PVS Chemicals has worked with Energy Systems Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, to develop a Waste Heat to Power project at the PVS' sulfuric acid plant in Chicago.
This project will generate 2.6 MW of renewable electricity using a steam turbine generator. The $14.2 million project will create electricity from waste steam generated at the plant and the electricity thus generated is expected to cover approximately 95% of the plant’s electricity requirements.
Overall, the project is expected to eliminate more than 12,700 tons of CO2 emissions per year, reduce purchased water and chemical consumption and reduce utility interruptions from voltage trips.
Steam is generated by the exothermic reaction during sulfuric acid production at the plant. A significant portion of this steam is of no beneficial use. The WHP project will use this steam to generate power and thereby reduce the purchase of electricity from the grid, which has a high carbon and GHG footprint.
The project is expected to reduce the firm’s carbon footprint by 115%
“The new installation will take thousands of tons of CO2 out of the air while simultaneously making the facility sustainable for the long term,” PVS Chemical’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Nicholson said.
Sulfuric acid is a chemical used in multiple processes, including fertilizer manufacturing, electrolyte for lead-acid batteries and as a cleaning agent.
