Technology for Energy and the Environment

A Truckload of Energy Efficiency

2010-12-28T05:59:00.000-08:00

Highly efficient Miura steam boilers were selected for a major utility upgrade project at a roofing manufacturing plant in Texas. Marspec worked closely with the specifying engineer to create a package of steam production and condensate handling equipment that was both economical to purchase as well as operate.

Marspec supplied three Miura EX300 boilers, a Lockwood deaerator and various other valves and accessories. We snapped a photo the truck carrying one of the Miura boilers and the Lockwood DA as it was preparing to leave the Marspec facility.

Marspec Ships Ductwork for Economizer Project

2010-12-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

The condensing economizer that Marspec shipped to a Mississippi industrial customer was completed with some custom ductwork designed by Marspec and built to our specifications by a local fabricator. The completed metalwork was delivered to Marspec's Spanish Fort, Alabama shop where it was insulated and palletized for shipment.

Here is a photo of the completed ducting loaded on the hauler for delivery to the job site.

Marspec Technical Products Appointed Representative for Mader Dampers

2010-12-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to have been chosen as the authorized factory representative Mader Dampers to service Alabama, Mississippi and northwest Florida.

Mader offers a complete line of dampers for all hot gas services. From louver types to simple butterfly designs, Mader can meet any customer need. Users in the power generation, steel, and other furnace-using industries can find a high-quality custom built damper at competitive prices.

Additionally, Marspec can select and mount nearly any style actuator and other control accessories in our Spanish Fort shop.

Visit the Mader web site for more details or call Marspec at 800-233-1394.

Spirotherm Air Separators Save Big Energy Dollars

2010-11-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

A large Midwestern university found a significant chiller performance improvement through proper air elimination in the circulating chilled water piping system. Best of all, the project carried a sub-two year simple payback.

Youngstown (Ohio) State University studied one of their chilled water systems with an eye toward reducing energy consumption. The system included 3 -1,200 ton York chillers fed by 3 -250HP chilled water pumps. While the pumps maximum design flow was 8,640 GPM the variable frequency drives were locked at 6,500GPM for constant flow operation. The chillers were operated under a variable output control plan.

The study zeroed in the installed air separator which was a common centrifugal design. The 16” line size separator was rated for 8,000 GPM maximum flow however, at maximum flow its’ removal efficiency was only 40%.

The physical plant operator investigated the impact of a new, high efficiency coalescing air and dirt separator built by Spirotherm and customized for the project. The recommended unit was a 20” line size, selected for optimum air elimination at the maximum flow rates. Even at maximum flow conditions the selected unit:

· Eliminated 100% of the free air
· Eliminated 100% of the entrained air
· Eliminated up to 99.6% of the dissolved air

The dirt separator function of the Spirotherm unit removed 80% of all dirt and sediment 30 microns and larger within 100 passes. This feature eliminated the need for additional sidestream filtration and the associated maintenance it would require.

The new Spirotherm air and dirt separator was installed in a very short time window – 24 hours over a holiday - and was started up without a hitch. The results of the new separator were apparent almost immediately:

Chiller output went from 2,300 tons to 2,700 tons; a 15.9% increase
ΔT at the chiller increased from 8.5°F to 10°F
Delivered air temperature at the furthest point on the campus went from 65°F to 58.5°F

So what can this advanced separator actually save in energy costs? A lot it, turns out. When the control scheme is altered to a variable pump flow and constant chiller output plan, the required chiller output (2,300 tons) can be met with only 5,543GPM – a 14.7% reduction in pump flow from the original 6,500GPM. Couple that with head reduction to only 72.7% of the initial conditions, pump power consumption drops to only 62.1% of initial conditions – a 37.9% KWh savings.

Put into dollar amounts, the Youngstown State plant engineer calculates that the previous system’s pump energy consumption cost the school $94,650.00 per year. At 62.1% of the initial conditions (as outlined above), the new pump energy consumption will be $58,778.00 – an annual savings of nearly $36,000.00.

The project cost was $70,300.00 which included a contractor’s premium for overnight installation on a very tight schedule. The project’s simple payback was just under two years – savings that will continue to accrue over time.

Marspec Technical Products can help you select the right Spirotherm air and dirt separator for your unique needs. For complete details – and a demonstration – of this technology, call us at 1-800-233-1394.

Solar Water Heating from Marspec & American Microsolar

2010-11-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Marspec is pleased to have been appointed the regional representative for American Microsolar. This unique, patented technology is able to bring the feasibility of solar water heating to more places in the USA.

American Microsolar uses a series of coaxial water heating tubes that collect solar energy and then through a thermosyphon action, conduct it to the rooftop storage tank. The American Microsolar water heating system is so effective, it was able to bring water to a boil in less than 7 hours in a mid-northern latitude.

Contact us for the details of this exciting new product.

Kelly Patterson Joins the Marspec Team

2010-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

We are proud to welcome Kelly Patterson to Marspec Technical Products. Kelly is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi where she earned a degree in Marketing. She will be working in the Marspec customer outreach group and in inside sales.

Welcome, Kelly!

Marspec Welcomes Jeffery Grizzle

2010-05-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

Marspec is very pleased to announce that Jeffery Grizzle has joined the company in the capacity of inside sales and marketing specialist.

Jeffery is focused on outreach efforts to help customers find new energy efficiencies with Miura boilers. We welcome Jeffery to the Marspec team!

Marspec to Supply New Condensing Economizer

2010-03-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Marspec Technical Products has been selected to provide a new Sidel Systems condensing economizer to a North Mississippi manufacturing facility.

This new economizer will supply up to 120 gallons per minute of 'free' hot water for the process. The economizer acts as a water heater that takes advantage of the heat in the steam boiler's flue gas to provide this hot water. Heat that is now going up the stack to the atmosphere will now be harnessed to make hot process water.

Currently, the customer is running a steam boiler and supplying this steam to a heat exchanger to produce hot water. Marspec estimates that the customer will slash their natural gas bill by over $250,000.00 per year and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 4.1 million pounds annually - the equivalent of removing 357 passenger cars from the highway, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Steam Traps with Wheels

2010-02-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

While we're on the subject of steam traps, here is a photo of a steam trap cart Marspec developed for a customer that unloaded railcars of asphalt. The previous practice was to simply allow the steam to blow through the coils. In addition to causing a great deal of noise, it took almost 48 hours to bring the asphalt to pumping temperature. The cost of steam used for each car was staggering - about $2,600.00.

