CA2574344A1 - Systems for prevention of hap emissions and for efficient drying/dehydration processes - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention discloses systems, apparatuses and methods for drying or dehydrating high moisture content feedstock to dry or low moisture products.
The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets, flakes or other desired form for the final product. The systems, apparatuses and methods of this invention also provide for prevention of release of IIAP, including VOC, emissions from manufacturing facilities in conjunction with or independent of the above treatment of high water content feedstock

Description

SYSTEMS FOR PREVENTION Oli 1lAP EM.lSS1ON:S AND I~OR EFFICIENT
DRYING/DEIIYDRATION 1'ROCESSES

FIELD OF THI's .INVENTION
100011 'I'hi.s invcntion relates to processes, systems and equipment foi-economically removing water from raw niaterials or intermediate niaterials in manufacturing processes and/or for eeonoinically controlling or preventing 1:-IAP, including VOC, emissions in industrial processes and operating plan.l.s.

BACKGROUND OF TFIE :fNVENTION
10002] Industrial processing facilities for food, paper, drug and other nianula.cturing that involve the use of and removal of large amounts of water have a continuing nccd for more efficient and more economical equipinent and processes for r.enioval of water fi-om raw material strcams and/or intermetGate product strcams. Rising ftrel cost.,s always bring more urgency to the need for more efficient and lo\ver cost water removal ar-d dehydration tecluiologies.
100031 lndustrial manufacturing and processing facilitics t.hat produce hazardous air pollutant ([IAP), inclrtding volatile organic compound (VOC), etnissions have a continuing neeci for tnore effective and. more econoinical cquipmcnt and processes for control and prevention of such em.issions into the a.tmosphere_ Increasing regulatciry presstire from fedctal, sta.te and provincial Environmenta.l Prot.cet.ion Agcncics (EPAs) on industrial operations to el.irninate or- redttce HAP emission is resulting in more urgency for improved and more econamical HAP enlission control technologies.
(00041 Prior art sysleins have not satisfaclorily addressed the problem of HAP
emissions prociuced in indust.rial manufacturing operations. Sources of such emissions are the manufacturing processes ihenisclves aud lhe ma.terials produced in the nianufact.uri.ng processes. Some of these elnissions are passed through scrubbers or converters to contain or alter Ihe HAP content., but some are typically and frequently vented or released to the atmosphere, and are environmentally objcctionable due to the atnlosplieric pollution caused by the VOCs, greenhouse gascs Luid other cotnponents contained ilterein.

[0005] Examplcs of the prior arl publications that have addressed the above problems include U.S. Patents 5,866,752 to Goozner, and 6,944,967 to Staples, thc disclosures of which are incorporatcd herein by reference in their entirety.
[0006] It is apparent froni the above that i.here is a substanl.i.al unmet need for envirorunentally and economically acceptable technologics for control and prevention of HAP emissions and for economical removal of water from high. water content process streams. The present invention is directed to niethods, apparatus, systenzs and products for meeting sonie or all of thesc needs..

SUMMA.RY OF THE INVENTION
100071 The present invention pi-ovides economical and simplified nietliods, systenis and apparatus for controlling a.nd containing HAP etnissions, including VOC
cn3issions frorn various industrial operations.
100081 ln one aspect, this invention provides a naethod for contr-olling HAi' eniissions frorn. a manufacturing facility comprising passing thc .HAP emission into the conibustion ai_r intake of a gas turbine, which is preferably a gas turbine generator.
[0009] In another aspect, this invention provides apparatus for controlling HAP
emissions fi-orn a rnanufacturing facility comprising a gas turbine, preferably a gas lurbine generator, and a connection between the HAP emitting equipment and the gas turbine that directs at least a portion, and pr:eferably all, of the T-IAP emissions .ii.ito the combustion air intake of the gas turbine.
[00101 Iu another aspect, tliis invention provides a methoci of modifying au existing manufacturing facility containing a gas turbine or gas turbine generator anci having FIAI' emissions which comprises connecting the H.AP emission source to the turbine combuslion air int.ake to direct at least a portion, and prefci-ably all, the HAP emissions into the combustion air intalce of the gas turbine.
[0011] In another aspect, this iilvention provides economical auci simplified methods, systems and apparatus for rc;moving water, dehydrating and/or thermally converting at least one fecdstock containing water, preferably at least one high water content feedstock.
[00121 1n another aspect, this invention provicles a method for water from a high water content fcedstock connprising contacting the feedstock witli tl.le ex.haust gases from a gas turbinc, preferably a gas turbine gcnerator. Preferably the contacting is under conditions of substantially excluding outside air from the contacting stcp to provide best cconoiny and prccluile oxidation of the feedstock materials during water removal.
(0013] hl another aspect, this invention provides apparatus for dtying and/or converting high watcr content feedstock comprising a gas t.rubine in combination with a dryer vessel adapted for rccciving high water content feedstock and for receiving thc exhaust gases from thc bas turbine through a connection; wherein the connection Uctween the gas turbine and the dryer vessel is preferably adapted to substantially preclude the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and preferably provides the dryer vessel adaptcd for such drying and/or converting the high wat.er content feedstock by clirect contact of the exhaust gases and. the high. water content. feedstock [00141 Ln anoiher aspect, this invention providcs a portable system for processing high water content fecdstock coinprising at least one portable dryer unit adapted for diying or lieat treating a high water content fecdstock to produce a dried or altet-ed material and at least one portable proccssing unit adapted for convet-ting the dried or altereei tnaterial frotii the dryer unit into a product having a foim sui[able for conventional handling and transpot1., and pref'erably provides such a portable systern wherein the dryer Lu1it compriscs a gas turbine, preferably a gas turhine gcnerator and a dryer vessel. Frtrther, the invcntion optionally provides sucb a portable system wherein the gas turbine and dryer vessel are connected by an atTangenlent that passes the gas turbine exhaust gases into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel.
(0015] In another aspect, this invention provides the above pot-table systern.
comprising a first skid-inounted unit comprising the gas turbine generator adapted for producing electricity; and a second sk.i.d-rnounted unit comprising the drycr vessel ad.apted for connection to the gas turbine to receive the gas turbine exhaust gascs and to preclude the introduction of air into the dryer vcssel. Optionally a tlrird skid-mounted unit is provicled com.prising the processing unit. Preferably the portable systems of this invention comprise r-ail-moutited, truck-uiounted or semitrailer-mounted units. In another aspect, this invent.ion provides the portable system, comprising the gas turbine and dryer vessel, phts an optional processing unit., con(igut-ed and sized for a single skid-mount or truck-mount installation.. Another optional aspect comprises an enclosure or enclosures for the portabte units, prijuarily for operating noisc attenuation as well as protection from weather conditions.

10016] In an.other aspect, this invention provides a system for control and destniction of HAP cnai.ssions from industtial facilities comprising a gas turbine having a coixibusl.ion air intake and a facility having an HAP eniission, wherein the c.ombustion air intake is adapted to receive at least a portion of, and preferably substantially all of, thc HAP
crnission froni the facility. The gas turbine can optionally conipri.se a gas turbinc generator and can optionally includc a dryer vessel adapted for receiving the bas turbine exliaust and for receiving and heat treating higli water con.tent fecdstoclc.
ln an alternative aspect, thi.s invention provides saici syst.ems for processing sucli TfAP
emi.ssion through thc combustion air intake of a rcciprocating engine, whieh can optionally include an electric generator and can optionally include a dryer vessel aclapted f or receiving the enginc exha.ust. In another alternative aspect the TIAP emissions can be directed to the combustion air intakc of gas, oil or otlier buiners that are employed to perform the dryinc,, dehydration and/or materiai conversion according to the above aspects of Qlis invention.
[00171 Tn anotlier aspect, tlus invention provides apparatus for trealing bibh water content feedstock comprising a gas turbine having a combustion air intalcc adapted to receive HAP emission froni an industrial facility producin; hi~h water content feedstock., a dryer vessel having a connection adapted for receiving exhaust gases fi-om the gas turbine <uid having an inlet for receiving the hibh water content feedstock.
Optiona.lly the combustion aii- intake can be adapted for connLctlon 1C1 lbe faclhty ventllati.on systeln wliereby the combustion air intake receives substantially all the f(AP
emissions fi-oin the facility.. Additionally in this aspect, the connection between the dryer vessel and the gas turbine exhaust can be adapted to substantially preclude the introcluction of air into the dryer vessel.
1001$1 The above aspects and other aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the ar-l from the disclosui-e herein.

BJt1EF DESCR.IT'TION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00191 FiG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a process for trcating high watei-content feedstock using the process alyd equipment in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] Fig. 2 i.s a plan view of the process units according to this invent:ion in the form of porlable skid-mounted, truckable units.
100211 I~ig.. 3 is a plan view of the process units according to this invcntion in the fo1711 of portable skid-mounted, tr-uckable units in another configuration..

[0022] Fig. 4A is a plan view and Fig.. 4I3 is an clevation view of an illustration of a configuration of the system of this invention mounted on a semitrailer truck.
100231 Fig. 5 is a schematic of processes for prcventing HY1P emissions and other gases to the a.tmosphcre using the systems of the prescnt invention..

