Energy Utilization Services
When it comes to optimizing energy usage, BMA can provide solutions or carry out feasibility studies for a number of different situations such as fuel conversion, energy recovery, or process change. With BMA's combustion expertise, the studies we carry out will take into account all the potential combustion aspects such as combustion equipment limitations, fuel characteristics, and combustion firing scenarios. If your fuel costs represent a significant proportion of your operating budget, BMA can help you keep those costs at their lowest.
BMA can be of assistance in the following areas:
- Determining energy use and optimization potential
- Conducting feasibility studies for fuel conversion or addition
- Conducting feasibility studies for new technology or process implementation
- Carrying out energy cost comparisons
A few examples of how clients have benefited from our studies:
Optimization energy usage:
BMA conducted a study to determine the best options for replacing an aging natural gas-fired 600BHP boiler of a food manufacturing plant. At the time of the study, a projected increase in natural gas price combined with low electricity price was the driving factor for the recommendation to switch to a dual energy system using natural gas and electricity. Preliminary equipment selection and ROI scenarios were carried out to determine the best combination of natural gas-electricity usage. In addition, layout drawings of the new equipment as well as installation recommendations in order to maintain a minimum steam production for the plant were provided.
Feasibility study for change in fuel utilization:
BMA conducted a feasibility study for the usage of a second-hand dust burner in a bark-fired thermal oil boiler for a particleboard manufacturer. The report issued included an energy cost comparison for burning the waste process dust in a dust burner versus mixing the dust with the bark, which required humidification for safety purposes. The study concluded a fuel savings potential of approximately 7% with an ROI of 5.5 years.
Feasibility study for energy recovery:
BMA conducted a feasibility study for the energy recovery potential from the residual waste heat of a 25 MW cogeneration plant to be used for an agricultural park in northern Quebec, Canada. A complete mass and energy balance was carried out for five potential waste heat sources (continuous and intermittent) as well as an estimate of the implantation costs in order to determine the economic feasibility of recovering energy from each source. It was concluded that it was only economically advantageous to recover energy from 2 waste heat sources for a total energy recovery of 4MW.