Marspec showed the customer how much could be saved on each railcar by using properly sized and selected steam traps - nearly $2,300.00 per car. Marspec even devised an innovative steam trap solution that eliminated the need to spot the cars precisely to connect the steam traps.

A rubber-tired platform became a portable steam trap station. With two TLV JS7X steam traps, each car could be brought to temperature in less than 6 hours.

Marspec can design an energy saving solution for your tough challenges, too.

A Better Way to Install Steam Traps

2010-01-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Marspec Technical Products was recently awarded an order for the design and construction of a steam trap manifold for an Alabama manufacturer of thermoplastic products.

Originally, the customer used different types of steam traps from various manufacturers without knowledge of how the traps would affect production. Marspec's Craig Simons and Wayne Hoggle performed a walk-through survey focusing on improvements to reduce energy usage and improve productivity. The team realized that by using correctly selected steam traps in a well thought out installation, the facility could cut the amount of steam used per unit of production.

Craig and Wayne recommended that the customer install TLV J-series free float steam traps and SpeedWrap high tech thermal insulation. The TLV J-series team traps are unequaled in removing air and large slugs of condensate on batch processes. Reduced startup time means more production and improved profitability. The SpeedWrap insulation product keeps more of the condensate's heat in the line for return to the boiler. Hotter returned condensate means less fuel is needed to create steam.

Marspec was given the go ahead to develop the manifold in the photos. In a matter of days, the Marspec shop assembled the manifold and added the removable insulation.

Marspec can design a unique steam trap manifold for your plant, too.

Welcome Chris Brasel!

2010-01-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

We welcome Chris Brasel to the Marspec team!

Chris is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi where he studied marketing. He will be performing inside sales and customer outreach duties in the Spanish Fort, Alabama office.

Low Hanging Fruit of Energy Savings- 13 Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Energy Bills

2009-10-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

We have numerous ways for you reduce your energy consumption without breaking the bank. Check out this 'bakers dozen' of easy, low cost ways to cut your energy consumption:

Steam Trap Survey A common 1” stainless steel disc type steam trap that has failed open can easily waste 100 lbs/hr of steam. If your steam costs $10.00 per thousand pounds, this trap is wasting over $8,000.00 per year. A steam trap survey using the TLV TrapMan System provides the most accurate analysis of trap performance and allows maintenance to be prioritized based on economic payback. Estimated Payback 3-6 Weeks

Heat Exchanger Drainage Most heat exchangers are oversized for their application, and improper drainage causes a back-up of condensate, resulting in lost production and damage to equipment. Protect your heat exchangers by making sure they are properly drained. Marspec and TLV can provide a predicted stall point for your system to allow you to properly size traps and pumps for heat exchangers. Estimated Payback 3-6 Months

Small Piping Insulation Insulation of heating and cooling piping is an easy way to reduce energy costs. However, many people ignore smaller lines or compact systems where tight piping arrangements prevent proper insulation. A single foot of 1” uninsulated, 100 psi steam line will cost over $80.00 per year in lost energy (based on $10.00 per thousand pound steam). SpeedWrap is a highly efficient, water-resistant and re-usable insulation for valve stations, steam trap stations, molding presses, and other difficult applications.
Estimated Payback 3-6 Months

Blowdown Heat Recovery Surface, or continuous boiler blowdown systems protect boilers by removing dissolved solids at or near the surface of the water level. In those cases where the blowdown goes directly to a drain or a blowdown separator, valuable energy and cooling water is wasted. Installing a blowdown heat recovery system can recover these costs and provide "free heat" for feed water and other heating systems. For example, a 300HP boiler with a blowdown rate of approximately 5% will waste nearly $15,000.00 per year in fuel costs. Contact your Marspec at 1-800-233-1394 to find out how much you can save with a custom built blowdown heat recovery system.
Estimated Payback 3-6 Months

Heat Transfer Compound Use Zeemax heat transfer compound on process tracers. According to research done by testing laboratories, Zeemax improves the flow of heat by up to 7 times. Experiments have shown that the heat transfer coefficients for bare steam tracers have ranges from 1 to 5 BTU/HR-sq. ft.°F. “U” factors for steam tracers with heat transfer compound are in the range of 45 (BTU/HR-sq FT-°F).This means that less heat is lost due to air gaps and poor contact with the pipe surface. Zeemax trowel grade can be easily applied to existing tracer lines. Traced lines come up to temperature more quickly and require less steam to maintain the target temperature.
Estimated Payback 6-12 Months

Compressed Air and Gas Surveys Compressed air and gas system leaks will cost thousands of dollars per year. Undetected, these leaks will waste energy, reduce productivity and threaten plant safety. One of Marspec’s industrial customers found ‘silent’ compressed air and gas leaks totaling over $72,000.00 in wasted energy – most of which were in threaded fittings or tube fittings. Marspec can provide compressed air and gas leak detection surveys tailored to meet any compressed air user’s needs.
Estimated Payback 6-12 Months

Energy Recovery Ventilators The latest ASHRAE indoor air quality (IAQ) standards require that large volumes of fresh, outdoor air are brought into the HVAC system. Most building managers have never imagined how much cooling and heating costs go into handling fresh outdoor air, and bringing it into the system's set temperature. Meanwhile, the energy used to heat or cool the exhausted air is completely wasted. Marspec provides BPE energy recovery ventilator systems that use exhausted air to pre-heat or pre-cool fresh air, without mixing the two air streams. The BPE system can provide both sensible and latent heat recovery, recover up to 90% of the energy that would normally be lost in most systems, and has an energy efficiency ratio (EER) three times that of comparable heat recovery systems using heat wheels and desiccant wheels. Contact Marspec to find out how you can significantly reduce your energy costs with BPE energy recovery ventilators.
Estimated Payback 6-12 Months

Custom Insulation Blankets Large valve bodies, feed water tanks and other equipment are often left without proper insulation because of their special shapes or maintenance considerations. Marspec can provide special configurations of removable/reusable insulating jackets to reduce energy costs and to prevent burns to operating personnel. Contact Marspec to see how we can improve your system efficiency through insulation of special equipment and piping configurations.
Estimated Payback 3-6 Months