DESCRII'TION OF 'IHE 1NVGN'l'ION
[00241 This invention provides an economical, efficient and siunplifed solution. to tlre increasingly severe problem of enviroumental pollution caused by 1-TA1' emissions from industrial operations. Prior art methods and syst:enis provided to date eitlier are not sufficicntly effective in controlling such emissioris or are not adaptable to be econoniically feasible for sjnall as well as Iarge industrial operations.
Other problems exist with many of the prior art systems, incluciing uneconomical to operate, failure to deconta.minate and failuie to prevent air pollution (or in fact causing additional ot-alternative environmental problcros in the operation of Qie process)_ [0025] The present invention provides higl-fly efficient and cconomical teclulolooy in the fonn of processes, apparatus and systems for (a) processinD high water content.
feedstocks and. for (b) reducing or climulating the undesirable HAP emissions.
The.
bn-eatcst efticiency and economic benefit of the present invenf.ion is achieved when the processes, apparatus and systems of this invention are einployed in a single industrial facility to both process high water content feedstock and control H11P
emissions, but similzu benefits can be realized whcn the processes, apparatus and systcros of this invention are used t.o process high water content feedstock in or for one facility and to control HAP eniissions in or fi-om a second nearby or neighboring facility.
And, this invention can provide substantial bene(its to a facility utilizing (a) or (b), or both.
[0026] The tenn "high water content feedstock" is used herein to rrlean and include industrial manufacturing process strcani.s which can be raw material streanis, intennediate streams or setni-finished product streams that need water removed to enable flrrther processing or produce a final product and which may optionally comprise organic materials or which optionally comprise inorganic anatetials or mixtures tlicreof: This invention can pr-ovide efficient processes and systenis for reinoval of water from proccss streams and/or provide heating to thennalJy convert or react a product stream to a converted or reacted product (in batch or continuous operations). Uses of this invention include rcmoving water frotn, dryinb and treating continuous process strcams and/or batches in paper manufacturing, manufacture of particle boarii, cardboard, drywall board, grecn board, etc., potato processing, lruman food production, such as production of oatmeal, coni flakes, corn synip, corn meal, corn starch, mashed potatoes, sugar, niilk, powdered milk, cheese, saoces, ketchup,,jams an.d jellies, "instant" coffee, juice concentrates, and other d.chydrated prod.ucts which are rehydrated at the time of usc, beer an.d other fer;nented and/or distilled products, snack foods and other consur.ner products, such as pet food, drug, cosmetic, chemical and othermanufacturing facilities.
As is apparent, the systenis and processes of this invention can be used to process a feedstock by dehydration without conversion or reaction, by conversion. or rcaction without dehydration, or by any combination or proportion of both, The systetns and apparatus of this invention can also be adapted for installation at pai-ticular individual facilities to intercept the process streams for water removal. Related aspects of this invention for use ui processing waste materials, manure and municipa] sewa~c, are disclosed in conw.zonly assigned copenciing U.S. Patent APplications Serial No 11/184,7 38 and Seria]
No.
11/184,739 both filed on July 18, 2005, the disclosures of whieh are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety 100271 The present invention provides simplified, economically effcient processes to produce liquid, paste, slurry, or solid products that comprise ilie solids content of the high water conteit feedstocks (including intermediate process streams or intermediate products) that have been. dehyd.rated to the desired moisture content level and/or have been converted, reacted or altered physically and/or cheniically as desired., This invention also provides for recovering and recycling the water removed froni the feedstock, which water can be used for process water or otlier industrial uses, anci for recovering and recycling all solids (fines or other) produced in the process, so that therc arc na significant solid products produ.ccd or resulting fi=oni this invention other than the desired products suitable for commercial use. The selection and adaptation of the processes, apparatus and systems of this invention to treat or process a particular feedstock to produce a particular desir-ed solid, liqtrid, paste or sluriy product will be apparent to one skilled in t:lie art froro the disclosure her-ein.
[00281 According to this invention, a inost efficient Nvay of providing the hot gases for contact with the high water content feedstock is the cxhaust from a gas turbine, and preferably a gas turbine electric generator. According to the system of this invention, the gas turbinc is fueled frotn locally available conventional fuel sources, such as pipeline natural gas_ The electricity produced from the gas turbine generator is preferably used internally in the manufactttriiig facility or in otlicr nearby operations as a source of power or in a conibination of uses for power and heat recovery fi-oni the processes cnlployed in this invention, or can be sold into the local po-,N~er grid as a revetiue source.
100291 A preferred featurc of the process and apparatus of tliis invention is tbat t.he gas turbine and the high water cotttent fccdstock dryer vessel receiving the exhaust gas front thc gas turbine arc coruiect.cd togei.lier stich that induction of otttsidc air into the dryer vessel is substantially or completely precludcd and the dryer vessel preferably i-eceives the exhaust gases directly from the gas turbine_ It is preferred that 100% of thc gas turbine exhaust gases are passed into the dryer vesscl and, for most.
efficient operation, preferably witliout passing thr=oug t any intervening heat exchanger, silencer or other equipment in order that the dryer ve.ssel receives the maximum heating froni the gas turbine exhaust. It is also recogniied that exccss cxha.ust gases from the turbine not needed for the (ilyer vessel operation can bc (iivcrte(i to provide heat rcqturcd in other aspects of the nianufacturing facility or in other nearby operations. It is also preferred that the exhaust gases result from conventional and efficient conibustion ratios in the gas turbine so that the exhaust gases contain minimum or limited amount of free oxygen;
essentially no unbunncd iticl, no exposed flanie and that the optimum exhaust gas ternpei-ature (EGT) is achieved, for maxinium heat produced, pcl uIllt of tn.el ConSUrrie(l.
Tf desired, coinbustion can be at stoiclliometric ratio for peak EG'I' operation at maximum tempei-aturc and maximuni heat input for the process and system of this invcntion. 'fhe absence of excess oxygen in the exhaust gases, precluding outside air induction into the dryer vessel, the absence of cxposed flame and operation at the temperatures set forth herein prevents significant oxidation of the high water contcnt feedstock in the clryer vessel, preserves the maximum nutrient value in the high water conteut feedstock for containnient in the end product and, when the output of the dryer vessel is a dry, oxidizable material, prevents t:he danger of fire damage to the equipmcnt an(i provides mi operation safe froni flash fires in the dr.yer vessel. 1"he absence of excess fuel in t.he exhaust gases prevents the exhaust gases from being a source of hydrocarbons that must be scnibbed from the vapor effluent fi-o.nl. the operation of this invention.
before being released into the attnosphere. In other preferred operations of this invention it may be desired or essent.ial that air or oxygcn be introduced in controlled quantities or ratios to provide a desired oxidation or chemica.l conversion of t.he liiah water content feedstock in the dryer vessel.
100301 For use in this inventi.on, it is preferred that the hig water content feeclstock have a moisture coutent of at least -3 )0% by wcight wate.r, preferably at least 50% and more preferably at least 70% in or-der for the economic benef.t of this i.rlvention to be best utilized. T-Iowever, in son-ie operations the water content of thc f.becistock. mat:erial inay be as liigh as 90%, 95% or cven 98%_ ln addition, the feedstock material may be a solution with all. solids dissolved therein, where the dissolveci solids arc precipitated out as the water is evaporated froin the feedstock in the processes and systems of this invention. The present invention can efGciently and economically process such high water content feedsi.ocks to not only recover thc solids cor.iten.t in the forin of a final product, but to also recover the process water, which can be recycled and i-eused. This invention can process and dehydrate high watei- content fcedst.ocks efficiently and economicaliy du.e to the fact that, in its prefcned aspects, fi-om a bivcn conibustion of natural gas fuel, the gas turbine generator provides both electric power for use or sale and heat f'or processing t.he fecdstock, plus the excess stea.m produced in the dryer vessel can be used clownstrearn, upstream or in other nearby operations, sucli as for preheating high water content feedstock, process heat, etc., providing additional operational fi-el efficiency. This invention can he adapteci as disclosed het-ein, to contain and process not only thc watcr and solids but also thc gases produced in a manufacturing operation. In some cases it niay be desirable for economic operat.ion reasons to mcchanically separate part of the water from high water content feedstock, e.g., by centrifuaes, filters or presses, befoi-e processing the fccdstock in the syst.em of this invention. Such separated water can be i-ecyclcd for use as disclosed above.
10031 ]'I'he tenn "gas turbinc" is used hei-ein to rnean and inclucic any turbinc engine having a compressor turbiiie stage, a combustion zone and an exhaust turbinc stage that is capablc of producing exhaust gas teniperitures of at least 500 F, preferably at least about 700 F, more preferably at least about 900 .h and most preferably greater than about 1,000 F. Gas turbincs are the heat source pi-eferred, for use in this invent.ion because of their effcient operation and high heat ontput. The gas turbine generator is further preferred for use in. this invention due to the production of cnergy by the generator, which energy can. be utilized or sold to inlprove tbe econornics of the operation of the systen) of this invention. The generalor will typically be an electric generator due to the convenience of usin.g and/or selling the eleciricity pioduced. I-iowever, the generator can be any other type of energy generator desired, such as a hydraulic pump or power pack that can drive hydraulic motors on punips, augers, conveyors and other types of equipment in the syst.ein of this invention or equipment in other nearby operations. The heat requirements and the system economics will detennine whether a gas turbine or gas turbuic gencrator is used. If it is desired to have h.igher temperature exhaust gases and higher heat output from a given smaller size gas ttu-bine, it may be dcsired to use a gas turbine instead of a sifnilar size gas turbine generator. Compared to the gas turbine, the gas turbine generator fui-ther expands and cools the cxhaust gases in absorbing cnergy to drive the gcnerator, where in a gas turbinc that cnergy is contained in liiglier temperature gases available for use in the dryer vessel of this invention, 'I'his ca.n be an option when it is economically naore important in the practice of this iDveation to have small (truclcable) high temperature units than to have the revenue streani or economic benefit of the elect.ricity or other energy production by the gas tmbine.
100321 T'he gas turbine or gas turbine ;enerator useful in this invcntion can be fueled f-om any available source with any suitable fuel for the particular gas turbine atid for th.e process equipment designed according to this invention. The preferred and eonvettion.al fuels are sweet naliWal gas, diesel, ker_oscne and jct fuel because the gas turbines arc designed to ru3i most efficicntly on bood quality fuels of these types and bccause of their cornmon availability, particularly at remote agricultin-al operations, where the units of this invention are often most efficiently located. However, other fuels that can he used to fuel the gas turbine include methane, propane, butane, hycirogen and biogas and bioliquid fuels (such as nietliane, oils, diesel and ethanol). Sincc thc system of this invcntion does not procluce a biofiiel, the ftiel for the gas tru-bine used in this invention inust be available at the local site whei-e this invention is ntiliae<i. If fuel is not available locally, a fuel such as diesel can be trucked to the site as needcd.
[0033] E:xamples of commercially available gas turbines and gas turbine generators useful in the present invention include the following (ratcd mcgaxwatt (M.W) outputs are approximatc):
Rolls Royce Gas Turbine Engines Allison 501-KB5, -KB5S or KB7 having a st.andard condition rated output of 3.9 MW
- European Gas Turbines Tornado having rated output of 7.0 MW

