Innovative Emissions Reduction in Washington State Wins Award

Rhea-AI Summary

Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Anacortes, Washington, refinery received an award for the best private-sector project of 2023 under $10 million from the Northwest Construction Consumer Council. The project involved reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, resulting in a 31% reduction, equivalent to 321 tons per year. The initiative incorporated innovative selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) technology, using ammonia from a specific refinery waste stream, and has applied for a U.S. utility patent. The project was recognized for safety, efficiency, and being under budget.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 7, 2024 / Marathon Petroleum Corporation

• A construction industry association recognized Marathon Petroleum's Anacortes, Washington, refinery with an award for the best private-sector project of 2023 under $10 million.
• The Northwest Construction Consumer Council honored a refinery initiative to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), noting its innovation, safety and efficient completion.
• The refinery applied for a U.S. utility patent in relation to the project, which has the equivalent impact on NOx emissions of removing 180,000 light-duty vehicles from the road a year.

Removing 180,000 light-duty vehicles from the road every year. This is the equivalent impact on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from an effort in Washington state that the Northwest Construction Consumer Council (NWCCC) recently honored as the best private-sector project of 2023 under $10 million. The initiative at Marathon Petroleum Corporation's (MPC) Anacortes refinery incorporated selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) technology at the site to decrease NOx emissions.

"This project exceeded our expectations by achieving a 31% reduction in NOx emissions, which amounts to 321 tons per year," said MPC Process Engineer David Rudd. "We used computational fluid dynamics modeling to arrange chemical reactions that accomplish NOx destruction."

Using ammonia from a specific refinery waste stream for this purpose represents what is believed to be a refining industry first.

The project focused on one of the two carbon monoxide (CO) boilers in the Anacortes refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit. Infrastructure was added to reroute ammonia that comes from another refining process for injection into the CO boiler's firebox. This allows the ammonia to react with oxygen and NOx to produce nitrogen and water vapor, resulting in lower emissions.

Using ammonia from a specific refinery waste stream for this purpose represents what is believed to be a refining industry first. This approach also served as the basis of the refinery's application for a U.S. utility patent, which is pending.

"In addition to innovation, the NWCCC recognized this effort for being safe, on time and under budget," said MPC Engineering Supervisor Zac Nightingale. "It was a highly efficient use of resources, especially in light of comparable emissions-reduction methods that could cost 10 to 20 times as much to implement."

Completing the project required collaboration inside and outside the refinery. The site's technical services and environmental departments worked together along with contractors who provided engineering support and instrumentation and electrical services as well as carried out construction. The Anacortes refinery is exploring plans to install a similar SNCR injection system on the second CO boiler in the future.

The Anacortes refinery has applied for a U.S. utility patent in connection with the project's use of ammonia from a specific refinery waste stream for emissions reduction.

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SOURCE: Marathon Petroleum Corporation

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FAQ

What award did Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Anacortes, Washington, refinery receive?

The refinery received an award for the best private-sector project of 2023 under $10 million from the Northwest Construction Consumer Council.

What was the percentage reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions achieved by the project?

The project achieved a 31% reduction in NOx emissions, equivalent to 321 tons per year.

What technology was incorporated into the initiative to reduce NOx emissions?

The initiative incorporated selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) technology.

What is the project's impact on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx)?

The project's impact on NOx emissions is equivalent to removing 180,000 light-duty vehicles from the road every year.

What type of patent has the project applied for?

The project has applied for a U.S. utility patent.