Automate Steam Tracers Automate steam tracers on outdoor process tracing lines with Therm-Omega-Tech US/A valves from Marspec Technical Products. Commonly used caustic soda concentrations need to be traced when the outdoor temperature drops to below 70°F. There are many nights in the spring and fall when caustic lines need supplemental heat but then do not need it during the daytime. Most facilities will turn on the tracing on the first cool night but then leave it on until late spring. The US/A valve will energize steam tracers only when the ambient temperature triggers the valve to open. As the ambient temperature increases during the day, the valve shuts off the steam supply. A single US/A valve can control up to 10 process tracers.
Estimated Payback 6-12 Months

Insulation Effectiveness Surveys Insulation effectiveness surveys can help find poorly-insulated lines that add cost to your energy bills. Marspec can inspect a small section of a process area to determine the effectiveness of the current insulation. Since Marspec is not a supplier of traditional insulation, we can inspect your insulation as an unbiased auditor. The payback can be significant depending on the particulars of your facility.
Estimated Payback 12-18 Months

Automatic Freeze Protection Valves Use Thermotech freeze protection valves on safety showers instead of electrical tracing to prevent freezing. Freeze protection valves are self powered and open to drain only enough water that is in danger of freezing. The drained water is replaced by warmer resupply water from insulated or underground piping. These automatic valves reduce your power demand and are fail safe.
Estimated Payback 12-18 Months

Energy Assessments Facilities can begin the process of reducing energy use and meeting energy reduction goals by applying for an energy assessment performed by Marspec's DOE Certified Energy Expert. Our "energy savings team" will conduct energy assessments and recommend ways to conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint. the study will identify key opportunities for savings by focusing on energy-intensive systems such as process heating and cooling, steam, pumps, fans, and compressed air.
Estimated Payback 3-6 Months

Water Heating Marspec can provide a custom-made hot water heater for your plant or facility. Facility steam is used to heat the water and flows through a system that includes a correctly-sized heat exchanger, control valves, piping and free float steam traps. A Marspec system is custom built to meet specific needs – there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ offering for Marspec customers.
Estimated Payback 6-12 Months

ASHRAE Addresses the Role of HVAC&R Systems in Infectious Disease Transmission

2009-09-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

As health and school officials deal with a second wave of the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, new information is available on the health consequences of exposure to such airborne infectious diseases and the implications on the design, installation and operation of HVAC&R systems.

"While the long-standing public health view is that influenza transmission occurs through direct contact or large droplets, newer data suggests it also occurs through the airborne route, meaning HVAC&R systems may contribute far more to transmission of the disease and, potentially, to reduction of that same transmission risk," said Gordon Holness, president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) that developed the guidance.

The swine flue has spread to nearly 170 countries, resulting in 1,154 deaths and some 160,000 illnesses since the first reported case in the spring of 2009. With a better understanding of ventilation's effect on the transmission of disease, future incidents on the H1N1 virus may now be easier to prevent, according to Holness. He mentions several technical solutions that are available to assist in avoiding transmission, such as: dilution ventilation, airflow strategies, room pressurization, personalized ventilation, source control, filtration and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

ASHRAE's Airborne Infectious Diseases Position Document addresses the impact of ventilation on disease transmission, and can be read at www.ashrae.org/positiondocuments.

Marspec offers state of the art, energy recovery ventilation manufactured by Building Performance Equipment, Inc. To find out more about this technology, please visit: http://marspec.com/indoor_air_quality.html.

Source:

ASHRAE Press Release
August 31, 2009
Contact: Jodi Dunlop
Public Relations
jdunlop@ashrae.org

Marspec Provides Plastic Lined Pipe for New Auto Assembly Plant

2009-09-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

Marspec Technical Products was chosen to provide a Crane-Resistoflex Teflon lined piping system for a new auto assembly plant under construction in Mississippi. The project engineers specified Crane-Resistoflex in part due to its reputation for long service life and advanced manufacturing techniques employed by the North Carolina based company.

Marspec provided drawing takeoff and bill of material generation as well as complete spool fabrication services. All piping components were shipped according to the contractors demanding schedule. Marspec was even able to suggest ways to reduce the overall cost of the project while maintaining the environmental integrity demanded by the facility owner.

Marspec Selected to Provide Equipment for Carbon Capture Research

2009-09-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Marspec Technical Products has been selected by the National Carbon Capture Research Center to provide an advanced boiler, several heat exchangers and vessels for the Wilsonville, Alabama facility. This joint project of the Department of Energy and Southern Company is seeking efficient, economical ways to capture and sequester carbon emissions produced during the combustion of coal.

Quoting from a Southern Company press release:

The National Carbon Capture Center plans to conduct testing on both pre-combustion and post-combustion carbon capture technologies. Existing facilities at the PSDF will be modified to conduct the pre-combustion CO2 capture component of the NCCC project. New facilities to conduct post-combustion testing and evaluation will be on the site of Plant Gaston, a coal-fueled generating plant adjacent to the PSDF that is operated by Southern Company subsidiary Alabama Power.

Once fully operational in 2010, the National Carbon Capture Center will bring together science and innovation in technology development, along with real-world testing capability, to play a leading role in the effort to achieve cost-effective and reliable capture of carbon dioxide from coal-based power generation.

Marspec is excited to be part of this cutting edge research effort.

ASHRAE Meeting Highlights Existing Buildings

2009-07-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

The ASHRAE 2009 Annual Conference held in Louisville highlighted the need to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings.

At the meeting, ASHRAE introduced a year-long focus on existing buildings. "In these economic times, dollars for new construction have dwindled," said Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president. "Given that more people are renovating than building new, now is the perfect time for ASHRAE to focus on reducing energy consumption in existing buildings to save money and reduce carbon emissions."

Gordon Holness, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, was inducted as the Society's president for 2009-2010. Holness addresses energy efficiency in existing buildings through his presidential theme, Sustaining our Future by Rebuilding Our Past.

"The vast majority of buildings that will exist in the year 2030 exist today," Holness said. "If we are to have a material impact on overall energy use, it is through renovation of existing building stock. While existing buildings present greater challenges, they offer us a greater opportunity to significantly impact our overall national energy demand, reduce our dependence upon imported oil and gas and minimize our carbon footprint. If ASHRAE is looking to build a sustainable future, we can set the foundations of that right now."

To read his presidential address, visit www.ashrae.org/holness.

To learn more about products and services that can help you improve the energy efficiency and indoor air quality of your existing building, visit Marspec's Website.