Solar Mars 90 having rated output of 9.4 MW and Solar Mars 3 00 lravinb rated output of 10.7 MW
Solar Tarus 60 having ratcd output of 5.5 MW and Solar Tants 70 having rated output ol' 7.5MW
For a nominal solids product output capacity of 2.5 metric tons/hr. (2,500 kg/hr) a gas turbine gcncr<:itor size of about 4 MW can be ttsccl, depending on the heat insulation and heat rccovcry efficiencies desigiiecl into the overall system. For small sinble semitrailer or truck systems, the unif:s may be scaled stnaller. For smaller product output systems, such as an 0.3 metric ton/hr product output, small gas turbines, such as Solar Saturn 0..8 MW, Solar Spartan 0.2 MW or Capstone 0.5 MW or 0.3 MW generators, can be used depending on system efficiencies and required. heat input ranges. For large industrial instailations, wlierc therc is no intcrest in moving the systcni of this invention between facilities, the gas tui-binc gencrator can be any largc size suitablc for per7nanent installation at the facility, such as a 1 OMW, 20MW ot- 40MW tniit, or larger.
It will be recognized that systems according to this invention can also be desibncd to utilize the exhattst gas hcat froru reciprocating engines, such as gasoline or diesel generators.
(00341 The drycr vessel employed in this invent.ion can be any type or configuration that is suitablc for cir.yinb the hieh watr;r content feedstock available and that can be adapted for receiving the gas turbine exhaust gases and receiving the high water content feedstock without allowing a significant amount of outside air to enter the cirying chamber in the dryer vessel where the exiiaust gases contact the high water content fccdstock. The objective of the design of the gas turbine exhaust connection to the dryer vessel for purposes of this inventiou is to prccludc any significant outside air frorn entering (lie drycr vessel to help prevent significant oxidation of the high water content fecdstock. As previously poi.nted ottt, this is preferred to preserve the organic matlcr, carbonaceous and/or nutrient values present in those types of higli water content feedstocks, to prevent fires and io provide a safe operation. As used in ihis invention it is pref:erred and expected that the turbine will be operated at a conventional ratio of fuel to combustion air in order to produce the most efficient exhaust gas tempei-atm-e (LGT) for the ciryer vessel and to produce gases entering the dryer vessel that contain a minimum of free oxygen. ft will be recogiiized by those skilled in the art fi-om the disclosure of this invention, that alternate sources of hot gases other than a gas furbine can be used and connecteci to the di-yer vessel, such as the exhaust from conventional oil or gas burners and reciprocating engines, provided t1icy are operated at convent.ional combustion ratio conditions to minimize fi-ee oxygen, or at stoichiometric ratio for no free oxygen, in the exhatist and arc connectect to the dryer vessel in a fashion that precludes significanl ou.tside air fiom entering the dryer vessel in. order to prcclude significant oxidation of the feedstock. Of course, such an altenla.te and additional sourcc of liot gascs can optionally be connected to the dryer vessel according to this itivention and be used to supplement the exhaust gaSCs output of the gas turbine in order to piovide additional hcat input capacity for the dryer vessel if needed for start up, shut down or surge load conditions or for backup in the event the gas turbine goes off line_ 1t1t1.351 It will he recognized that in some opera.tSons of this invention, not all outside air can be excluded and oxidation of the higl.t water conient fcedstock cannot be completely precluded, pritnarily because of the air present in and entrained in the high water content feedstock, the air dissolved. in the moisture present in the high water content fcedstock and excess oxygen that ma.y be present in the turbine exhaust gases during periods tltat stoichiometri.c ratio of fuel and air is not employed. In addition, in some cases oxygen may he produced or liberated. fr-on3 lhe organic or otlier materials present in the high water content feedstock wlierrthe thernial treatment and, convcrsion takes place aud decomposes or convetts such t.naieriats. Tllcrefore, the terms as ttscd ber.ein whiclt refcr to "preclude introduction of air," "without significant oxidation," and the like, are used in the above operational context and witlt the recognition and intendcd rneaning that the air or oxygen entering the system as part of the high water content fecdstock or cxhaust gases or produced in the thermal convcrsion process is not intended to be prccluded and that the oxitlation that ntay occur as a result of t.hat air entering the system witlt the high water conlent feedstock is not in.tended to bc pi-evented. However, such a lcvcl of oxidation is not consiciered sigitifrcant witbin the scope, coniext and practice of this invention or the meanings of those tertns as used herein. Similarly, "without significant pyrolysis" is used herein to mean that not niore than an insignificant portion of the high water contcnt feedstock is pyrolized, e.g., as in U_S. Patent 6,039,774_ Pyrolysis products are normally undesirable in the processes and products of the present inventiott, and the processes a.nd.
equipnient of this invention are operated to achieve the dcsired drying of thc high water content feedstock and the desired conversion of vari.ous high water content feccistock com.ponents to the desired final products. Following the disclosures hcrciu, it will he apparent to one skilled in the arl for some applications of this invention, to cont.rol the exhaust gas tctn.peratures, the ccmtact times and/or residence tinies in the dryer vessel, the moisture content of thc solids an<i of the vapor phase in lhe dryer vessel anci other variables in order to process a particttlar high water content feedstock to aehieve thc desired results and to ma.xim.iie the desired final products. To other apptications of thi.s invention the tetnperatures, contact times and othe.r operating piuatneters of this invention can be adapted to achieve a desired levcl or degree of oxidation or pyrolysis, if the properties of the final product to bc n:tade using the systems of this invention requirc oxidation or pyrolysis of the fccdstock..
[0036] Exclusion of outside air is also preferred for economic efficiency as well, because heating excess or outside a.ir along with heating the high water content fcecistock reduccs the efficiency of the process. In some instanees whei-e the high water content feedstock is very low in nroisture content or too dry for preferred operation of t.his invcntion, water cati bc added to the fbedstock, to the turbine exhaust, to the turbine intzl-e or to thc dryer vessel to raise the moistutc level in the dryer vessel to a lcval for efficient operation and to produce a solids material frorn the dryer vessel with a desired nioisture content.
100371 It will Ue recognized that the operation of the dryer vessel is nonnally to dry or t-educe the moisture content of the high water contcnt feedstock, but it is to also achieve the high teniperature heating of the high water conteni feedstock to convert certain components and to achieve a cheniical or thermal alteration in the feedstock to provide the content arld properties desired in the fuial product. As noted, one aspect of this invention is the thermal conversion of the various components of the high water content fcedstock without significant oxidatio.n froni the outside air. A.lthongh the range of componcnts in high water content feedstocks are widely varied, it wi 11 be unclerstood by one skilled in the ar-t of conventional processinb of a particular high water content feedstock how to effectively and efficiently employ this invention to improve the cconomics of the m.auufactu.ring operation processing that fccdstock..
100381 The types of dryer vessels that can be used in this invc;ntion are, for example, the followinb_ - Rotary druni with or witlrout internal scrapers, agitation plates aazd/or paddles - Stationary "porcupine" drtun dyer wilh or without scrapcrs and/or agitator plates and/or paddles Triple pass stepped ciryinb cylinder or rot.ary dn.un dryer syste.ms with oi-without scrapers and/or agitator plates atxl/or paddles - Rotary drum dryer systcnis with or without steain tubcs and with or without scrapers and/or agitator plates .uid/or paddles - Tu-bo-drycr or turbulizcr systems - Conveyor dryer systems witli or without scrapers and/or agitator plates and/or paddlesTndirect or direct contact (lryer systems witli or w-ithout scrapers and/or agitator plates and/or paddles Tray dryer. s Fluid bed dr=yers Evaporator systems Baking ovens 100391 Exarnples of conunercially available dryer vessels useful in or that can be adapted for= use in this invention include:
- Scott AST Dryer7M Systems - Simari Dryer I.td.. - Drum dryers - Wyssmont Turlx) Dryer systcnis - Duske Engineerin; Co., Inc.
- Energy Unlimited drying systems - The Onix Corporation dehyelrrl.ion systeins - International Technology Systenis, lrlc. direct or indirecl dryer systems - Pulse Drying Systenis, Tnc.
- MEC Compa.n.y dryer systcros Further examples of dryer vessels useful i.n or that can be adapteci for use in this invention are disclosed in U.S.. Patent Nos. 5,746,006 to Duske et al. anri 5,570,517 zuid 6,367,163 to Luker, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entiret.y..
