Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

The food processing industry relies heavily on companies like Nationwide Boiler for providing temporary steam for seasonal production, especially every summer when tomato season rolls around. One report indicates that California accounts for more than 90 percent of the U.S. production of tomatoes and in 2008 the state recorded a $953 million crop. As a food staple, tomatoes can be found in one form of another in most every household and are used in ketchup, pizza and pasta sauce and salsa, and many other products requiring tomato paste.
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Nationwide has always taken a proactive approach towards renting equipment to tomato processors located in California's Central Valley. To keep the industry running, it is vital that Nationwide stock an adequate amount of trailer-mounted boilers in anticipation of an abundant harvest, on top of equipment already rented out to customers in other industries. It is also important that Nationwide continually stay in contact with tomato processors well in advance of the start of the season to ensure equipment is available and operating prior to tomato delivery.

One prominent processor located near Modesto, CA recently rented a 70,000 lb/hr trailer-mounted boiler with a CataStak™ SCR system and an EconoStak economizer. As in previous years, the equipment was delivered as the company was preparing to ramp up production prior to the first tomato-laden trucks rolling in. The addition of the CataStak and EconoStak improved boiler efficiency and the boiler easily met the 5 ppm NOx emission requirement required by the local air district. Not only is Nationwide providing an immediate supply of steam, but the company is also providing an environmentally “green” solution.

The next time you enjoy ketchup with your fries or when you add an extra scoop of sauce to go with your spaghetti, remember that Nationwide Boiler was involved in making sure those tomatoes made it to your plate, and we expect to continue to do the same - time and time again.

The need to operate a boiler efficiently in today's environment and competitive landscape is at the top of many plant owners and operators list. Unfortunately operating a boiler efficiently while meeting local emission regulations do not always go hand in hand. However, advances in boiler system design and low NOx technology solutions have made this a much more achievable task.

The list below includes 10 tips which can instantly improve overall boiler performance and sustainability, helping to achieve more cost-effective maintenance and operations of your steam system.

This list, along with general guidelines for each, will be published in an upcoming issue of Process Heating magazine. Please email Nationwide if you are interested in obtaining a copy.

1.    Reduce Excess Air

2.    Install an Economizer

3.    Install a Condensing Economizer

4.    Upgrade to VFD Fan Controls

5.    Install a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) with a Standard Low Excess Air/No FGR Burner

6.    Perform Proper Water Treatment

7.    Reduce Boiler Pressure

8.    Consider Boiler Blowdown Heat Recovery

9.    Upgrade to a High Turndown Burner & Controls

10. Implement an Energy Efficiency Program

Nationwide Environmental Solutions, a strategic business unit of Nationwide Boiler Inc., launched it's new site today: www.catastak.com. Here you will find the latest product information and news for the CataStak selective catalytic reduction system and EconoStak economizers for valuable fuel savings.

Check out our new website and let us know what you think! We welcome your comments.

Do you want to obtain no-cost, technical services and incentives for your boiler systems, while decreasing your energy costs? Enovity, a sustainability consulting firm, provides cash incentives for boiler efficiency improvements to commercial, industrial and agricultural customers in PG&E's service territory who pay the Public Good Charge or Public Purpose Surcharge and operate hot water or steam boilers.

Through Envoity's Commercial Industrial Boiler Efficiency Program, facilities were able to save over $2.8 million in annual energy costs and receive $2.9 million in cash incentives during the 2006-2008 Program cycle. As a result of Enovity's success, the Program will continue through the next funding period.

Enovity helps its customers identify boiler system energy efficiency opportunities at their facility, perform measurements and analysis to estimate energy savings, assist in the implementation of the energy efficiency upgrades (such as reviewing contractor proposals), verify the installation of measures and the final savings achieved, and provides a financial incentive to help buy down the cost of these projects. Enovotiy has also been instrumental in combining boiler energy efficiency with NOx upgrades in order to improved boiler capacity, improve operations and maintenance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Examples of these measures include burner control upgrades (for 30 ppm NOx), burner combustion fan VFDs, and SCR installation and ULN burner replacement (such as replacing a high excess air, ULN burner with a low excess air 30 ppm NOx burner with a CataStak SCR system).

Benefits of participating in the Program include reduced energy consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced maintenance costs and improved system efficiency What do you have to lose?

For more information about Enovity's Commercial Industrial Boiler Efficiency Program, visit their website at: http://www.enovity.com/programs/cibep.html.

Also, read Nationwide Boiler's case study about how a major California food processor was able to receive cash incentives as well as energy and emissions reductions though the installation of a an E2Stak solution (CataStak SCR system and EconoStak economizer) and a condensing stack heat recovery system.