Source:

ASHRAE Press Release 07/02/09
Contact: Wendy Angel, Public Relations, wangel@ashrae.org

TLV's J3X Now Available in Stainless Steel

2009-07-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

One of TLV's best selling steam traps in now made in stainless steel. The venerable J3X, long a standard for steam main drips and very light process services, can be ordered from Marspec Technical Products in corrosion resistant stainless.

This new product is ideal for chemical processing, pulp & paper, refining - anywhere corrosion is a problem. The J3SX has a cast body and - like the cast iron J3X - has stainless steel internals.

Visit this site for details about this breakthrough product.

Thermal Energy Storage - Green Technology Proven Over Many Years - Building Receives 2008 Energy Efficiency Award from LADWP

2009-06-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

This blog entry comes to Marspec through the courtesy of
Victor J. Ott, PE, of CRYOGEL Thermal Energy Storage Systems.

Joe Hickman, the Chief Engineer for 801 Towers in Los Angeles, has operated numerous buildings in downtown LA over the years. According to historical energy data, his current building at 801 Figueroa is using less than 50% of the energy required per square foot as compared to similar buildings in the area. In fact, his building just received an Energy Efficiency Award for 2008 from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Contributing to the efficiency of this 24 story, 430,000 square foot office building is a thermal energy storage system installed in 1992. Joe reports that, "the two 800 ton chillers simply never come on during the 10 hour daily air conditioning cycle when the building is being cooled by the TES system. Only one of the chillers is used at night to charge the Ice thermal storage system except on the hottest days in the summer when the second chiller is sometimes called upon to top up the ice system up for the next day".

To qualify for peak load shifting incentives and off-peak rates offered by LADWP, the building was designed in 1990 to include 8,300 ton hours of thermal energy storage (TES). The system is actually capable of approximately 11,000 ton hours of capacity, which in hindsight, was valuable engineering judgement that has paid off with ever-changing electricity prices and energy markets.

Flack and Kurtz of San Francisco, the principal engineer, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power may not have anticipated all the changes in energy markets during the past two decades. Looking back today, however, this system has proven to be a good example of engineering foresight. The engineer, building owner and electric utility recognized the need for flexibility to deal with the uncertainties in electrical supplies and increasing energy costs. Leadership shown by LADWP with incentives and off-peak rates was part of an overall business plan that shielded customers in that service territory from many of the problems faced by ratepayers elsewhere in the state and the rest of the country. Concern about the reliability of energy supplies and the need for design foresight and peak load shifting may finally become the norm in California and the nation as energy and climate concerns become national priorities.

Green Benefits of Off-Peak Energy Storage: In addition to the reduction in energy costs, thermal energy storage (TES) is effective in reducing green house gasses and the carbon foot-print of electric generation facilities. This benefit may not have been anticipated by the building designers in 1990 but the positive effects of TES on emissions from power plants has been well documented over the years as concerns about climate change have gained attention. Both of the largest California utilities recently reported heat rates, the number of btu's of energy to generate each kilowatt hour, were significantly lower during the night off-peak periods than during the day. For example, the largest electric utility in Southern California reported that only 7,263 btus are required to produce one kWh during off-peak night hours as compared to 13,258 btu's during the peak daytime period. While many factors effect heat rates, this 45% decrease during the off peak period indicates that less fossil fuel is required and, therefore, lower emissions result when electricity is generated at night and stored in the form of ice in a thermal storage tank. This same conclusion was reported by the California Energy Commission (CEC) in its 1995 report on the benefits of thermal storage. The CEC Report showed a similar 45% improvement in off-peak heat rates statewide and estimated that TES could help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in California by 260,000 tons annually within 10 years. With increasing emphasis on reducing fossil fuel consumption and mitigating air pollution and climate change, the green benefits of thermal storage are more relevant today than ever.

After incentive payments from LADWP, the TES system at 801 Towers cost approximately $640,000 more than a non-storage air conditioning system. With the reported capability to shift approximately 2,000 kW of electrical demand to off-peak periods, the additional costs can be translated to approximately $320 per kW of peak electrical demand reduction. The net installed cost was approximately $58 per ton hour of actual thermal storage capacity. The cost per shifted kW was a bargain compared to the cost of new generation capacity. Although prices for electricity and equipment have changed over many years, that bargain is even more compelling as costs and environmental impacts associated with new power plants have become more painful and politicized.

The 801 Towers system includes a 180,000 gallon concrete tank with a polyethylene liner and approximately 750,000 spherical ice containers (* Cryogel Ice Balls^TM) as well as two 800 ton, Trane three-stage centrifugal chillers. The tank is located three levels below the street and adjacent to the underground parking garage. The roof of the concrete tank is formed by a ramp that connects two garage levels. As in most civic centers, parking is a premium in downtown L.A. This tank configuration and ice storage technology was chosen because the tank could be installed in a manner that would not displace parking spaces in the garage.

Flexibility of the system allows for compliance with changes in utility rate structures. This is apparent when looking back at the original specifications as compared to operational demands now being placed on the system which exceed design intent.

The original design intent was to shift the cooling load for a period of 8 hours. However, today the system is actually shifting load for 10 hours per day. According to Joe Hickman, "the current agreement with LADWP requires us to keep the chillers shut off completely from 10 am to 8 pm. The system has enough capacity to carry the extended hours of operation, even without charging fully every night."

The concrete tank was fitted with a one-eighth inch thick polyethylene liner to prevent leaks due to normal thermal expansion and contraction. The liner allows for 1.5 inches of rigid insulation between the liner and the tank wall. This unique solution to insulating an underground tank offers double-wall leak security as well as a vapor barrier.

Thermal storage is not new technology although proven environmental benefits and energy cost savings are only now gaining the wider attention of design engineers and electric utilities across the nation. TES is increasingly recognized as an environmentally friendly and economically attractive alternative to new generation capacity. Today's designers and regulators have the benefit of years of proven success with TES systems and equipment. Improved efficiency of existing power generation equipment, and means to avoid building new expensive power plants, are major benefits to electric utilities. Lower energy costs and improved reliability stand as major benefits to consumers. Reductions in the use of fossil fuel and the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions are benefits to society that should inspire incentives for thermal storage as part of state and national energy policy.

Rapidly Growing Program Attracts Publicity for Florida Green Schools

2009-06-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Every year, schools are doing their part to protect Mother Earth by practicing green initiatives that conserve energy, reduce their carbon footprint and promote environmental responsibility. In 2007, public and private schools across Florida starting following suit.