[0040[ As notcd above the "dryer vessel" does not necessa.rily always fiinction pr-imarily as a dryer by removing moisture from the liigh water content feedstock in the syst.em of thi.s inventioi.i. The dtyer vessel also functions as the thermal treatment/conversion/alteration vessel or oven in which the Iaibh water content feedstock is heated to sufficient temperatlu-es for sufficient t.irnes to produce the clesired final materials and products as disclosed herein. In addition, the dryer vessel need not provide ciit-ect contact of 1he turbine cxhaust gases or othen heat source and t.he hi!~1.~ water content 1:3 feedstocl., but can provide indirect heating of ilie high water- content feedst.ock to acliieve the drying and/or thcrmal treatinent/conversion/alteration desired according to this invention. The dryer vessel can be lined witb appropriate matei-ial to prevent or reduce coirosion, erosion or excessive wear. It will be recogmized that the systems of this invention can be adapted to perform various funetions in various coufigurations i.n a particular installation or operation. For example, two dryer vessels can be operated in series wherc a high water content feedstock is dried in the fii-st dryer vessel then the output from the ri-st dryer vessel is therinally treated in the second di-yer vessel to achieve the desired chemical or physical conversiou or altera.tion. In such an arrangement, the exliaust gases cari bc supplicci fi-oin a single gas turbine exhaust split between the two dryer vessels, or can be supplicd by two separate gas torbines. From this exannple it can be seen that the processes, apparatus and systcins of this invcntion can be adapted to operate various equipment coinponcnts in series or in parallcl to pcrfonn various processing ftrnctions desired following the teachings of this invention to achieve thc effective and economic operation thereof.
[00411 rlnot.l.ier aspect of the dryer vessel adapted for use in this invention is ihat. the dryer vessel preferably also functions as the silencer for the gas turbinc or other engine providing thc hot exhaust bases. It is well known that gas turbines, (essentially jet aircraft engines), produce a high level of noise impact on the ne~uby environment.
Stationarygas turbines used for electric power production or other purposes are usually required by local, state and federal regulations to have silencers installetl to muffle the noisc of t:hc exhaust of d}e gas turbine to acceptable levels. Such silencers have the economic disadvantages of cost and creating back pressure on the gas turbine exhaust, which reduces the ef ficiency of the gas turbine operation. One advantage provided by this invention, due to the connection between the gas turbiiie exhaust aYid the di-ycr vessel preferably being closed to outside air, is that thc dryer vessel functions effectively as a silencer for the gas ttrbine This is at least in part a result of the inter-na1 configuration construction of the dr-yer vessel acting in combination with the presence of the high water content liigh water content feedstock, which combination is effective in absorbing and inuffling the gas turbine exhaust noise. This is also due to the downstrcam end of the dryer also being closed to the atnlosphere, because the steam and off gases from the di-yer vessel are collected for condensation, cleaning, recycling and for heat recovery in the downstrean.l processing in a closed systcm before being vented to the at.ri-iosphere. It will be apparent to one skillccl in the ar-t that capability for venting at various points in the process and the cquipnicnt system may be desirable to acconinioclate stai-tup, shutciown, upsci. or fecdstock variability, but. will normally be operated as a closcd systeni having only 6nal product output and cleaii gas venting.. The turbine exhaust can optionally be partially or temporarily wholly divcrted to othei- downstream uniis, bypassing the dryer vessel, when needed for supplcnlental hea.t in other process units or for startup, shut-down or' upset.
100421 Another aspect of this invention is that the steani aud off gases can bc pttllcd fi-am the discharge end of the drycr vessel by an appropriale fan, vent blower, etc., to provide a reduced pressure at the upstream entrance of the dryer vessel, thereby reducing the hack pressure on the turbine exhaust. This incrcases the efficiency ofopei-ation of the gas turbine and is made possible because the connection between the gas lurbine cxhaust and the ch-yer vessel is not open to outside air.. It will bc understood that the commercial system design may include a vent or even a conventional silencer connected by tee or otber configurat.ion into the conncction between the gas tw-bine exhaust and the dryer vessel for use during stai-tup, shut down or upset opcration, but would not be eniployed in the nomial operating configuratiou for the process and apparatus of this invention as described above. To achicve best cfrciency of operation of this invention, it is prefen-ed that the connection between the gas turbinc cxhaust and the drycr vessel inlet have no obstructions in order to deliver the exhaust gases to the dryer vessel with a tninimum of heat and cnergy loss between the Das t.urbine and the dryer vcssel. It will also be recoonixed from this disclosure, that the operation of a gas turbine benerator will preferably be conti-o11ed for optimal efficiency or economics for the high watcr content feedstock clrying, therma.l convetsion, chen.rical alteration and othcr pr-ocessing needs, which may not be the optimal or best gas turbinc operating conditions for electricity production. The clectricity production is a cost recovery i-evenue streatn for tbe systein, but the overall economics of the operation of this invention may be better under;;as turbine operatin-, conditions that favor optimum exhaust hcat output for efficient drycr vessel operation and downstreain production of products having desir-eci properties and disfavor electricity production. Determination of such operating conditions for a particular installation of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art following the tcachings herein. Gas turbine control systeins of this type are disclosed in commonly assigned copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/185,433 filed on July 19, 2005, the disclosure of which. is incorporatcd herein by re.ference in its entirety.
100431 Another advanta;c provided by this invention results fi-om the eontact of th.e gas turbine exhaust gaS with the high watei- content fecdstock in thc confined space of the diyer vessel without significant outside air present. The NOX and SOx eini.ssions, anci to some extent CO and CO2 cmissions, in thc gas turbinc cxhaust are substantially reduced, and in soine cases reduced to zero, by absorbing or complexing of tile NOx and SOX
cornponents into the high water content feedst.ock, where they remain absorbed, coniplexed. or fixed in the dried or treatcd material exiting the dryer vessel and in the product after processing into granular, pellet or prill or other form. '1"his provides the advantage of both lowerinS or eliniinating the emissions ofNOK and SOx (and CO/CO2) into the atmospbere anci adding the nitrogen, sulfur and carbon components to the nut.ricnt value oI'the procluct produced by the process and apparatus o!'this invention.
100441 7'he operating conditions and procedures foi- the dryer vessel will be apparent to one skilled in the W't following the teachings herei.n of the disclosure ofthis invention.
The typical turbine exhaust gas tcinperat:ure ent.ering the diyer vessel will be in the range of about 500 F to abou.t 1,500 h, depending on moisture and other contentof.
the hibh water conten.t feedstock and tlie dcsired condition of the product output fronn the dryer vcssel.. fn smaller systcros with smaller engines, the inlet exhaust gas temperature can be as low as about 300 F or about. 350 F. A prefeired range is fi-om about 600 l, to about 1.200 F, and it is more prefen-ed that the inlct temperature be at least abou.t 650 F and most preferably at least about 700 F. 'The temperature and flow rate of the gas entering the drver vesscl will depetid in part on the moisture content and other properties of the high waler content feedstock. Higher moisture content will obviously generally rcquire higher inlet gas temperatures to reduce the m_oisture content. It is believed that an additional efficiency is achieved in the systems of the present invention wherc high water content feedstock is contacted witli high te.nperature gases. Such contact causes the formalion, sonietimes instantly, of supcrheated steain as the moisttrrc comes out of the high water content feedstock, then that superheatcd steam heats and drives the moisturc out of adjacent high water content feedstock_ It is believed that this mechanisnl is respansible for quick drying of the higb water content feedstock to a low moisture content so that the remaining residence time of the high water content feedstock in the ciryer vessel eontributes to the desired thermal treatment/conversion/alteration or "cooking"
thereof accorditig to this invention. Sotne high water content fec(lstocks may require lower temperatures but lonber. residcnce tinie to acliievc the conversion or "cooking"
needod to produce a product having self.-binding or other desired properties.
Thc teniperatut-e of the matcrial exiting the dryer vessel will typically be in the range of about 150 F to about 450 F and prefera.bly between about 200 F and about 350 F.. Ia some operations, the dryer vessel exit tenipet-ature of the material should be at least about 175 F aiid preferably at least about 200 F.
