design with a 25 HP fan motor that generates 30,000 CFM, for a throw of more than 200 feet. AES
can now blanket as much as 21,000 square feet (1,950 square meters) with a fine mist of water
droplets that are atomized to 50-200 microns in size for maximum particle attraction and dust / odor
control. With adjustable elevation from 0-50 and 40 of oscillation, the unit delivers outstanding
coverage of the coal loading area.
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“We’ve historically controlled the dust with sprinklers and hoses,” observed Area Supervisor Mike
Savidge. “But we wanted to improve the effectiveness of our suppression efforts, and those methods
required too many man-hours each week. We reviewed some literature from Dust Control Technology
and decided to rent the DB-60 as part of the company’s trial program,” he said. “We were so pleased
with the results that we have since purchased the machine.”
Savidge said that in addition to the environmental and workplace safety benefits of preventing airborne
coal dust from migrating, he anticipates longer air filter life on heavy equipment. He estimated that
AES has put about 3,000 hours on the dust suppression system so far, running it primarily in the
mornings and as needed when moving material.
The Equipment
The DustBoss DB-60 is the most powerful unit in the product family from Dust Control Technology
(Peoria, IL). The oscillating ducted fan design features 30 brass nozzles, specially developed to
atomize droplets to the optimum size for dust capture. “Airborne water droplets and dust particles
attract more readily when they’re about the same size,” explained DCT President Edwin Peterson.
“We atomize the water to 50-200 microns, which gives us the maximum attraction and avoids a
slipstream effect.”
Peterson said that unlike many dust suppression designs on the market, which are frequently
adaptations of existing equipment, the DustBoss series is designed specifically for one application. “To
get the best performance, the nozzles and fan have to work together for optimum flow and distribution,
with the right spray angle and delivery pressure to achieve the droplet size and velocity needed for dust
suppression,” he explained.
The DB-60 also incorporates a 10 HP booster pump for increasing water pressure by as much as
150 psi. At a total boosted pressure of 200 psi, the machine uses about 20-30 gpm. Fed by a 1-1/2″
quick-disconnect hose, the unit requires just 10 psi of constant pressure. DCT also offers an
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optional dosing pump that can be used to automatically meter in odor control additives or surfactants
for superior particle capture. The DB-60 can be outfitted for potable or non-potable water sources.
The Process
AES Hawaii produces and sells 180 megawatts of electricity to the local utility (Hawaiian Electric
Company), an amount that typically represents about 15% of Oahu’s current needs. In addition to its
electrical output, the plant supplies 30,000 pounds of steam per hour to a nearby oil refinery in the
island’s Campbell Industrial Park.
The site uses state-of-the-art Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology that allows the plant to rank
as one of the cleanest coal-fired operations in the world. The company also employs post-combustion
techniques to further reduce pollutant levels well below EPA standards. The emission of criteria air
pollutants from the CFB coal-fired facility is far under the limits set by applicable Ambient Air Quality
Standards, and lowest of all the major generating plants on Oahu.
To achieve its goal of providing safe, clean and reliable electricity to the people of Oahu, AES
introduces limestone into the coal combustion process, capturing harmful sulfur dioxide in the early
stages so it comes out of the process with ash to reduce air pollution. Most coal plants use industrial
scrubbers to remove harmful pollutants later in the combustion process, which is far less efficient. The
AES operation has proven so reliable that the site’s 15 year lifetime availability currently stands at
about 97%, compared to an industry average around 88%.
AES Hawaii is one of the two largest beneficial users of waste products on the island, second only to
the City of Honolulu’s H-Power Plant, which is fueled by trash. A portion of the AES ash is recycled,
as it becomes an ingredient in concrete used on the island. The balance of the ash is beneficially used
as a fire break between landfill cells and as a protective layer on the synthetic liner of a landfill.
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Dust Control Technology is a leader in effective dust and odor control solutions for coal and rock
processing, mining operations, construction & demolition, recycling and scrap industries. The
company’s Dust Boss product line helps reduce labor costs vs. manual sprays, freeing up manpower
for more important tasks. The automated units also use less water than hoses and sprinklers, with some
customers realizing payback in less than six months and netting an annual cost savings of more than
$50,000.
AES Hawaii, Inc. is a subsidiary of the AES Corporation, a global power company with corporate
offices in Arlington, VA. The Hawaii facility was the firm’s sixth plant to begin operation and
employs approximately 50 people. AES is one of the world's largest global power companies, with
2007 revenues of $13.6 billion. With operations in 28 countries on five continents, AES generation
and distribution facilities have the capacity to serve an estimated 100 million people worldwide. The
firm’s 13 regulated utilities amass annual sales of over 78,000 GWh, and its 121 power facilities have
the capacity to generate approximately 43,000 megawatts through the efforts of a global workforce
totaling 28,000 people.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dust Control Technology AES Hawaii, Inc.
1604 W. Detweiller Dr. 91-086 Kaomi Loop
Peoria, IL 61615 Kapolei, HI 96707
Tel: (309) 693-8600 Tel: (808) 682-5330
Toll-free: (800) 707-2204 Email: media@aes.com
Fax: (309) 693-8605 Web site: www.aes.com
Email: info@dustboss.com
Or visit our web site:
www.dustboss.com