SPX to Design and Install First Flue Gas Discharge System at a U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plant
Proven Technology to Enhance Natural Draft Cooling System at American Electric Power's Cardinal Station in Brilliant, Ohio
CHARLOTTE, NC - October 27, 2009 -- SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) today announced that its Thermal Equipment and Services segment was awarded a contract in September of approximately $47 million to install a state-of-the-art flue gas discharge system and other upgrades to enhance the existing natural draft cooling tower at Cardinal Station. The coal-fired power plant, jointly owned by Buckeye Power and American Electric Power, is located in Brilliant, Ohio.
Flue gas discharge technology enables better dispersion of the exhaust plume into the atmosphere, resulting in reduced local ground-level concentrations. Treated flue gases will be conveyed from the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system into the cooling tower through one or two glass-fiber reinforced plastic ducts and discharged into the atmosphere together with the cooling tower plume. This combination of flow allows for improved mixing and updraft into the atmosphere.
"Our flue gas discharge technology can help some new and existing coal-fired plants using natural draft cooling towers achieve enhanced cooling efficiencies," said Drew Ladau, SPX segment president. "And in some cases it may even potentially reduce costs," he added.
The principle of discharging flue gases via the cooling tower is not limited to new natural draft cooling towers. Existing cooling towers can also be retrofitted with the technology. Many cooling towers in Europe have been retrofitted with similar flue gas discharge systems to meet environmental regulations.
The first flue gas discharge system was completed in Europe at the Volklingen MKV power station in Volklingen, Germany in 1981. Since then, more than 25 similar systems have been installed across the European continent. There are currently more than 55 natural draft cooling towers at coal-fired plants in the United States.
Built in the 1960s, Cardinal Station has three coal-fired units and generates a total of 1,830 MW of electricity. Preliminary on-site work on the cooling system retrofit will begin as early as this year. The final flue gas discharge system installation expected to be completed in 2012 during the commissioning of a new FGD system (scrubber) that Cardinal Station has said that it expects will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 98 percent.
SPX's Thermal Equipment and Services segment is a leading provider of wet, dry and hybrid cooling towers, heat exchangers, air and flue gas systems and filter systems, utilized by thousands of power stations and plants in more than 60 countries across six continents.
The segment's broad offering enables the maintaining, refurbishing, upgrading and modernizing of power stations, and includes a wide range of aftermarket services and solutions. With more than 100 years experience designing and constructing natural draft cooling towers up to 655 feet in height, SPX has more than 275 natural draft concrete hyperbolic cooling towers operating worldwide.
About SPX
SPX Corporation is a Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing leader. The company offers highly-specialized engineered solutions to solve critical problems for customers.
SPX is focused on providing solutions that support the expansion of global infrastructure, with particular emphasis on the growing worldwide demand for energy and power. Its innovative product portfolio, containing many energy efficient products, includes cooling systems for power plants throughout the world; custom engineered process equipment that assists a variety of flow processes including food and beverage manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, distribution and refinement and power generation; handheld diagnostic tools that aid in vehicle maintenance and repair; and power transformers that regulate voltage for electrical transmission and distribution by utility companies.
SPX is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has employees in over 40 countries worldwide. Visit www.spx.com. (NYSE: SPW)
Certain statements in this press release including any statements relating to fulfillment of the terms of the referenced contract, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Please refer to our public filings for a discussion of certain important factors that relate to forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The word "expected," "anticipated" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Statements in the press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and SPX disclaims any responsibility to update or revise such statements.
Contacts:
Ryan Taylor (Investors)
704-752-4486
E-mail: investor@spx.com
Jennifer H. Epstein (Media)
704-752-7403
E-mail: jennifer.epstein@spx.com