{0045] A.s used herein the tertn "convertcci material" is used to refcr to and ineans the dried high water content feedstock which is produced in the dryer vessel by reducing the 111oisture content of the high water cont.e.nl feedstock from an existing level to a lower lcvel according to this invention and/or achieving the chemical alterations and conversions referred to het-ein. The "converted material" is considercd an intermediate product lhat is suitable for fttrlher processing into a final product suitable for constun.er, conimercial or industrial use. 'f'ypically the converted material froni the dryer vessel will be processed by millinb t.o produce a powder or meal, followed by granulating, pelletizing or prilling of the powder or meal or to fomi flakes or other forms of the final product suitable for conventional handling, packaging and/or transport. The converied material can also be tnilled or other-wise powdered and made into a sltirry or other liquid or punnpable product that can he recycled or used as needed. Local econon.lics will have an impact on detennining the end use to be made of the rnatei-ial produced from the dryer vessel or the final product produced from the system of this inventi.on and whether the inaterial from the dryer vessel is subjected to fin-ther processing..
[0046] As used herein the ter7n "Wanule," "granulating" and the like reler to any - -anular fonn of the material or product produced by this invention, including conventional granules, powder, dust, cruinbs and the like, produced by conventional granulation processes and equipnicnt , includinb crushing or crumbling previously formed pellets or pri.lls. The t.errn "pellets," "pellcti.zing" and the like refer to any pellet fonn of the materials or pt-oducts produce<i by this invention, including cylindrical, lxtllet, spherical or other shape, typically made by conve.utional pellctizing processes and equipmcnt, such as by extt-uding a slurry or paste and cutting, chopping, or breaking the extrudate to the desired size. The tenns "prills," "prilling" and the like refer to any prill form of ihe materials or products prod.uced by this invcntion made by convent.ional prilling processes and equipmerit, including spray tower processes, freczc drying processes, etc. The terms "flakcs" and "chips" and the like refer to any form of products like corn .flakes, potato chips, corn chips and the like. Other fonns of food products (human, pet or animal) include conventional nuggets, shaped products, like stars, etc., and the like.
100471 An extrusion pelictizer is one of the preferred pi-ocess units for use in connection with or as part of this invention, because it takes advantage of the self-binding properties of the rnaterial produced in the drycr vessel, and because it can be operated under tem.peraiw-e anci pressure conditions that may provide or furllier contribut.e to the "cooking" of the material to produce the basic and/or cnhiuiced sel f-binding properties of the product of this invention. In a typical operation, the material from the dryer vessel is millcd, and the powder or meal from the milling unit may be mixed with steam or water, for example stearn or condensed. water vapor (i-om the diyer vessel, suffrcient to form malerial that is extnadablc at Iiigh pressure and t.empcrature to form pellets or other shapes. The hcating and tcniperatures achicved in the cxtrusion pellitizer may be from hea.ted screws, dics or drunis or may be froni the energy of high pressur.e compression. In either case the extrudable material is heated to a higli temperature in the process. It is believed that for som.e high water content feedstocks that tlie high tempcrature and pi-essure in the extruder pelletizer rnay Iitrther "cook" or convert certain components in the material to provide or coutribute to aciditional or enhanced sel f-binding propcrties of the resulting pelletized, granulated or prilled proctuct. Typical operating conditions for such an extrusion pelletizer will be an extrudable material having nioisture content of up to abou.t 20% by weight or higher, clepcnding on the extruder equipment employed.
Extruder tcmperatures and pressure will be those norinally used in conventional cxla=uder equipmcnl. Other operaiing conditions can obviously be ernployed depending on the high water content feedstock being processed and the desired properties of the formed product.
The pellets produced niay be dried to reduce the moist.ure content to a level suitable for stable product stor-age, e.g., about 10% by weight. The moisture removed at this point in the process can be i-ecycled for use in other steps and processes of the systems of this invcntion, as disclosed herein.
(0048] The high water content fecdstock will typically have a inoisture content belween about 50% and about 90% by weight, preferably behvecn about 60% and about 80%
by weight and nr.ost preferably bctwcet.i about 65% and about 75% hy weight.
(Pcrccnt by weight, as used hercin, is in reference to percent of the componcnt: in qucstion based on the total weight of the mixiure referrcd to.) Although high water conten.t feedstock of lower moisture co.ntent, for example, as low as about 40% by weight or even 30% by weight can be processed in this i.nvention.. 'fiie preferrcd high water content feedstock has a moisture content of at least about 50% by weight, more preferably at least about 60%
and most preferably at least a.bout 70% by weight. When the hig i water content feedstock has a liigh moistnre content ui this range, processing advantages are achieved.
froni the essentially instant production of steam and superheated steam at the inlct of the dryer vessel where the l,000 F exhaust gases contact the Mgh moisture high water c.ontent feedstock at atrnospheric or subat7nospheric pressure. The steam and superheated steam thus produced contributes to the drying, cooking and convcrsion of adjacent or nearby a.nd downstream particles of high water content feccistock, which enhances the efficiency of (he pr.ocess. Tt is preferred for operation of the process and apparatus of this invention that the high water content fccdstock be mixed and blended ainong batch.es or different parts (top, bottom, indoor, outdoor, etc. ) of the saine batches to provide a unifonnity of high water con.tent fcedstock proper9:ies. This preferred preparation enables the procitiction of a more uniforni tn.ater.ial from the dryer vessel, and simplilics control of the process operations. The teniperature of the high water content feedstock will typically be ambier.rt, i.e, in the range of about 307 to about 100 F, but can be lower tharr 30 F, provided that any frozen agglomerations do not interfcre with the feedstock preparation or tlie operation of the dryer vessel and feedstock feedcr equipment_ The high water content feedstock may be used at any temperature direct from a mauufacturing facility or fi-oni a process unit, which may be at tui clevated t.emperature_ The economics of the systeins of this invention are usually improved if the high water content feedstock is at an elevated tempcrature or is preheated prior to introduction into the dryer vcssel. lf such fcccistock pr-eheating is employed, it may be done in any desired fashion, such as heat exchangcr, solar heating, heated conveyers or augers or lieated concrete slabs in the staging and fcedstock preparation area, and rnay be done with heat recovered and recycled from the process systems of'this i:nvention.
[0049] The contact tin.ie between the turbine exhaust bases and the high watcr content feedstock will be delermined by several. variables including m.oistur.e content of the feedstock, moisture content desired in the dryer vessel outhut uiaterial, the chctnical alteration/conversion desircd, volunie and temperature of the exhaust gases entei-ing the dryer vessel and other factors. The contact time will be regulated to provide not on.ly the drying dcsired, but also to elevate the particlcs of high water content fcccistock solids to suffieiently higli tempera.tures to sufficiently convert compon.ent.s preseM
in the feedstoek when such conversion is desired, and/or to produce a self-binding procl.ucl., when desired.
'1'he actual tcmpcrature attained by the particles is not irnpol lant to detennine, so long as the desired levels of said component destruction and conversion, the desired level of self-binding or ot.her desired properties are achievecl. The dcsired contact tune can be varied and regulatcd by the ciryer vessel volume and size and by the throughput volumes of the fecdstock and exhaust gases. The lieat transfel- from the exhaust gases to the feedstock, and consequcntly the tempcrat.ure to which the feedstock is lieated, will mainly be a fiinct:io.u of the mass ratio of exhaust gas to feeclstock. An exaniple of the dryer vessel operation with a gas turbine generator is a Rolls Royce Allison 501-KE35 generator (rated at..3_)M W) having an exhaust gas output of about 122,0001b./hr. at 1,000 F
and connected to a Scott Lquipnicnt Company, New Praguc, Miluicsota, tJSA, rotary tubular dryer naodel AST 8424 having an intental volume of about 26 cubic meter=s (ni;), The higb water content feedstock is material in small particle size and having a moisture content of about 70% by weight ancl a tetnpcraturc of about 65 F and is fed to the dryer vessel at a rate of about 6,500 kg./hr , which is about 10 rn'/hr., (abotit 16,2001b./hr.) to provide an average or noniinal resiclencc time of the solicls in the dryer vessel of about 10 to about 18 minutes and a weight ratio of exhaust gases to high water content feedstoc.k of about 7.5.. The dryer vessel out.put is at about 200 F. The weight ratio of exhaust gas to feedstock will generally be between about 15:1 and about l.:l, pre.ferably between about 10:1 and about 3:1 and more preferably betwcen about 8:1 and about 4:1. The heat requircmenl inay call for a ratio of at least about 20:1 or at least about 25:1 or higher where the feedstock is cold with a very high moisture conten.t and the cxhaust bas is not at a. high or maximum temperature.. 'fhe exhaust gas flow and the high water cont.ent feedstock flow tluough the drycr vessel niay be concurrent, countercurrcnt, singlc stage, multiple stage, etc., depending on results desired and various system designs aDd econonllc conslderatlons.