In conjuction with Dream in Green, the Florida Green Schools program is turning heads and saving energy. Starting with 15 schools in the 2007-2008 school year, the program has rapidly grown to just under 50 for the 2008-2009 school year. In the first year of implementation, the 15 schools were able to save 653,000 kWh of energy – a savings of $150,000. The results are still out of this year’s savings, but program sponsors are optimitic about the results.

Being green is part of the curriculum now at many schools in Florida and because of it, the movement towards green building at and around the schools will undoubtedly take a strong hold on the community.

SOURCE:

Alliance to Save Energy Press Release & http://greenidealab.com/green-buildings/florida-schools-take-green-very-seriously.

Successful IAQ/Energy Recovery Seminar in Mobile, AL

2009-06-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say thanks again to all of the attendees who joined us for the IAQ/Energy Recovery Seminar at the Downtown Hampton Inn in Mobile, AL, earlier this month. We were very pleased with the turnout as well as the sincere interest of the attendees. We look forward to further discussing the unique technology of BPE High Efficiency Energy Recovery Ventilators with each and every one of you.

Compliments for Marspec

2009-06-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

“The technical expertise provided by Marspec Technical Products has been above and beyond any comparative recommendations from other prospective vendors. With the help of Marspec, we have installed two heat exchange systems, both of which have considerably reduced operating costs and energy consumption in our plant. Most importantly, the technology provided by Marspec has enabled our plant to continually look at measures to reduce production expenses, and as a result, we have recommended their products and services to our sister companies in the U.S. and abroad.”

William Trank, Plant Manager
Best Manufacturing
Fayette Division
http://www.btrank@bestglove.com/

Welcome Michelle Worsham

2009-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Marspec Technical Products is very pleased to welcome Michelle Worsham to the sales and marketing team.

Michelle spent the last 18 months working as a marketing intern while she completed her marketing degree at the University of South Alabama. During her time as an intern, Michelle researched new customer outreach programs and identified potential clients in the government, institutional and healthcare markets. In her new position at Marspec, Michelle will be responsible for calling on these markets as an outside sales representative.

Welcome Michelle!

Marspec Sponsors Indoor Air Quality Seminar

2009-05-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Indoor air quality is a hot topic for building owners, managers and occupants. New ASHRAE guidelines specify the amount of fresh air per person that needs to be provided. Marspec Technical Products is sponsoring a seminar Wednesday, June 3rd at the Hampton Inn, Royal Street in downtown Mobile. This seminar will help remove the confusion about IAQ and detail strategies to reduce energy costs associated with fresh air makeup.

There is no charge to attend, lunch will be provided and two CEU credits are available - it dosen't get much better!

Here are the details of the seminar:

IAQ and Energy Recovery Seminar Information:

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) standards have been in effect for many years. Only recently has the importance of meeting IAQ standards been regarded in the context of energy recovery in HVAC systems, and has raised some interesting questions:

Are energy costs of compliance to ASHRAE 62.1 being considered during the building design process?
With the prospects of increased fuel and energy costs, how do users limit usage during peak load periods in summer and winter?
Does compliance to IAQ standards require additional heating or cooling capacity in existing buildings?
How will Congress’ recent economic stimulus package affect industrial, institutional, and commercial construction with its emphasis on energy and the environment?
How can facilities designers and operators recover lost energy while meeting IAQ standards?
What technologies exist to recover lost energy in HVAC systems, and how efficient are they?

Who is Presenting This Seminar?

These and many other questions will be addressed in the upcoming seminar, presented by Klas Haglid, PE – President/CEO of Haglid Engineering Incorporated. Mr. Haglid is past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 5.5 Air to Air Energy Recovery and past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.8 Owning and Operating Costs. As an active member of ASHRAE, Mr. Haglid has moderated forums and seminars and presented at several ASHRAE Annual Meetings, and has published extensively on issues surrounding energy recovery and building-related HVAC issues. Prior to forming Haglid Engineering and founding Building Performance Equipment, Mr. Haglid worked in research for DuPont focusing on heat transfer. He has also worked for Atlantic Electric and the US Department of Energy. Mr. Haglid also holds a number of patents for systems combining energy recovery devices with innovative controls for building performance improvement. Mr. Haglid is a National NCEES Record certified engineer.

What Will Be Covered In This Seminar?

This seminar will focus on issues of ASHRAE 62.1 compliance and energy recovery, and will cover the following topics:

Introduction to IAQ Standards
Understanding ASHRAE 62.1-2004
IAQ Effects on Energy Usage
Air to Air Heat Transfer Technologies
Case Studies

During the seminar, we will also examine three identical outdoor air HVAC systems, located in four different areas of the country. Each location had a base system, a heat recovery system, and an enthalpy control system. Initially, a base system was installed in each location. Then a heat recovery system was added, and the change in heating and cooling loads were tested. The systems were then revised with an enthalpy system, and again the energy savings were tested and recorded. Infrared thermal analysis is also used to explain and further evaluate the detailed thermal performance and characteristics of different HVAC components. At a national ASHRAE seminar session, this presentation was well received and peer reviewed. Seeing the actual energy savings is very interesting.

Who Should Attend?

Facility Managers & Directors, Facility Engineers, HVAC Professionals, Consulting Engineers, Building Owners & Operators, Government Agency Representatives, School District Representatives, Utility Representatives, Energy Service Providers.

Attendance is limited to the first 40 registrants. Contact Michelle Worsham to reserve your seat.

Celebrate Earth

2009-04-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

On behalf of the team at Marspec Technical Products, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Earth Day! We encourage everyone to take a moment out of their day to think about what you can do to "give back" to Mother Earth. Every little bit counts.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~Margaret Mead

BUILDING A TOWER TECH COOLING TOWER

2009-04-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Marspec Customer Testimonial by Andy Loth with Arboris Chemical

2009-04-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

“Marspec’s services are great, and the products are phenomenal, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. I currently use TLV steam traps, TLV steam regulators, SpeedWrap Insulation, and the steam trap survey services. All of these items have helped us greatly reduce our steam and energy consumption, and the payback for them is easily within one year.”

