GE's Powerwave* Acoustic Cleaning Systems Selected for Baghouse Retrofits at Basin Electric Power Cooperative Plant
Decision Expands Business Partnership after Basin Electric Previously Installed GE's ePTFE Membrane Bags to Help Reduce Emissions
KANSAS CITY, MO. - October 13, 2010 - To lower differential pressure and extend the life of its filter bags, Basin Electric Power Cooperative has purchased Powerwave* acoustic cleaning systems as a retrofit for all the baghouses at one of its plants.
The move comes after Basin Electric noticed the local coal used by its plant near Beulah, N.D., had different characteristics - higher ash and sulfur content. That led to higher differential pressure, a higher likelihood of a shorter life for its filter bags and potential for reduced power generation. Basin Electric tested GE's (NYSE: GE) acoustic horns in one compartment for about a year and saw a beneficial drop in differential pressure. After Basin Electric calculated the potential savings, the company asked GE to provide Powerwave acoustic horns, drawings and technical assistance for all four of the plant's baghouses.
"Our Powerwave acoustic cleaners are pneumatically operated horns that produce low frequency, high-energy sound waves that resonate and gently dislodge particulate deposits that have bonded to mechanical parts and other surfaces in your system," said GE's David Chapin, Powerwave lead product manager. "That means unlike other methods of cleaning, sound waves generated by Powerwave horns do not cause structural damage, they can reduce the frequency of traditional cleaning cycles and they have proven to be effective even in the harshest operating environments."
The Basin Electric filter bags are GE's expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bags, which are known to have longer bag life and known for their ability to help reduce emissions.
"While only having experience with ePTFE membrane filter bags for the past eight years, they have performed better than our standard OEM filter bags," said Duane Miller, scrubber supervisor at Basin Electric. "The use of acoustic horns will augment their performance and enhance our baghouse cleaning cycle capability."
To learn more about Powerwave, please visit http://www.gepower.com/corporate/ecomagination_home/powerwave.htm.
To calculate how much you would save based on a drop in differential pressure, please visit
www.ge-energy.com/energysavings
*All trademarks referenced herein are property of General Electric Company.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $40 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy-GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas-work together to provide integrated product and service solutions 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.
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