I want to bring interrested parties up to date on the issue of replacing the fuel mixers with carbuerators at the Spraberry Plant. It seems that this replacement was performed ONLY as a fuel savings activity and that there would be no increase in emissions or horsepower as a result. According to the TNRCC, they will allow this activity provided that the above is true and that we prove that emissions and horsepower will not increase. To do this they have requested that we conduct an emissions test on one of the units with the mixer on and then with the carbuerator on as a condition of their approval. IE before and after testing. I am going to request that we be allowed to do the testing with a portable emissions tester, which has been verified in side by side testing on New Mexico units as opposed to bringing in a third party referenced testing company. Contractor testing runs about $3-5,000. A condition of all permitting issues is that the carbs are not supposed to be installed on the units (preconstruction) until approval has been given by the agency. In this case, we will be allowed to install a carbuerator on the one unit to be tested but not on all units. Should testing show other exceedances (emissions or Hp) in addition to fuel savings, this will trigger actions requiring perimtting. Under the circumstances, I think it would be in the best interest of NNG to know for certain that we have not violated the grandfather status of the units and that if our activity requires permitting, we comply immediately. I am sending out the letter request to the TNRCC today. If approved, we should test ASAP. Remember, that sampling ports in the exhaust stack of the unit to be tested will need to be constructed prior to testing. Let me know if the Team will need a diagram showing the sampling port locations.
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Ignition System Spraberry Plant, Permit Status