“In regards to energy efficient equipment, nothing beats TLV. With the intent to reduce steam consumption in our plant, David Bostic and Marspec’s technicians conducted a five day steam trap survey in our plant earlier this year, and made many recommendations regarding style of traps and other energy projects. As a result, we were able to successfully reduce our plant’s energy consumption by 10-15% this year, a figure that would not have been achieved without the effort and hard work provided by Marspec and their team. An additional result of the relationship with Marspec has been the addition of SpeedWrap to our plant. SpeedWrap is so easy to install, it goes on in minutes and it pays for itself within 10 weeks.”

“Manufacturing in the U.S. is emphasizing energy efficiency now more than ever. The TLV products fit perfectly into this vision as they are proven to be one of the most energy efficient lines of steam products. I recommend Marspec’s products and services to any industrial/manufacturing site that uses steam as an energy source. The TLV line is great on reducing energy consumption and the service/expertise Marspec provides further assists with energy reductions.”

Andy Loth, Process Engineer,
Arboris Chemical

Chartered Legend in Energy

2009-04-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

Marspec Technical Products is proud to announce its' manager of steam and energy products, Wayne Hoggle, CEM, CSDP, has been named a "Chartered Legend in Energy." This special lifetime recognition is granted by the AEE (Association of Energy Engineers) as a mark of distinction to qualified professionals who have made a significant impact in the field of energy management. The chosen professionals are recognized at the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) held in the Southeastern U.S. and Washington, DC each year. Congratulations, Wayne!

DID YOU KNOW....

2009-04-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

...A green school that saves $100,000 per year in operational costs saves roughly enough to hire two new teachers, buy 200 new computers or purchase 5,000 new textbooks???

(Reference: U.S. Green Building Council.)

DID YOU KNOW....

2009-04-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

...One green school can reduce carbon emissions by 585,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, every year? ( Reference: American Federation of Teachers’ 2008 Building Minds, Minding Buildings Green Report.) That amounts to saving roughly 11,700 tress per year!!!

DID YOU KNOW 1 FOOT OF INSULATED PIPE CAN SAVE ROUGHLY 46 TREES?

2009-03-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

The following information was obtained from an article in Insulation Outlook, written by Christopher P. Crall, published January 2009.

Insulating a bare surface can easily reduce heat losses or heat gains by 90–95%, and the need to conserve energy is obviously increasing.

Insulation has long been recognized as a LOW COST method of conserving natural resources. What is not well known is that insulation is considered one of the best sustainable technologies available. In fact, insulation can be considered effectively “greener than trees.”

As an example, consider a chemical facility that uses steam at 350°F in a manufacturing process that operates year round. The steam produced in an oil-fired boiler operating at an average efficiency of 80%. The cost of purchased fuel oil is $4/gallon. The 4-inch steam header is outdoors and insulated with 2 inches of fiberglass pipe insulation. The calculations in the following table were made using the 3E Plus® computer program developed by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).

BARE 4" PIPE --> Heat Loss in Btu/h/ft = 1,460; Annual Fuel Cost, $/ft/yr = 438;
Carbon Dioxide, lbs/ft/yr = 2,427

PIPE INSULATED WITH 2" FIBERGLASS --> Heat Loss in Btu/h/ft = 71; Annual Fuel Cost, $/ft/yr = 21; Carbon Dioxide, lbs/ft/yr = 118

$AVINGS --> Heat Loss in Btu/h/ft = 1,389; Annual Fuel Cost $/ft/yr = 417; Carbon Dioxide, lbs/ft/yr = 2,308

The use of the insulation has reduced heat loss from the bare pipe, on average, by 95%. The associated fuel cost has decreased by 95% for a fuel-cost savings of $417 per foot per year. This 95% reduction in fuel usage translates to a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions, a savings of 2,308 lbs. of CO2 per year!!!!

Trees are a very important part of the carbon cycle. Trees use photosynthesis to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. So, how much CO2 is absorbed from a tree? It varies with the type of tree, its location, and its stage in the life cycle. An average derived from many sources will allow us to assume that one tree can absorb a “rough estimate” of 50 pounds of CO2 per year.

With this in mind, one would need to plant roughly 46 trees to achieve the same CO2 regulations achievable by insulation of 1 foot of 350°F pipe!!!!

To find out more about how you can start saving energy costs through the application of SpeedWrap pipe insulation, please visit: http://www.marspec.com/speedwrap.pdf. Marspec customers have reported a simple payback of 10 weeks or less!!!

Greener and Cheaper

2009-03-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

The following information was obtained from an article in the Wall Street Journal, by ALAN G. ROBINSON and DEAN M. SCHROEDER, published March 23, 2009:

For years the conventional wisdom was: if you improved quality, costs would also rise. But then companies discovered the opposite of this was true: by redesigning processes--reducing mistakes, doing things right the first time--companies could provide better products and services AND cut costs!

Living in the time of economic and energy crises, it's time to learn this lesson all over again, as it applies to going green.

Regardless of what many companies think--that improving their energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact is a "great" idea, but impractical due to the cost--businesses CAN go green and lower costs at the same time. No one disputes that it's expensive to cap smokestacks and process hazardous waste. But as the earlier lesson suggests, the focus shouldn't be on cleaning up and its costs -- the focus should be on creating less mess to begin with.

To see examples of how re-engineering processes with green principles and greater efficiency in mind can not only improve a company's standing with nature, but increase its profits and give it competitive advantages as well, please visit Marspec's customer success stories.

Alabama's Federal Stimulus Package

2009-03-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to see the state of Alabama has set up a new Website with more information about the federal stimulus law! The new website, found at http://www.stimulus.alabama.gov/ will allow Alabamians to track the stimulus dollars that are spent in the state. Alabama is expected to receive $3 billion in stimulus money for the following programs: local government, business, education & research, nonprofits, and individuals. The Website also includes a link for "FAQs" and "Resources." The Website will soon have a feature that allows organizations and individuals to submit proposals for the use of stimulus funds. Submitted proposals will be reviewed to see who may qualify for funding. “My administration is committed to making sure Alabama carries out its responsibilities under this law with full transparency and accountability. With this website, we will keep the public informed about every dollar coming to Alabama, where it goes and how it is spent,” Governor Riley said.

KUDOS for Marspec!