100501 The output froni the dryer vessel comprises steanl, water vapor, gas tuthine combustion gases and solids that are dried and/oi tliermally treated and conveil.ed to desired fornzs. Typical dryer vessel outlet temperatures of tlie gases and/or solids will nortnally range from about 200 F to about >50 F, but lower or higher temperatures niay be selected and/or desired for economic, prociuct quality and/or process efficiency reasons. The outlet t.emperatures can be from at least about 110 F to at least about 500 T', preferably at least about 180 F and -:nore preferably at lea.st about 200 F..
Tt is generally desired iliat the solids material exiting the dryer vessel will gcnerally have a moisture content between about 10% and aboui 15% by wcight, but can range fi-oni about 5% to about 25% by weight. A.gain, loitJer or higher iiioisture content of the dryer vessel output solids niay be selected and/or desircd for similar reasons. The steam, water vapor and conrbustion gases exiting the dryer vessel will normally be routed through heat exchangers (for r-ecovery of process heat usable downstreatn in grmuiating or pelletizing operations or upstreain in feedstock or Lurbii.ze intake air prehcaiinl;), condensers (for recovery of process water for upstream or downstrcani use, for agriculhiral application or for disposal), scrubbers, Jilters or cyclones (f'or recovering solids entrained in gases or liqiuds and rendering gases and liqtuds cnvirorunentally acceptable for release) anci other conveniional process equipment.
(00511 The solids output from the dryer vessel, referred to herein as converted matcrial, are typically further proccsscd by milling, granulating, pcllctizing, prilling, flaking or other processing to procluce a final feed, fuel, recycle or otlier product in the fonn desired for packaging or bulk distribution, transport and use. Such milling, granulating, pelletizing or prilling equipment and operations useful in this invention are those that are conventional and tvell-h.nown, since the output from the dryer vessel comprises solid and vapor coniponents tliat lend themselves to such processing.. Whatever the product in whatever form, the process, sysi.ean and eyuipment of this invcntion provide for ci.rvironmentally and economically effective processing of high water content fecdstocks to remove them as envirorunenta.l liabilities and provide products which arc convmercially useful, and I.o eliminate disposal in a municipal sewer or landfill. This inven.tion c<ui be used to producc a variety of products and nraicrials .frotn high water content feedstocks, but the preferred materials and products are those tliat have no signircant undesirable component.s remaining that lrave not been converted or destroyed in the heating, chemically altering and/or drying treatment in the drycr vcssel or other operations. The products and niaierials procluced by tliis invention are prefern;d to be useful feed, fucl, recyclable or othcr products, but this invention is also useful in proclucing reduced-volurne solids for disposal in landfill with the advantabe of providing solids having low levels or no amounts of harniful components to leach out from the landfill into sui-face or groun.d watcr.
10052J 'I'he products and materials produced by this invention ai-e usefu! for and include blends wlth. ot.ller nlatea7als, products or chcnricals, as may be desired for particular end uses requiring pa.rticular properties or characteristics. Such otlier materials and addit:ives can be added and blended at any appropriate point in the process: blended with the high water content feedstock, added to the dryer vessel, added in the process water at any point, added to the material exiting the diyer vessel, added as part of any milling, gra.nulating, pelletizinD, flaking or other processing or simply mixed with the final product or blended in before bagging or packaging or at the point of use. For exaniple the final protlucts, while usually relatively oclor fc-ce, can be blendcd witli other materials that can either provide a pleasant odor or provide flavoring as clesired as well known in the food processing industry.
[0053] The systems of this invention include configurations that can be used to reduce and in some operations essentially eliminate tlie cniission into the atmosphcre of noxious odors and grccnhonse gases from marrufactaring facilities, referrecl to hcrcin as "hazardous air pollutant" (HAP) cmissions. Manufacturing operations are coming under increasing regulation by federal and state agcncies due to increasing pressure from population arcas near the maiiufacturing operations. The regulation is ciirected to hvo aspects of air quality. The first aspect is noxious odors in I:IAP emission gases, which contain nlercapta:ns and many other organic compounds that have offensive odoi-s and which are objectionable to residential communities. The second aspect is volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greer-diouse gas (GIIG) crnissions that are harmful to air quality and may or may not be noxious. Grecnhouse gases include CO2, CH4, and N2,O
an(I are usually referred to in tei-ms oi COz equivalcnt effect on the atmosplacre.
Mctliane (eomrnonly released fron) processing facilities) has a CO-2 equivalent factor of about 23 (as used by the USDOE) which niea.ns that I kg of Cl-Ia released into the atmosphere is equivalent to 23 kg of CO2 released (Some sources give the cquivalcnt factor as about 21.) While Cf-la is a greenliouse gas produceci i.n many bioconversion operations, CO>
and NO% gases are also produced. It is particularly desired to pi-evcnt NO,, release into the atmosphere, because it is estimated to havc a COz equivalent of about 310.
Ethanol is a VOC tliat is produced in rnany facilit.ics including ethanol plants (ma.nufactu.ring ethanol for fuel additivc to gasoline), wineries, distillcrics, bakeries, and other bioma.terials manufacturinb utiliaing fcrmentation processes. =1'his invention can be used, as disclosed herein, to essentially eliminate atmospheric release of IIAP enlissions by containing and processing the HAP eniissions, aione or preforably in conjunction with processing of high water content fecdstock to produce products.
(0054] The systcros of tliis invention arc particularly useful in essentially eliminating thc release of HAP emission from manufacturing operations.. In the basic sysl.em of this invention, a gas turbine is eniployed to control HAP emissions produced in a nianufacturing operation, the gas turbine combustion air intake is connected to the manufacturir.lg facility syslceni producing or venting the HAP emissions so tha.t the TTAP
einissions are directed into the gas turbine combustion air intake where one and optionally two processes normally will take place. First, the einission gases arc burned along with the regular gas trnbine fuel supply, tbereby converting the CI1.4 to HZO and CO2 and converting the mcrcaptans and other noxious or acrid compounds to H2O, CO,, NO,; and SO,;. Second, when an optional dryer vessel is cotmected to the gas turbine exhaust, the exhaust gases fi-oni the gas turhiiie are contacted with a high water content feedstock, whcre the NO, atid SOa and to somo extent CO, gases are absorbed into oi-complexed witli the high water content feedstock as it is ch-iod and/or thermally ireated to form a converted material or to forin a final product. This aspect of this invcnt:ion prevents the T-IAP cmissions fiom entering the atmosrhere.
[0055] Existing manufacturing facilities can irnmediately directly and effcicntly utilize this invention for control of iIAP cmissions by instaliing a gas tiirbine preferably a gas turbine generator, either a portable or permanent unit, and connecting at least somc aud preferably all the HAP emission soui-cc(s) in Che facility to the turbine combustion air intake. Facilities that are enclosed and ventilatcd by fresli air inlets and exhaust air outlets, and particularly those that are climate controllcd by licating and air conditioning, can additionally beneft from this invcntion where such ventilation air has HAP
emissions present therein because at least a portion and preferably all, the ventilation exlhaust air can be directcd to the gas turbine combustion air inlet. Tn acldition, facilities can be econoniically enclosed (c g. by canvas walls) and vcntilated by forced air (with or without climate control) to collect essentially all HAP cnlissions ftom the J.3.1.anufacturing operation and directing the ventilation air to the gas turbine combustion air intake. Of 2.3 course, it is also preferred that tlie facility liave the full econornic advantage a.txi benefit of this invention by including with the gas turbine generator a dtyer vcssel for dehydration and water rcnloval in appropriatc process strcams or manufacturing steps ur the facility, as disclosed Irerein.
(0056] hz utilizing this aspect of this invention it will be recognized that it is preferahly operated so that all the HAP emissions sourccs and/or the ventilation air exbausted from the manufacturing facility is fed lo the gas turbine air intake to prevent release of II/1P
emissions to the atmosphere. Any remaining combustion air needed for the gas turbine will be from ambient air through a coirventiona.l air filter, although it is also prefetred that the HAP emissions sources and the facility ventilation air also pass through the gas turbine intake air filter to prevent datnage or crosio.n of ttn-bine components by entrained dust or other parlicles. The so.lids collected in the air filter can be fed to Ilie ciryer vessel or to other process units in the system for incorporation into the Iinal product pt-oduced by the systems of this invention. Although the inetha.nc or other oxidizable gases in the emission gases vOll not nonnally constitute a significant poriaon of the fuel rcquirenients of the system of this invention, it is burned to produce heat and is not released to the atmosphere. Nevertheless, every kg of emission gas burned reduces the outside gas turbi.ne fuel requirement by an equivalent kg. Tt will be recognized that onc of the principle environinental benefits provided by this invention is the conversion ofHAP
