Energy, economic, and environmental issues related to the retirement of industrial boilers

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5553855

Placet, M; Hanson, D A; Grogan, P J; Streets, D G

The retirement rate for the existing stock of industrial boilers is important for projections of fuel use patterns in the industrial sector and resulting emissions trends. This report examines retirements due to physical deterioriation, plant closings, and fuel switching for economic reasons. Economic incentives for replacing existing oil- and gas-fired boilers with coal-fired boilers are analyzed by calculating payback periods, present values (or levelized costs), and annualized costs. Sensitivity analyses, which examine the effects of a flue-gas desulfurization (scrubber) requirement, varying fuel prices, and tax incentives, show how the decision to convert to coal would be altered by changing conditions. The report also discusses impediments to replacement of oil- and gas-fired boilers with coal-fired boilers, including physical constraints, financial considerations, and psychological factors. Models that project boiler retirement are discussed, and modeling changes that incorporate the consideration of uncertainty are suggested. 14 figs., 17 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5553855
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-285; ON: DE85015409
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200104 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Components
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
294000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
500600 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BOILER FUELS
BOILERS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
CONTROL
DECISION MAKING
DEMAND
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
NATURAL GAS
PAYBACK PERIOD
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION CONTROL
SERVICE LIFE