2009-03-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

“We chose Marspec Technical Products as one of our suppliers due to their technical expertise and energy saving ideas, products and services. Our facility currently uses Miura boilers and TLV steam equipment. The vertical tube Miura boilers have proven to be fuel efficient and reduced our energy costs; the advanced TLV steam equipment has enabled us to better control our processes. We are very pleased with the Miura boiler design as it has proven to be the most efficient in the industry. I have recommended Miura boilers to another food processing plant and would also recommend it to anyone in the industry looking to gain a competitive edge and save on energy costs.”

David Smith, VP Technology
Diversified Foods and Seasonings
dsmith@diversified-foods.com

Accolades for Marspec and Wayne Hoggle

2009-02-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

“It is often said that a company is known by its people and such a case exists with Wayne Hoggle, CEM, CSDP, of Marspec Technical Products. I work closely with him to serve my assigned customer base of various manufacturing companies in the rubber, plastic and automotive industries. My purpose in introducing my customer contacts to Hoggle is to connect them with his experience. I have depended on Hoggle for his technical expertise and product lines for years now. My customers and I have been very pleased with Hoggle and Marspec’s performance as they seek the same level of customer satisfaction that we at the Alabama Power Company strive for. Reliable, dependable, honest, customer-oriented, and experienced are just some of the words to describe Hoggle and Marspec. My trust in Hoggle means if he says it is so; it is so. With a proven record of performance and cost savings ideas and products, I recommend any company desirous of a competitive advantage to work with Wayne Hoggle and Marspec Technical Products.”

Mike Bradshaw, Major Account Manager
Alabama Power Company
Rubber, Plastics, Automotive

Marspec Hosting Technical Seminars on Indoor Air Quality and Energy Recovery

2009-02-25T14:50:00.001-08:00

(Mobile, AL) – Process, steam, and green equipment supplier, Marspec Technical Products, announced plans to host two seminars on indoor air quality and energy recovery.

The seminars will be presented by Mr. Klas Haglid, PE, on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, AL and Wednesday March 4, 2009 in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Klas Haglid, PE is the President/CEO of Haglid Engineering Inc. and founder of BPE (Building Performance Equipment) Air to Air Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems. Mr. Haglid is past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 5.5 Air to Air Energy Recovery and past Chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.8 Owning and Operating Costs. Mr. Haglid holds a number of patents for systems combining energy recovery devices with innovative controls for building performance improvement.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) standards have been in affect for years, but only recently has the importance of meeting IAQ standards been regarded in the context of energy recovery in HVAC systems. This has raised some interesting questions:

-->Are energy costs of compliance to ASHRAE 62.1 being considered during the building design process?

-->With the prospects of increased fuel and energy costs, how do users limit usage during peak load periods in summer and winter?

-->Does compliance to IAQ standards require additional heating or cooling capacity in existing buildings?

-->How will Congress’ recent economic stimulus package affect industrial and institutional construction with its emphasis on energy and the environment?

-->How can facilities designers and operators recover lost energy while meeting IAQ standards?

-->What technologies exist to recover lost energy in HVAC systems, and how efficient are they?

These and many other important questions concerning these issues will be addressed in detail at the upcoming seminars. Other topics covered will focus on issues of ASHRAE 62.1 compliance and energy recovery, and will cover the following topics:

-->Introduction to IAQ Standards

-->Understanding ASHRAE 62.1-2004

-->IAQ Effects on Energy Usage

-->Air to Air Heat Transfer Technologies

The seminars are designed for the purpose of creating awareness of the energy savings that can be achieved through IAQ and Energy Recovery. Professionals who would benefit from the seminars are Facility Managers and Directors, Facility Engineers, HVAC Professionals, Consulting Engineers, Building Owners & Operators, Government Agency Representatives, School District Representatives, Utility Representatives, and Energy Service Providers.

Space is limited, and registrations will be limited to the first 25 respondents to each seminar. The seminars include lunch and are absolutely free of charge for those who attend. CEU credits are available for those applicable.

###

MARSPEC TECHNICAL PRODUCTS is service-driven supplier of steam specialty and energy efficiency products, energy consultation services, heat recovery services and equipment, and corrosives conveying and flow control. Marspec currently has offices or representatives in Mobile, AL, Brewton, AL, Cullman, AL, Birmingham AL, Pensacola, FL and Columbus, MS.

For more information about MARSPEC TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, visit www.marspec.com or call Michelle toll-free 1-800-233-1394.

ASHRAE/AIRAH Issue Joint Resolution on Climate Change

2009-02-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

Use of renewable energy, education of the building industry and responsible refrigerant use are encouraged in a new joint statement on climate change issue by ASHRAE and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH). By signing the statement, ASHRAE and AIRAH resolve to:

-->Support research and development activities designed to reduce buildings’ energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

-->Educate building owners, operators, users, designers, and constructors on the importance of building energy efficiency, corresponding climate change impact, and proper operations and maintenance measures

-->Encourage the supply of renewable energy into buildings and building engineering systems when economically feasible

-->Develop and implement sustainable building designs, materials, components, systems, and processes that minimize environmental impacts, including climate change, while maintaining indoor environmental quality

-->Provide advice, information, and assistance to governments and other influential bodies on energy efficiency and climate change emissions in both new and existing buildings

-->Encourage responsible refrigerant use, including emissions reduction strategies and technologies and encourage development of energy efficient refrigerants with low or zero global warming potential

-->Support the development and implementation of standards, building codes, incentive programs, and voluntary initiatives aimed at reducing building environmental impacts

-->Implement holistic and coordinated approaches to identifying and resolving environmental issues at all stages of a building’s life cycle—from conception, design, and construction through operation, maintenance, refurbishment, and deconstruction

For the complete article or more information, please contact: Contact: Jodi Dunlop, Public Relations, ASHRAE, 678-539-1140, jdunlop@ashrae.org

Reduced Energy Use Control Valves from Warren Controls

2009-02-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Everyone is seeking ways to reduce energy consumption and many people are surprised to learn that choosing the right control valve can bring energy savings. Just choosing the correct control valve actuator can reduce a final control element's size and significantly cut energy costs associated with operating the valve. Warren Controls has produced an interesting white paper outlining the benefits of electronic actuators. It's well worth your time to read it!

State Hospital Chooses Miura Boilers

2009-02-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

Bryce State Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama recently underwent a massive energy efficiency project where - among other projects - a large centrally located fire tube boiler boiler was replaced with six fuel efficient Miura boilers.

