GE Energy's Filtration Technology Receives Ecomagination Certification
NEW DELHI, INDIA -February 27, 2007-GE Energy's PulsePleat® filtration technology has received ecomagination certification after completing the company's rigorous environmental and operational evaluation. It was cited as one of a number of successful GE projects during the formal launch of GE's ecomagination program in New Delhi, India.
Ecomagination is GE's commitment to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water. GE Energy's environmental services team provided metrics to demonstrate that PulsePleat offered significant and measurable performance advantages.
Fabric filtration is used to capture particulate matter (fine dust) created by different manufacturing processes to help prevent air-polluting emissions. The technology is used by more than 50 industries globally, by utilities and in the cement, metals, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
"PulsePleat elements can help to reduce particulate matter emissions by as much as 40 percent in the 3,000,000 units installed worldwide." said Daniel Heintzelman, president of GE Energy's services business. "This technology helps the industry to meet increasingly stringent emissions control regulations and to benefit from improved production levels and lower operating costs."
Conventional filter bags are the most commonly accepted method used to capture fine particulate matter for air pollution control. Standard fabric filter bags are arranged in a dust collection system (or baghouse) where exhaust air is filtered before venting out of the stack to the atmosphere.
PulsePleat Pleated Filter Elements are a replacement upgrade to conventional filters, requiring minimal or no retrofitting to existing baghouses. Customers using PulsePleat Pleated Filter Elements have seen significant improvement in performance, cost and ecological impact when compared to traditional filter bags. The filters are manufactured in GE's facilities in Switzerland, China and Salisbury, Mo., U.S.A.
By reducing particulate matter emissions by 21,000 lbs/year (for a typical metals manufacturing plant) down to a mean particle size of 0.5 micron, customers using GE's PulsePleat Filter Elements are able to recycle particulate matter back into the manufacturing process. The 21,000 lbs/year of particulate saved is equivalent to the average amount of aluminum needed to build 87 passenger vehicles, and enough recycled material to make 355,950 aluminum beverage cans.
In a standard manufacturing plant, PulsePleat filters last four times longer than standard filters. Over a three-year period, this results in a filter material savings equivalent to 99,531 lbs. of polyester material, 4,977 barrels of oil (used as an ingredient in 99,351 lbs. of polyester) and waste that would be generated by 22,672 people daily in the United States.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
For more information, contact:
Serena Levy
GE Energy
(678) 844 5423
serena.levy@ge.com
Gina DeRossi or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
(518) 786 6488
gina.derossi@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com
