Industrial Partnership Program Awards $2.1 Million for Energy Efficient Demonstration Projects
March 12, 1999
OIT MEDIA CONTACT:Hope Williams/Jayne Brady, 202/586-5806
Industrial Partnership Program Awards $2.1 Million for Energy Efficient Demonstration Projects
U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced the award of more than $2.1 million to six U.S. manufacturing companies to help demonstrate and commercialize more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly industrial technologies. The technologies supported by these grants will further advance their application in the chemicals, metalcasting, aluminum, forest products, and steel industries.The awards are part of the National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3) program, a strategic partnership between state energy, economic development and environmental departments, industry and the federal Energy Department.
"Working with industries on projects ranging from improving the metalcasting process to reusing plastics will help reduce energy use, save taxpayers' money and cut pollution," said Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "Businesses, the environment and consumers all win as a result of industry producing low-cost, high-quality goods."
The six NICE3 recipients for this year were chosen from 45 applications submitted by 24 state agencies. The one-time grants range from $211,000 to $425,000. Award recipients will contribute over $3 million.
Since 1991, the department has funded 91 projects, including this year's recipients. The program includes more than 200 partners in 32 states and territories. NICE3 has leveraged $81.8 million in state and industry funds with $26.3 million in federal funds. More than half of the recipients have been small businesses.
Companies, state partners, projects and contribution breakdowns for 1999 are:
MBA Polymers Inc., Richmond, Calif., $600,000 with the California Energy Commission — U.S. Department of Energy — $425,000. Plastic Manufactured from Recovered Post-Consumer Durable Goods. MBA Polymers Inc. will demonstrate a highly innovative process that allows plastics of similar densities to be separated for reuse. The process is called thermal density control and works by taking advantage of specific temperatures when different plastics can be separated.
North American Die Casting Association, Rosemont, Ill., $300,000 with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs — U.S. Department of Energy — $285,000. Increasing Productivity and Reducing Emissions Through the Enhanced Application Control of Die Casting Die Lubricants. The North American Die Casting Association will demonstrate a new two-step process whereby water is applied to a die until it is cool enough for a lubricant to adhere. There are more than 6,000 die casting machines in the U.S. that form, cut out or stamp materials. The die casting industry will benefit by increasing productivity while reducing emissions, casting scrap and energy consumption.
Alcoa, Warrick Ind., $211,211 with the Indiana Department of Commerce, Energy Policy Division — U. S. Department of Energy — $211,211. Demonstration of a High Temperature, Corrosive Resistant Recuperator for the Metals Industry. Many metal process industry companies experience high temperature corrosive flue gases that are discharged to the atmosphere wasting up to 50 percent of the furnace thermal input. Alcoa and its team will demonstrate a novel coating to protect metal recuperators from corrosive flue gases containing chlorine, potassium, and sodium, saving up to 30 percent in energy consumption.
Industrial Microwave Systems Inc., Research Triangle Park, N.C., $400,000 with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resource — U.S. Department of Energy — $400,000. A Device for Efficiently and Uniformly Drying Nonwoven Materials Using Microwave Technology. Industrial Microwave Systems Inc. will demonstrate the use of microwave technology to dry materials such as paper and textiles. Microwaves are 50 percent more efficient than conventional steam drying and, therefore, significantly reduce energy consumption in the nonwoven materials industries.
Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Allentown, Pa., $697,256 with the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency — U.S. Department of Energy — $400,000. Cryogenic Separation of Foundry Sands and Reuse of Reclaimed Streams. Air Products and Chemicals Inc. is constructing the first commercial-scale demonstration of a new technology that uses extreme cold to freeze, separate, and reclaim sands used in metalcasting. The demonstration will take place at General Motors in Defiance, Ohio. Up to 95 percent of sands currently discarded can be recovered for further use.
Weirton Steel Corporation, Weirton, W. Va., $1.1 million with the West Virginia Energy Efficiency Program — U.S. Department of Energy — $400,000. Hot Mill Transfer Bar Rapidfire™ Edge Heat Project. Current hot strip mill technology uses only one heat source, the reheating furnace, located at the start of the process. Because a steel slab cools non-uniformly during hot rolling, the total slab is overheated. Weirton Steel Corporation and their team will demonstrate an edge heater that is located prior to the finish-rolling step. This edge heater technology will result in higher quality steel, fewer defects, reduced energy use and lower emissions.
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