emission components, including such VOCs as nlethan.e, ethanol, meth.yletbylbetone and the like, that are very harmful to the atmosphere, to CO2 and other compounds that have minirnal impact on the atmosphere. In addition, when the preferred aspects of this invention are employed utilizing th.e wa.ter i-emoval and dehydration processes and apparatus of this invention, the eontact,ing of I.he gas tut-bine exlia.ust ;ases with the high water content fccdstock will a.bsorb or "sctub" at least a porti.on of NO,,, SOx, and CO"
and other compounds resulting from conversion of HAP emissions in the gas turbine combustion from the exhaust gases and retain those cotnpounds in the water removed or in the resultin- strcam containing the solids of the feedstock, thereby preventing tliosc resulting compounds from being released into the at.mosphere- In any case, these aspects of this invention can bc operated so that essentially all the I:lAP eniissions are destroyed, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art following the disclosure herein.
100571 It will also be recognired that, while the above descriptioji is in tet-nis of using a gas turbine, the sanae utiliza.tion of tlris aspect of this invention to coritrol HAP emissions can be rnactc using whatever h.eat sourco is selected for use in the system.
Whether the heat source is a gas turbine, gas turbine generator, reciprocating ga,s or diesel eni7ine or evcn a conventional oil or gas burner (like 107 in Fig.. l), the manufacturing facility exha.r.rst ventilation air and/or HAP ernissions streatn or vent can be directed to the combustion air intake so the FfAP cruissions are burned an.ci preferahly so the conibustion gases are contactcd witli the high water content feedstock.
[00581 As furt.her disclosure and illustration of the processes, systcnis and equipment of this invention, reference is made to the schematic flow chart of Fig. 1. [n the exemplary process illustrated, gas turbine generator unit 100 comprises gas tw-bine 101 and cicctric generator 102. 'Che gas turhinc has air intakc flter 104 and fft.rel feed 10.3. If desired, optional bypass exhaust silencer 106 can bc included for startup, shutdown or upset conditions during those times the gas turbine is tunning hut the cxhaust gases ca.nnot be directed into the dryer vessel. However, dryer vessc1200 will function as the silenccr in the normal operation ofthc syst.ern of this invent.ion. Alteniativcly, instead of silenccr 106, the exhaust gas bypass (see 908 in Fig. 5) around the dryer vcssel can be directed to any appropriate downstream unit, such as separator 208 and/or sepiu-ator 600, which can provide a tcrriporary silencer function. 'f his arrangetnent eliminates the cost of a separate silencer= and the space required for a separate silcncer, which is al1 important considcration for the portable, truck-mounted systems_ The gas turbine 101 exhaust is connected to the dryer vesse1200 by connector 105. An optional ail- iulet (not showti) can be includcd for dryer vesse1200 in connector 105 or elsewhere for purging lhe dryer vessel or the system, l'or startup or shutdown or for othcr rcasons, particularly when cit.her the exhaust gases or the liigli water content feedstock is not present in the dryer vessel 200. Tiowever, when botli are prescnt, any suclt air inlet is closed and not used in order to substantially preclude introduction of air into the dryer vcsscl and to preclude signifrcant oxidation of materials being processed in the dryer vessel 200. Optional burner 107 can also be includ.cci to provide supplemental hcat source and combustion gases for the dryer vessel, which cati be provided for input in connector 105 or elsewhere.. "I'he optional supplemental heat source may be useful during startup, shutdown, process upsct, turbine outage or to niair.ntain desired throughput when a peak load or unusttally high water content feedstock is encountered.
(0059] The high water content feedstock is typically introduced into the system by mechanical rneans, such as puinp, auger or whatever is appropriate for a particular feedstock. In this illustration and example, a front end loader 201, dr-ops a solid, high wat.er content feedstock into a rock separator, mixer, cliopper unit 202. The feedstock can he further nlixed and foreign objects separated in screw conveyers 203, 204 then fed to the dryer vessel 200 through 215. The fcedstock can also be pre-mixed or conditioned for desired uniformity prior to loading into 11ris system by loader 201, c.g., in storage windrows that can be conibined and rnixed. In other operations, the high water content fecdstock that is cither liquid or slurry or does not contain foreig2i objects that need to he renioved can be fed directly into the dryer vcsse1200 via inlet 215.
100601 The output from the dryer vessc1200 is transfeired by conduits 205, 206 t.o separator 208 where the solids and gases are separated. The gases pass through 209 and blower 210 to ttic atmosphere via 211 or to other downstreani processing via 212. Blower 210 can be operated to lower the pressiue in separator 208 and in the dryer vessel 200, which will reduce the water boiling point in the dryer vessel and will reduce the water boiling point in the dryer vessel and will reduce the back.pressure on the turbine exha.ust and increase the turbine output and efficiency. Alternatively, blower 210 can be operated to maintain increase(i pressure i.n dryer vessel for higher temperature ti-eatmcnt, conversion or "cookuig" of the high water content feedstock is desired. 'fhc output froni dryer vessel 200 can pass through optional heat exchanger 207 for recovery of process heat for use downstream or in prch.cating the high watcr content feedstock or turbine intake air.. The solids oiitput froni separator 208 pass to batl mill or .hammer mi11300 via conduit, conveyor or auger 301 and optionia niixers and eonditioners 302 and 303. _bt addition, i-ecycled solids, such as fines, from recycle loop 305 can be mixed in at 303 via 304 to be combined for feeciing t:o the ball inill or hainmer mill 300. "I'he fines and off spec material generated. at various points in the system can be collected and recycled via loop 305 and reintroduced into the product processing system at any desired point for further processing, such as the milling unit 300 via 304, the pelletizing unit 400 via 404 or even the high water content feedstock preparation 202, 203, 204 or other points. An imporlant capability of the system of this invent.ion is the complete recycle via recycle loop 305 of all .l'ines or off spec solids so that they are eventually incorporated in the frnal products. Thus, the system of this invention provides 100% conversion of t:he high waler content feedstock solids (except for rocks and ollier foreign objects that are not processible) into the final products and does not produce a solids waste streanl that must be otherwise disposed of, sucli as in a landfrll-100611 "The ball mill or liaminer mill 300 is used when needed to produce a uniform small particle size, short fiber length material called "meal" which is suitable for processing in pelletizer unit 400 to provide a product that has suffrcient hai-d.ness and inechanical. d.urability and stability foi- the conventional processing, packaging and storage no37nally used for dry products. The output of ball mill or hammer mi11300 goes through scparator 3 10 where vapors are takei.i. off a.nd sent via 315 to separator 600 for recycle of solids via recycle loop 305 and venting of vapor's to the atnlosphere via blower 601 and vent 602 Separator 310 takes out fines or material suil.able for recycle via recycle loop 305 and passes the meal to mixer 311. The meal is then sent via 312 to separator 401 and either direct to pellctizer 400 via 408 or to lioldi.ng or surge bin 402 via 409a and 409b for mixing wit1.1 other materials, recycle materials from 404 or additives or for holding in case of process star-tup, shutdown or upset. f~roni surge bi.n 402 the mea.l is sent through mixer 403 and either directly to the pelletizer tuiit 400 via 417 or to niixer 311 via 412 for mixing with fi-csh mcal when d.esired.
[00621 The pellets from pelletizer 400 are passed through heat exchanger, vapor retnoval unit 405 and from there sent via 406 arrd 414 cither direct to rinal product cleaning in units 407 and 415 and finislied product shipping or storabe bin 500 via 416a, 416b, 501 and 503, or sent via 413 and surge bin 410 to a. crumhler or granulator unit 411 thcn to final product cleaning nnits 407 and 415. 'i'lie final procluct is loaded in truck 502 via 501, 503 or via storage bin 500 for transport to market. The fines and off spec product separated out in final cleaninb unit 415 can be recycled for reprocessing via recycle loop.i05. The crumbler or gi-anulator 411 converts the pellets to smaller particle or granular sizc having essentially the sam.c hardtzess and niechanieal durability and stability as the pellets The solids can be transported between processing units of this invention by convcntional augers, elevators, conveyor belts, pneumatic tube conveyors and the like, as appropriate for the material and for environmcntal considerations. As is apparent, the system can be designed and configured to produce a material or product from dryer vessel 200 (that can he baled for dircct use), meal from miJ.l unil 300 (that can be bagged for later processing or for direct use) or a granular product, a pellet product or a prill product frou-i 415.

