Oilheat Air Emissions and the Advantages of Low Sulfur Fuel

A Presentation to NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation

Presented by:

John E. Batey, PE, President

Energy Research Center, Inc.

May 30, 2003

Topics for Presentation:

Overview of Home Oil Burner Air Emissions

Results of Low Sulfur Oil Studies Brookhaven National Laboratory NYSERDA - Buhrmaster Energy Summary of Advantages

New Technologies Biodiesel /Low S Fuel Blends New oilheat Applications

Overview of Home Oil Burner Air Emissions

Comparison of Air Emission Rates

Lower PM Emissions

Nitrogen Oxide Emissions

Sulfur Oxide Emissions

AIR POLLUTANT EMISSION RATE - LBS/MMBTU

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

PM CO HC NOx SOxlow

SOxHigh

PO

UN

DS

PE

R M

ILLI

ON

BTU Oil Burner

Avg Comb Source

Key Points : Air Emission Rates

Oil burner emissions of PM, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, NOx, and Sulfur Oxides are much lower than the average combustion source in the US.

Emission rates range from 1/2 (SOx) to 1/123rd (Hydrocarbons) of the average combustion source in the US.

Low sulfur (0.05%) fuel oil that is now available lowers SOx emissions by 80%.

Total Air Pollutant Emissions from #2 oil range from only 0.04% to 0.69% of the US total each year.

OIL BURNER PARTICULATE EMISSIONS

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s NatGas

LB

S P

ER

MIL

LIO

N B

TU

Ref: USEPA and BNL Report 52249

Key Points : Oil PM Emissions

Over the past three decades, PM (smoke and soot) have dropped by a factor of 20 or 95%. (Ref: BNL and USEPA)

Improved oil burner designs (flame retention) and higher air pressure produce more complete combustion, more stable flames, and lower PM.

Tests at BNL measured PM emission rates for modern burners of only 0.003 #/MMBTU of fuel.

This is similar to natural gas burners (ref: AP-42)

Home oil produces only 0.12% of the total PM emissions in the US each year

NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS FROM VARIOUS COMBUSTION SOURCES

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

NAT GAS (H

OM

ES)

#2 O

IL (H

OMES)

PROPANE (C

OM

M)

WO

OD S

T0VES

#6 O

IL

BITUM

CO

AL

GAS T

URBINE

NAT GAS E

NGINE (L

B)

IND G

ASOL

ENGIN

E

IND D

IESEL

ENGIN

E

PO

UN

DS

PE

R M

ILL

ION

BT

U

Key Points : Oil NOx Emissions

Natural gas and home oil burners emit much

less Nitrogen Oxides than many other combustion sources

Wood stoves emit 70% more NOx than oil

Bituminous coal emits 2.3 times more NOx

Industrial gasoline engines emit 12.5 times more NOx

Industrial diesel engine emit 33.9 time more NOx than home oil burners (using the same fuel).

SULFUR OXIDE EMISSIONSPounds per Million BTU of Heat Delivered

Ref: USEPA AP-42

0.000

0.500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

3.000

3.500

4.000

4.500

PO

UN

DS

PE

R M

ILLI

ON

BTU

SULFUR OXIDE EMISSIONS

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

PO

UN

DS

PE

R M

ILL

ION

BT

U

Ref: USEPA Publication AP-42

Key Points: Oil SOx Emissions

Home heating oil and natural gas both emit low levels of sulfur oxides

Low sulfur fuel oil (0.05%) produces small amounts of sulfur oxides

Electric heat pumps emit 8 to 32 times more SOx than home oil burners

Electric heat emits 16 to 64 times more SOx than home oil burners

Ultralow S oil (15 ppm) emits the lowest levels of SO2.

