Southern Research has the capability and experience to conduct environmental studies and develop site-specific air permits. In support of EPA-sponsored programs, Southern Research has developed national- and global-scale emission inventories for greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants, AP-42 emissions factors for industrial process, an electronic decision making tool that helps the heavy fabrication and construction industries select replacement low-VOC coating materials for their processes, and other environmental support assessments. Southern Research also conducts feasibility studies that estimate the technical, economic, and operational performance of new energy systems and air pollution control alternatives across a range of different industries. Southern Research assists in the design and implementation of radon mitigation strategies for commercial and other buildings, and provides on-site diagnosis of underperforming particulate collection devices.
In the course of conducting our research, or as requested by our customers, Southern Research scientists and engineers discover and develop new environmental and industrial technologies. For example, Southern Research engineers have developed, in conjunction with private and government partners, a high efficiency cooling system that is driven by waste heat from combustion processes. Southern Research is developing emissions monitoring hardware for severe process environments that are difficult to measure with in-situ instruments. Our staff has also developed unique components for existing emissions control systems.
Southern Research is helping develop new technology that conditions hot synthetic fuel gas (syngas) while preventing the escape of trace metals through syngas purification or filtering processes. Application of this technology to full-scale gasifiers will allow integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems to operate with relatively high particulate-control device (PCD) temperatures. This will allow high cycle design efficiency without fear of damaging gas-turbine blades with metals that have escaped the PCD. The technology also allows the inexpensive production of very clean bio-syngas streams for subsequent reforming into high-value products. In addition, the high-temperature sorbents developed in this work will eliminate toxic metals (such as Pb, Cd, As, Se, and Ni) that are poised for regulation.
Contact:
Steve Piccot
piccot@southernresearch.org
Richard Adamson
adamson@southernresearch.org