[006.3] An example of the opcration of the system accor-ding to this invention can be seen from the followinb table. This example is based on the use of a Rolls Royce Allison 501-KE35 (rated at 3.9 MW) gas turbine generatoi- and a Scott Equipment Co.
dryer model A.ST 8424 processing a hi<i i water content feedstock in the forni of a proccssed slurry or paste to produce a protein source pct food product-Example of SVstein Sized for Noininal 2.511letric Tons/llr Finished Prodnct Fig. 1 Strca.n) No. Componcnt. Flow'Rate Condition -------- --- -103 Natural Gas 820 kg/hr Ambient Tenip.
104 Combusti.on Air 48,140 kg/lir Ambient Te).n.p.
105 Exhaust Gases 48,960 kg/hr 1,200 F
215 High Water Content 6,500 kg/hr 70% H20/
Feedstock Ambient Temp---- 200 Residenee'i'ime 10-18 inin.
301 Dried Material 2,730 kg/hr 12% H20 by wt.

312 Meal 2,500 kb/lir 10% HZO by wt.

503 Pelletized Product 2,500 kg/hr 12% H,,O by wt-15 F above Ambient 1'emp.
(0064) Fig.. 2 illustrates one confibaration of the system of this inventi.on in the for.in of skid-inour-tec], truck mounted or rail car mountecl iuiits that can be transported to and operated at desired man.ufacturin.g opcration sitcs where high water content feedstock is available on a daily or periodic basis and on a temporary or ren anent basis.
The frst unit 700 compr.ises the gas tui-bine 101 and ;enerator 102 The seeond unit 701 comprises dryer vessel 200 and separator 208. The dryer vessel 200 lias high watcr content feedstock inlct 215 anci is comicctcd t:o the gas turbine exhaust by connector 105 when stationary and in opcration. The third nnit 702 conlpriscs the processing equipm.ent desired for a particular operation, such as the ball niill and pellctizcr. The procluct output is conveyed by 501 to storage units 500 or to truck 502 for transport to market Optional equipntent can also include units for hagging and other packaging of the .f nal product for various markets.
[0065] Fig. 3 is an illustration of the samc units as in Fig. 2, but positioned on the operation site in a diff.crent configuration. It is apparct.A that the portable, truck-inowited ~nits of this invention are adaptable to a variety of sites that may have limitations on spa.ce availahle..
[0066] hi.b_ 4A is a plan vicw and Fig. 4B is an elevation vicw of another pottable configuration of the systcin of this invention wherein all opera.ting units are mounted on a single senzitrailcr t.ruck 800a and 800b. Gas turbine unit 100 exhaust is connected to dryer vessel 200 by connector 105. Dryer vessel 200 has high water content fec-dstock inlet 215 and is cotulccled. to separator 208 by conduit 206. Separator 208 is connected to vapor/air clcaazer separator 600 by conduit 209 and separator 600 vents to the atnnosphcre by vent 602. The bottol.n outlet of separator 208 is connected via conduit 301 to ball mill unit 300. The outlet of ball mill unit 300 is connected via conduit 312 to pelletizer wzit 400, which is connect.ed to product cleazung unit 415 by conciuit 414.
Clcaning unit 415 has procluct outlet 416. Not sbown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is an optional cnclosut-e for each sk.id-mounted or truck-mount.ed unit to enclose the entire unit for weather protection and for noise attenua.tion.
(0067] Fig. 5 is a schematic process flow chart of somc of lhe optional systenis of t.his invcntion.. Manufacturing facility 900 including an opci ation 901 involving a high water content fecdstock and including fresli air intake 902 for process and/or ventilation use.
Streain 903 is the IIAP emi.ssions and/or vcntilation air whiclz is fed to the gas turbine 101 as part of the combustion air feed 904 through air filtcr 104. The lzi,-,,;h.
water content section 901 can be within the same facility cnclosure or can be separate holding tanks or other areas that are enclosed so that any HAP vapors given off by the fccdstock can bc contained and passed to the gas turbine 101 alonb with the facility iTf1P
emissions and/o.r ventilalion air intake 903 for combustion along with the convcntional gas turbine fuel 103, such as locally available natural gas_ This configurati.on of this invention can prevent HAP emissions from all the inanu.facturin; operations in a facility from being released into the atniosphere. Not only does this provide the opportunity for comtnercial use of this invention to obtain air quality crcd,its for reduced grecnhouse gas emissions, it also provides manufacturing operations a way to bcconie acceptable nei ibors with nearby residentia.l areas, bccause all NAP eniissions can be containeci within the systetn and convetteci to c,omponeni.s that are .not noxiotis or acrid before venting io thc atmosphere.
[0068] The gas turbine generator 101/102 produccs clectric power 905, which can bc eithcr sold to the local power conipany 906 or distributed by 907 for use in the manttfacturing operation or the proccssing units in. the systenis of this invention. Some manufacturing operations will find that the cost of enclosing an open manufacturing facility and installing and operating ventil.ation in order to contain and process all FT&P
eniissions via 903 cati be at least partially if uot substantially offset by using the clectricity 905 for opcration o f the ventilation systero. For example, it niay be feasible, or necessary in some instances due to governmental regulation, to cover a normally open manafacturi.ng operation with inflatable tents, similar to t.hose usecl. for tennis courts, to provide econoinical systenis fok containing and col]ecting all HAP emissions from snch an operation, so those gases can be processed via 903 according to this invention. The economics of each coinmcrcial operation, (uel costs, selling price/purchase price of electr-icity and capital cost of ecluipment will determine whether the electricity is used internally in the nlanu facturing opcrati.on, sold to the power compariy, used in the systems of this invention or used in other nearby operations or any cornbination thcreof, 100691 The exhattst gases from thc gas turbine 101 arc passed to dryer vessel 200 by a connection 105 that precludes outside air fi-om entering the dr-yer. As disclosed herein, the system is operated. so that the oxidation of the high water content fecdsl.ock in the dryer vessel 200 and elsewhere in the systein is mitiitnizcd zu.td substantially avoided.
The dryer vessel 200 also serves as silencer for the gas turbine. An optional bypass 908 ca be provided so the exhaust gases can be scnt to downst.ream eqraipment, such as separators/condensers 208, to silence the gas turbine exliaust when the dryer vessel is off line and to clean the exhaust bases bcfore release into tlie atmosphere during such temporary operation, This bypass eliminates the cost of having a separate silencer to satisfy noise restrictions on the gas turbine when the dryer vessel is off line an.d provides a niore c,olnpact design for portable or truck niounted units.
10070] TTigh water content feedstock 215 is fed to the dryer vessel 200 along with the exhaust gases from connection 105 and aaiy auxiliary heat provided from alternate or auxiliaiy heat sourcc 107. The high water content fecdstock prefei-ablc comes directly from the high water contcnt feedstock in 901 in facility 900 so it is fresh and has little or no time for bioconversion.. Other hi,cjh water content feedstock sources 910 can he used or included in t.he system, such as stockpiled fecdstock or feccistock from other operations that is broughi in to be combined or uiixcd with the feedstock from the immediatc facility.
While the invention is illustrated herein with an embodimcnt of a drycr vessel, it will be apparent to one skilled in tlie art otlier configurations and operating designs of this invcntion can be used depending on needs and con.fif;tuations of the manufact.uiing facility cmploying this invention. For exanrple, a paper, caudboaid or drywall facility may have need to rernove water from a shu-ry, inat or laminate on a moving belt instead of inside a dryer vessel per se. In such operation, the exhaust gases froni the gas turbine can be dirccted through appropriate conduits for direct contact witli the material (fee(istock herein) on'tbe belt to acconiplish the desired water removal, dehydrai.ion and/or conversion of material as disclosed hcrcin. lil esscnce, in such configura.tion the cntire enclosurc around the belt and the area wliere the turbine exhaust (yases contact the material on the belt becouies the "dryer vessel" for pUuposes of descript.ion of this JnvL'ntlon..
100711 The output from dryer vessel 200 is sent. via 205 to t.he separators/condensers designed to separate the solids 912 for fin-tlier processing downstream, to condense the wai.er vapors as reclainicd water 913 and to clean the gases 91.4 vented to the atmosphcre.
The reclaimed water can bc used downstream as pr-ocess water-, recycled for use in the manufacturinb facility, for preparing or conclitionir:tg the high water content feedstock, used for ividustrial process water- or othei- uses. The solids output 912 from the separator units 208 is normally fiu-llrer processed by milling, pelletizing, gra.nulating, ba;gina, etc.
Howevcr, the solids 912 can he used as an inter7nediate to forrn otlier- typcs of products.
For exanlple, the dry material can be baled, formed into shapes, slurred 1or pumping, or can be used alone or in combination with other rna.terials for incineration to utilize the fiie1 valuc of the material.
[00721 Ln cach of the downstream operations, water vapor- may be recovered and recyclecl to t.he separators/condensers 208 for reuse_ As is apparent, the systems of this invention are adaptable to various cont.igurations ..ind various dcsigns clepending on the processing needs and economics ofparticulru manufictrring operations. Various conventional heat rccovery anci t-ecycle aspects, not shown in Fig. 5, can be designed into commei-cial installation of the systems of tliis invention by using ordinary process enDineering desibn skills, i.ncluding ihe fines recycle.305 shown in Fig,1, use of gas/vapor strcam 914 for various heat recovery and. prc-licat.ing applications, insertion of binders, .3 l additives and blendinb materials at various desired poiiits in tlze systein, cooling thc con2bustion air 904 and/or facility HAP emissions 903, e.g., by water spray, to increase efficiency and power output of the gas t.tubines, mechanica.lly pretreating feedstock for dewateiing very bibh water content fecdstock, etc., as will be apparent to one skilled in the art following lhe disclosure hcrcin. 100731 As will be apparent to one skilled. in the art, multiple gas turbMes, other engines and/or btnncrs of l.he same or varying types a.od sizes can be manifolded togetlier to fced niuU.iple dryer vessels of the same oi- varying types and sizes in a single installation. 't'his can be done to not only provide increased feedstock processing capacity btit also to provide operation flexibility for processing v<uying feedstock loads and for performing equipment maintenance without shutting down thc opcration.
100741 While we have illuslrated and described vaiious enibodiinents of this invention, these are by way of illustration oiily and vaiious changes and modifications may be made within the conte.nplat.ion of this invention and. within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. A method for treatment of high water content feedstock in a manufacturing facility comprising:
operating a gas turbine producing exhaust gases;
contacting the exhaust gases with high water content feedstock for a contact time sufficient to produce a dried material having a moisture content less than the feedstock;
and conducting IIAP emissions produced in the manufacturing facility into the combustion air intake of the gas turbine.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gas turbine comprises a gas turbine generator.

3. A method for controlling HAP emissions from a manufacturing facility comprising:
operating a gas turbine; and conducting IIAP emissions produced produced in the manufacturing facility into the combustion air intake of the gas turbine.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the bas turbine comprises a gas turbine generator.

5. Apparatus for treating high water content feedstock in a manufacturing facility comprising:
a gas turbine; and a dryer vessel adapted for receiving the exhaust gases from the gas turbine through a connection and adapted for receiving high water content feedstock;
wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel is adapted to substantially preclude the introduction of air into the dryer vessel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the gas turbine comprises a bas turbine generator.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a connection for directing HAP
emissions produced in the manufacturing facility into the combustion air intake of the gas turbine.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the gas turbine comprises a gas turbine generator.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5 which is portable from one manufacturing facility to another.

10. A thermally treated high water content feedstock which contains NO x, SO x, or CO x components absorbed or complexed therein from contact of the waste material feedstock with gas turbine exhaust gases in a confined space in the absence of significant of oxidation of the high water content feedstock.

11. A thermally treated material according to claim 10 in the form of granules, pellets or prills suitable for conventional handling, transport or use.

12. Apparatus for processing HAP emissions from a manufacturing facility comprising:
a gas turbine having a combustion air intake; and a connection between the HAP emitting equipment and the gas turbine combustion air intake to receive at least a portion of the HAP emissions into the gas turbine air intake.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the gas turbine comprises a gas turbine generator.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising connection between the facility ventilation exhaust and the gas turbine combustion air intake.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the gas turbine comprises a gas turbine generator.