Results of Low Sulfur Oil Studies:

Advantages of Low Sulfur Oil

Brookhaven National Laboratory

NYSERDA - Buhrmaster Energy Group

Summary of Advantages

Effect of Fuel Sulfur on PM Emissions Ref: CETC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Fuel sulphur (ppm)

PM

load

ing

(mg/

m3)

PM 2.5

PM 10

BOILER FOULING DEPOSITS(Per Square Meter of Surface Area)

Ref: Brookhaven National Laboratory and CETC

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

16.00

0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 0.800 1.000 1.200 1.400

FUEL SULFUR %

LB

S O

F D

EP

OS

IT P

ER

10

00

HR

S

BNL Tests

CETC Tests

NYSERDA - Buhrmaster Energy Group Low Sulfur Demonstration

Demonstrate the advantages of reduced sulfur fuel oil through field testing in 1000 homes

Evaluate actual changes in heating equipment performance with the lower sulfur fuel -measure differences in heating unit deposits, stack temperature, and other measures.

Investigate and evaluate reductions in service costs by using low sulfur oil – through increased service intervals

This field study program can help to overcome obstacles to widespread use of low sulfur heating oil by quantifying the benefits including changes in service requirements.

NYSERDA - Buhrmaster Field Study

BOILER DEPOSITS - LB / MMBTU

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Reg S Low S w/o SMK

FUEL OIL TYPE

BO

ILE

R D

EP

OS

ITS

#/M

MB

TU

Cost Savings with Low S Oil

COST SAVINGS - $ MM PER YEARREDUCED VACUUM CLEANINGSRef: BNL and CETC Fouling tests

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40

INITIAL FUEL OIL SULFUR CONTENT %

CO

ST

SA

VIN

GS

$

MIL

LIO

N P

ER

YE

AR

Economic Benefit of low S Oil (Reduced Vacuum Cleaning Costs)

RATIO OF $ SAVED PER $ OF FUEL COST

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00

ADDED FUEL COST - CENTS PER GAL

RA

TIO

OF

SA

VIN

GS

TO

AD

DE

D F

UE

L C

OS

T

Reduction in NOx Emissions Low Sulfur Fuel Oil

Reduction in NOx - Fuel EffectsPetroleum-based fuels

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

FR-Std. FR-Hi Perf. Low Emis.

Burner type

% o

f Std

Fue

l, S

td F

.R.

burn

er Std Fuel

LS fuel

ULS fuel

Bas

elin

e =

100%

Emissions Reduction - NYS

SO2 emissions in NYS are reduced 67,620,000 pounds or 33,800 tons per year by using fuel oil with 0.05% sulfur oil.

“Environmental cost” savings for New York State by using low sulfur fuel oil are $5.6 million a year by applying emission cost factors.

Savings by improved heater efficiency for NYS is estimated to be $11.5 million a year by reduced fouling of heat exchanger surfaces.

Homeowners can save approximately $65 million a year through lower service costs

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS - $/MM BTU OF HEAT DELIVERED

1.29 1.611.94 2.12

2.45

6.2

7.33

12.4

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

$ P

ER

MIL

LIO

N B

TU

Advantages of Low S Oil

Lower Service Costs - $200 MM/Yr (nationwide)

Service Savings > Added Fuel Cost Lower SOx Emissions ~80% Lower PM and NOx emissions Extended vacuum cleaning intervals Improved Environmental Impact for Oil

(equivalent to Nat gas) Emission Reduction Credit Potential

New Technologies

Biodiesel /Low S Fuel Blends SO2 reduced 83% or more Good Combustion NOx lowered 20%

New oilheat Applications Condensing Furnaces/Boilers Reduced Firing Rates New generation of appliance

(similar to nat gas equipment)

Summary

Home oil burners now produce low levels of air emissions: PM, NOx, SOx, CO, HC

Low sulfur oil lowers air emissions substantially: SOx, PM, NOx

Many Economic Advantages of Low Sulfur home heating oil

Biodiesel / Low S Blends reduce emissions even further

Lower sulfur oil permits new technologies: condensing furnaces