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Terry Harris (Environmental Manager). SunCoke Energy Middletown Operations (MTO): Its First 2 years of Operation. WHO IS SUNCOKE ENERGY MTO?. Originally named the “Middletown Coke Company” in its 2008 PTI application
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Terry Harris (Environmental Manager) SunCoke Energy Middletown Operations (MTO): Its First 2 years of Operation
WHO IS SUNCOKE ENERGY MTO? • Originally named the “Middletown Coke Company” in its 2008 PTI application • Plant was constructed on a greenfield site in the southern section of Middletown (on Yankee Road adjacent to Monroe) • Construction commenced in February 2010 and the plant started-up on October 29,2011. • Plant consists of 100 non-recovery metallurgical coke ovens, organized into 3 batteries along with coal/coke material handling equipment.
SunCoke Manufacturing Process • MTO’s coke ovens have a proprietary design that enables them to produce coke with minimal HAP emissions (defined as MACT) • Flue gases from the ovens are routed to Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) to recover waste heat and produce superheated steam • The superheated steam is sent to a steam turbine to generate electricity (up to 67 MW) • The cooled flue gas is routed to a Flue Gas Desulfurization system for SO2, PM, Hg, and acid gas emissions control
SunCoke Video “Coke Manufacturing”
Major MTO challenges during its first 2 years of Operation • Community Relations • Operational • Regulatory
Community Relations Challenges • “NIMBY” syndrome with certain Monroe residents who live adjacent to MTO resulted in the formation of the “SunCoke Watch” organization. Plant construction was delayed to address various community concerns. MTO formed a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) which meets bi-monthly to maintain an active dialogue with its stakeholders. • SunCoke Watch, Monroe, and the NRDC appealed OEPA’s issuance of MTO’s PTI. The appeal was eventually settled in July 2012. • During its first year of operation, MTO was typically blamed for all odor and PM deposition nuisances that occurred in the area. MTO responded by implementing a progressive complaint investigation program to address all nuisance complaints it receives.
Operational Challenges • Startup of Flue Gas Desulfurization System – 12/1/11 dusting event • Process control system malfunctions • 1/4/12 UPS trip: 6 days of intermittent bypass venting • 3/2/12 Steam Turbine trip – 2 days of bypass venting • Flue Gas Desulfurization system malfunctions • 10/5/12 Spray Dryer Adsorber malfunction – 7 days of bypass venting • HRSG malfunctions – most frequent type of malfunction MTO experience (HRSGs don’t have backups) • Dust issues – MTO installed additional dust control equipment on its coke conveying system to reduce the potential for generating visible emissions • Hg emission control issue - new system currently being installed to meet Hg emission control requirements
Regulatory Challenges • High level of scrutiny from SWOAQA and OEPA • Frequent agency visits & contacts • Any deviation MTO experiences usually results in the issuance of a Notice of Violation by the agency • Unsatisfactory environmental performance at other SunCoke locations • SunCoke plants in Franklin Furnace, OH and Granite City, IL are subject to a consent decree with USEPA, OEPA, and IEPA which requires them to install redundant HRSGs to reduce their bypass venting • MTO is on USEPA’s radar as a result of their performance
The Future • MTO’s new Hg emission control system will be on-line in October • MTO continues to make improvements in the reliability of its HRSGs • MTO will continue to be a good neighbor that is responsive to community and regulatory issues.