RJM International successfully completes major NOx reduction project at AES Kilroot, Northern Ireland

RJM International, the innovative, UK-based provider of emissions reduction technologies for fossil fuel and bio-fuel-fired plant has just completed a major clean coal technology assignment on Units I and II at AES Kilroot, Northern Ireland's largest power station.

With a focus on engineering intelligence to keep costs and downtime to a minimum, RJM's own engineers have achieved a significant reduction in NOx emissions, yet done so without compromising saleable flyash or boiler efficiency. In fact, levels of CiA (Carbon in Ash) have been significantly reduced and boiler efficiency levels have improved.

AES Kilroot is located on Belfast Lough, east of Carrickfergus and was commissioned over 20 years ago. Today it supplies the province with up to 440MWe of power when burning coal and 520MWe when firing fuel oil, from its two T-fired units.

Two years ago, as part of its preparation to meet the increasingly stringent NOx emission thresholds laid down by the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) and scheduled for introduction on 1st January 2008, the plant embarked on a major investment programme to improve its emissions performance.

In order to assist with this process, AES Kilroot hired RJM International, a specialist provider of emissions reduction technologies with a strong track record of success in this field.

The challenge faced by RJM International was significant. The primary task was to reduce NOx emissions to the new LCPD threshold of 500mg/m03@ 6% O2 for coal-firing and 400 mg/m03@ 3% O2 for oil-firing. However, it had to do so in such a way that CO emissions were not adversely affected; O2 in the form of levels of excess air would not increase significantly as this affects boiler efficiency and finally, that CiA (Carbon in Ash) levels would not rise beyond the saleable limit of 7% CiA as a result of the NOx reduction work; in fact the contracted levels were below this level, to provide some operational margin.  In addition, the hardware modifications needed to be made during a relatively short outage period, and the units needed to return to service ready to generate reliably.

Download the full press release (PDF, 35k)

For further information, please contact:

• John Goldring, Managing Director, RJM International
  T + 44 (0)1962 831250 
• Christopher Biggs, Sinclair Consultants
  T + 44 (0)1803 868824