Case Study: Online SCR Cleaning
CLIENT: GULF COAST CHEMICAL PLANT
BACKGROUND
A chemical plant had an issue they needed assistance in addressing: a boiler was experiencing both increased back pressure and decreased NOx conversion. The unit was fed by waste gas and increased impurities, which resulted in soot and particulate coating on the face and interior of the SCR catalyst.
OBJECTIVE
The plant needed a clean SCR to maintain required levels of steam production. However, if the plant shut down their boiler, they would not be able to meet these required levels, which would lead to a plant-wide shutdown. Management was looking for a way to reduce the back pressure without taking down the unit, and also sought a solution to increase NOx conversion to meet permit requirements.
SOLUTION
The Groome team reviewed the unit drawings and held a video call with the Plant Engineering and Maintenance management team. It was determined that the existing inspection ports could be used for this plant — and this would allow the SCR to be cleaned while the unit remained online.
RESULTS
The Groome team mapped out a plan and conducted the cleaning of the SCR while the unit was online. Once the work was complete, back pressure reduced from 9 to 5 inches on the water column, and NOx conversion returned to permit requirements.
TESTIMONIAL
“The Groome team completed the project exactly as we hoped. Should we need another SCR cleaning, we need to make only one call: to Groome Industrial.”