Licensing agreement makes industrial boiler technology commercially available

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) — a leading research, development, and training organization serving energy and environmental markets — and Cannon Boiler Works Inc., a leading supplier of boiler economizers, recently signed a licensing agreement that will soon make the new transport membrane condenser (TMC) technology commercially available. TMC captures waste heat and water vapor from exhaust/flue gas for reuse and is applicable to industrial and commercial boilers, as well as elevated-temperature industrial processes. Beneficial results of TMC include increased operating efficiency and lower overall energy costs. Additionally, when used with industrial and commercial boilers, it is the cornerstone of a state-of-the-art heat recovery system that can provide an increase in fuel-to-steam efficiency of as much as 15 percent (up to 95 percent fuel-to-steam efficiency) and up to 20 percent water capture and reuse without the need for water treatment.

TMC models, covering a range of boiler sizes, are expected to be available for commercial sale this year. It is anticipated that TMC will enter the large industrial watertube boiler market in 2010-2011 and will be introduced to selected applications in the paper and steel industries in the 2011-2012 timeframe.

GTI is the inventor and patent-holder of the TMC technology, which has been licensed exclusively to Cannon for certain fields of use. The technology is a key element of the U.S. Department of Energy's Super Boiler program and was developed with co-funding from the Department of Energy; Utilization Technology Development, NFP; California Energy Commission; California Air Resources Board; South Coast Air Quality Management District; Southern California Gas (a Sempra Energy Company); and GTI and its Sustaining Membership Program.