Eco-Tec Assists With Alcoa's Reduction In Greenhouse Gases

Eco-Tec part of an innovative cogeneration power plant project with Alcoa and Alinta
Pickering, Ontario — Eco-Tec has manufactured and commissioned its second water treatment system to Alinta Cogeneration Power Plants in Western Australia. These two of four planned cogeneration power plants are integral parts of Alcoa of Australia's operating facility in Pinjarra, Australia, which will enable Alcoa to reduce its greenhouse gas emission by over 270,000 tons per year, equivalent to removing 60,000 cars from the road.
Innovative Partners: Alinta, Alcoa, Downer Energy and Eco-TecAlinta hired Downer Energy Group to facilitate the cogeneration project. Cogeneration is a process that utilizes one input, gas, to produce two outputs, electricity and steam. The Pinjarra cogeneration plant produces 140MW of electricity and 240 tons per hour of steam. The power is delivered to Alinta's power consumers while the steam is directed to Alcoa's refinery, where the condensates from the steam generated are purified and processed for reuse within Alcoa's refinery.
Without purifying the condensates, contaminates such as iron and copper can cause corrosion. Corrosion wastes energy and reduces efficiency. The most cost effective solution is to "polish" or purify the condensates for reuse. As more condensate is reused, less make up water is required, reducing chemical and water consumption while also reducing overall energy requirements.
Downer Energy selected Eco-Tec to provide condensate polishers for the cogeneration power plant, based on the condensate polishers' ability to economically and efficiently purify condensates for reuse in power generation and internal processes. In addition, the selection was determined by Eco-Tec's signature of small footprint, high automation, reliability, and reduction in operating costs.
The first Eco-Tec system for Alcoa of Australia was commissioned in October 2005, and the second system commissioned just this past October. Downer Energy confirmed the successful performance of the first system prior to the purchase of the second system for the Pinjarra facility. Both systems have been instrumental in the overall efficiency of the refinery.
Through the steam provided by Alinta, and purified by Eco-Tec systems, Alcoa is now able to retire old boilers at its refinery. The use of Eco-Tec's efficient condensate polishers assists in Alcoa's ability to significantly improve its environmental performance.
SOURCE: Alcoa and Eco-Tec Inc.
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