Decarbonisation Technology – August 2021

shutdowns, on the other hand, come with a much higher price. These types of event have multiple aspects that contribute to the total cost, including detection costs, containment costs, recovery costs, incidental expenses, productivity loss, business interruption and, perhaps most importantly, loss of revenue. While all systems have the potential for unplanned

The higher advertised efficiency of the boiler to convert fuel to heat is short-sighted, considering the amount of heat generated from fuel that is introduced where it is truly needed, the process medium, is much lower. Fuel fired steam systems are inherently more complex as well, requiring additional fuel line infrastructure, economisers, oxygen metering, and flue stack treatment in addition to the basic components needed for steam production such as a blowdown vessel and water and steam lines. This requires more upfront capital expenditure in order to support these installations. Add in permitting costs, administrative fees and newly adopted carbon taxes or cap and trade credit costs, and the upfront and annual fees associated with fuel fired systems begin to pile up. Maintenance The cost evaluation of the system goes beyond just capital costs, though, as these parts must also be maintained. This is perhaps the most significant factor to consider when looking at fuel fired systems. More complex systems are more prone to failed components, which may compound to other parts of the system or cause boiler shutdown altogether. Planned and unplanned shutdowns are an often overlooked aspect of the total cost of ownership, but can be substantial when you factor in the rippling effect of an offline boiler. Planned shutdowns at least allow coordination, but the complexity of these systems requires more frequent maintenance and tuning to keep the boilers at their peak efficiencies. Unplanned

shutdown, the more complex they are, the greater potential exists. This, again, is a significant advantage of DirectConnect, as electric systems are inherently straightforward and require little to no auxiliary equipment to function at peak efficiency. Components most susceptible to failure, namely contactors or fuses, are generally commodity parts that can be replaced quickly and easily. Carbon neutral solution Financial considerations aside, the greatest asset that electric steam generation systems have is producing zero emissions locally. These electric systems can also be powered by electricity generated from renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, or excess grid energy. As renewable energy sources and energy storage means become more prevalent and capable, the use of electric heating systems at the process level means a truly carbon- neutral solution from generation to application. The use of medium voltage electric heating solutions offers many advantages over fuel fired systems when factors beyond just the cost of energy are considered, such as the total cost of ownership. As our world struggles to release the clench that fossil fuels have, advances in emerging electric technology have now presented the capability to provide zero- emission clean steam or process heat for a truly sustainable solution.

James Lewis james.lewis@chromalox.com