Wisconsin Electric Power Company

Other

Reuse Technology, Inc.

Bryan C Fisher

Bruce W Ramme

Scott W Lewis

John J Noegel

Bryna D Goeckner

Catlin Mattheis

Terry L Coughlin

Photovoltaic array performance monitoring is disclosed herein. A photovoltaic array performance monitoring system may include a data acquisition unit coupled with reference and ambient photovoltaic panels. The reference photovoltaic panel is equipped with a soiling removal unit which periodically removes deposited soiling materials from an active photovoltaic collection area of the reference photovoltaic panel. The ambient photovoltaic panel accumulates light obscuring soiling materials at a rate approximately equal to those of a proximate photovoltaic array. The data acquisition unit periodically sends electrical energy measurements of the reference and ambient photovoltaic panels to a computing system. Over time, the electrical energy output differential between the reference and ambient photovoltaic panels exceeds a predetermined threshold. The computing system evaluates the electrical energy measurements and determines when it would be cost-effective to clean the photovoltaic array. The result is output in a human cognizable format and/or a machine readable format.

Photovoltaic array performance monitoring system

A method for reducing the amount of mercury affixed to a sorbent and/or fly ash is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an amount of sorbent and/or fly ash wherein at least a portion of the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash has particulates having mercury compounds affixed to the particulates; and exposing the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash to heated flowing air until mercury compounds are liberated from at least some of the particulates. Preferably, the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash is maintained in the heated flowing air until the sorbent reaches a temperature of at least 700&#xb0; F. (372&#xb0; C.). When the sorbent is activated carbon, it is preferred that the amount of sorbent and/or fly ash is maintained in the heated flowing air until the activated carbon reaches a temperature in the range of 700&#xb0; F. (372&#xb0; C.) to 1000&#xb0; F. (538&#xb0; C.).

Mercury removal from activated carbon and/or fly ash

An apparatus for the application of heat to remove ammonia compounds from fly ash is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of fly ash comprising particulates having ammonia compounds affixed to the fly ash particulates, a heating chamber including a treatment bed comprising a media having openings, a fly ash supply conduit for transferring fly ash from the source of fly ash to the treatment bed of the heating chamber, a source of heated air, an air supply conduit for providing a flow of heated air to the treatment bed of the heating chamber for contacting the fly ash on the treatment bed with the flow of heated air, a heated air conduit in communication with the heating chamber for transferring the flow of heated air from the heating chamber, and an ash removal conduit in communication with the heating chamber for transferring heated fly ash from the heating chamber.

Ammonia removal from fly ash

A method and apparatus for the application of beat to remove ammonia compounds from fly ask, thereby making the fly ash a marketable product is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an amount of fly ash wherein at least a portion of the amount of fly ash comprises particulates having ammonia compounds affixed to the particulates, and exposing the fly ash to flowing air having a temperature of at least 1,500&deg; F. (815 &deg; C.) such that the fly ash is maintained in the flowing air until the fly ash reaches a temperature of at last 900&deg; F. (482 &deg; C.). The apparatus ( ) includes a source of fly ash ( ) comprising particulates having ammonia compounds affixed to at least some of the fly ash particulates, a beating chamber ( ) including a treatment bed comprising a floor ( ) having openings a fly ash supply conduit ( ) in communication with the heating chamber ( ) and the source of fly ash ( ) for transferring fly ash from the source of fly ash to the treatment bed of the heating chamber, a source of heated air ( ), an air supply conduit ( ) in communication with the source of heated of heated air ( ) and the heating chamber ( ) for providing a flow of heated air to the treatment bed of the beating chamber for contacting the fly ash on the treatment bed with the flow of air, a heated air conduit ( ) in communication with the beating chamber ( ) for transferring the flow of heated air form the heating chamber, and an ash removal conduit ( ) in communication with the heating chamber ( ) for transferring heated fly ash from the heating chamber.

A process for the agglomeration of flue gas desulfurization dust is disclosed comprising the steps of introducing flue gas desulfurization dust as feed material into a conventional, high-intensity mixing device and admixing with water to form spheroidal agglomerates ranging in size from a Tyler number of about 40 mesh to about 1/2 inches in size. The agglomerates are either dried to ambient temperature, or by dusting them with a portion of the dry feed material, and recovered. The process can effectively agglomerate any calcium- and sulfur-containing flue gas desulfurization dust by adjusting the amount of water added and providing for the proper amount of mixing energy and duration. The mixing device can be selected from any one of a group of conventional, high-intensity mixers consisting of, but not limited to, a pin mixer, paddle mixer, plow mixer, pan pelletizer and disc pelletizer. An agglomerate produced in accordance with the present invention is a free-flowing, non-dusting, non-hygroscopic product of desirable size having application as a soil additive which can be spread easily in agricultural type spreaders.

Growing community of inventors

Kennesaw, GA, United States of America

Bryan C Fisher