October 2020

12 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk October 2020 Insight Better life energy PWE spoke to Phil Kemp, general manager at SAACKE Combustion Services Ltd, which is celebrating its 60th year of business in the UK, to discuss the importance of low NOx combustion, the future of Hydrogen Boilers within UK manufacturing, and the importance of servicing combustion equipment. N Ox gases contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain, as well as affecting ozone. The adverse health effects from these nitrogen oxides can affect the lungs and heighten the risk of respiratory conditions including asthma. Therefore it is in everyone’s interest to reduce harmful emissions. Phil Kemp, general manager at SAACKE Combustion Services, comments that in order to protect the environment, we must achieve much lower emission values for the combustion of fossil fuels than those prescribed by law: “If we use hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, the NOx formation still takes place (even higher NOx than with firing natural gas, if one does not take care!), therefore always, we should look to (ultra) low NOx combustion.” He explains that the most significant factors are the flame temperature and the quantity of nitrogen in the fuel influencing NOx formation. Other factors that have an influence being the excess air level and combustion air temperature, not forgetting a poor combustion set up where inexperienced service providers may get involved. Kemp adds that “burner construction is far more complicated these days to achieve the latest emission legislation therefore requiring a competent service provider.” There are several different legislations currently in place with regards NOx emissions, these are dependent on the size of the plant: Medium Combustion Plant Directive Directive (EU) 2015/2193 on medium combustion plants (MCPD): The MCPD regulates emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust from the combustion of fuels in plants with a rated thermal input between 1 and 50 MW thermal. The emission limit values set in the MCP Directive apply from 20th December 2018, this for new plants and then by the 1st January 2025 (over 5 MW) or 1st January 2030 (1 to 5MW) for existing plants. The limits for existing plant are higher than those for new plant. Industrial Emissions Directive IED (2010/75/EU) Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (IED): This establishes the main principles for permitting and control of large industrial installations based on an integrated approach and the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT). BAT is the most effective techniques to achieve a high level of environmental protection, considering the costs and benefits. The UK government will make secondary legislation to ensure the existing BAT conclusions continue to have effect in UK law after we leave the EU on the 1st January 2021, this to provide powers to adopt future BAT conclusions in the UK and ensure the devolved administrations maintain powers to determine BAT through their regulatory regimes. Kemp highlights that operators must demonstrate compliance for each individual combustion plant by carrying out monitoring as specified in the permit to the required method: “Monitoring will normally be required for each unit unless conditioned otherwise in a bespoke permit. We can say that the costs for emissions will constantly increase, the polluter pays. The measurement equipment itself has been industry-standard for many years.” Kemp believes that current service procedures used on industrial plant, can be conducted by reputable service companies to carry out the monitoring required for MCPD on Phil Kemp, General Manager, SAACKE Combustion Services Ltd SAACKE TEMINOX burner