The Miura boilers were chosen due to their small size and ability to go from cold start to full steam in five minutes. This flexibility permitted the facility engineers to put several small boiler rooms nearer the buildings they served. This move reduced the amount of steam piping required along with the associated insulation, steam traps and maintenance. The contractors installed the Miura boilers and ancillary items in prefabricated boiler rooms that blended in with the architecture of the nearly 150 year old campus.

When the new Miura boilers were commissioned the large firetube boiler was retired. The natural gas savings were staggering - almost 50% less gas use from day one of the Miura startup.

Like all state institutions, Bryce Hospital is very serious about being good stewards of taxpayer money. In this case, Alabama taxpayers got great value for their money.

TLV Steam Trap Product Animations

2009-02-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Marspec Technical Products is pleased to represent the TLV line of steam traps, pumps, control valves and accessories in Alabama and portions of Mississippi and Florida. The entire TLV line is reflective of the company's philosophy of 'incomparable originality'. We invite you to take a few moments to browse the fascinating product animations on the TLV web site. Better than any printed literature, these animations detail just how original TLV's thinking - and products - are.

ASHRAE President Bill Harrison's Update on His Theme "Maintain to Sustain" in the Building Industry

2009-02-09T12:59:00.001-08:00

"There is an elephant in the room but it seems that hardly anyone knows it's there," he said. "Those in the building industry see and recognize it for the monstrosity it is, but most people don't know that they're essentially avoiding a huge energy issue. Everywhere you look, there's talk of increased fuel efficiency for vehicles, alternative fuels, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. These are admirable efforts, and I would never want to detract from those. But the elephant in the corner--our world's existing building stock--constitutes roughly 30 to 40 percent of our primary energy use, easily larger than either transportation or industry. It's time we started focusing on it."

The entire speech can be read at www.ashrae.org/harrison

DID YOU KNOW...

2009-02-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

...there is more waste heat available from US Industry than all energy currently produced with renewable sources combined (7 Quadrillion Btu)?

This is an astounding figure! It's about time we started recovering it!

Source: US Department of Energy

Mechanology Steam Turbines are Part of the Marspec Line

2009-02-04T06:28:00.000-08:00

Marspec has been selected to represent the Mechanology steam turbine line in Alabama, Mississippi and northwest Florida.

Mechanology steam turbines can be used to drive pumps, compressors and generators. In fact, Mechanology offers a complete combined heat and power package to customer specifications. If you'd like to see how a Mechanology steam turbine can help you save energy dollars, give us call at 251 432 0581 to speak to an applications specialist.

Marspec Technical Products Announces Partnership with ENERGY STAR®

2009-02-02T14:04:00.000-08:00

Marspec Technical Products announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an ENERGY STAR Partner.

Marspec Technical Products’ voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR means that they will be working towards their goal of helping clients improve energy efficiency and performance of their facilities.

Maspec’s partnership with ENERGY STAR further supports the company’s vision of providing environmentally friendly, innovative problem solving products and services helping industrial, institutional, and commercial businesses use energy more efficiency and responsibly. Marspec and ENERGY STAR believe that an organization-wide energy management approach will help their clients enhance their financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Energy Star. We feel as though they share the same vision and goals as we do, and we are thrilled about working together to promote energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. We look forward to a sustainable future of saving energy, jobs and the environment—one Btu at a time,” says Sam Box, Vice President.

For example, Marspec recommended that one industrial manufacturing facility recover Btu’s by capturing and reusing normally wasted hot stack gases produced from an 80,000 pph boiler, and replacement of an existing, out-of-date boiler with new, highly efficient, environmentally friendly, modular boilers. The projected outcome of this particular project is astounding: Monetary savings of $636,566 per year or $53,047 per month, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 585 pounds per operating hour, or almost 4.1 million pounds per year—the equivalent of removing 357 vehicles from the highway!

2009-01-23T09:40:00.001-08:00

MARINE SPECIALTY CHANGES ITS NAME TO MARSPEC TECHNICAL PRODUCTS

(Mobile, AL) – Process, steam, and green equipment supplier, Marine Specialty, has officially changed its name to Marspec Technical Products.

“We’ve decided to change our name, as a reflection of who we’ve become as a company—a green organization dedicated to environmentally friendly, cutting edge technology and innovative problem solving products and services designed to help industrial, institutional, and commercial businesses use energy more efficiently and responsibly, resulting in significant reductions in energy costs, maintenance costs, and carbon emissions,” said Tom Kelly, president.

The employee-owned Mobile, Alabama based company was founded in 1923 as a maritime equipment supplier for vessels calling on the port of Mobile.

Over the years, the organization diversified into many different fields of work including consulting engineering, general contracting, boiler erection and air conditioning. Many of these divisions were spun off into free standing companies that exist today as successful enterprises.

Today, the company is a service-driven supplier of steam specialty and energy efficiency products and services, automated valves, and corrosion resistant piping and products. The company has created a specialized niche in the market, offering environmentally friendly, high efficiency boilers and cooling towers occupied with futuristic designs, along with advanced steam traps, thermal energy storage, energy recovery ventilators, and steam turbines to name but a few.

As Marspec Technical Products, the company is reaching out to commercial, institutional and traditional industrial customers with lines of equipment designed to help get the most out of expensive energy dollars while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Marspec has specialized knowledge of steam systems, heat exchange, and energy recovery practices, and provides the expertise to help apply these products through energy consultation services, heat recovery, and project identification assistance. Marspec is recognized nationwide for its extensive plastic lined pipe inventory, and their in-house machine shop adds value to customers by accommodating specialized requests for assembly and fabrication.

“Energy must be conserved for our nation to compete in the global economy successfully. Our local base of industrial production is in competition with facilities all over the world. Several of our chemical processing customers in the area lost the battle with lower-cost, overseas producers and were forced to close down operations. Therefore, our main focus as an organization today is to help our customers find ways to stay competitive in the world market while reducing their impact on the local environment. Our job is to keep jobs from moving elsewhere,” said Kelly.

2008-12-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

Marspec Technical Products Welcomes Patrick Ruland as Inside/Outside Sales Representative for the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

Patrick Ruland is Marspec's newest addition to the team, joining the company January 5, 2009. Patrick comes to Marspec from a construction equipment rental company where he worked as an outside sales representative.

Prior to becoming the outside sales representative/account manager for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Patrick will spend the first couple of months training as an inside sales representative, allowing for a thorough understanding of the products, customers and procedures here at Marspec.

Patrick graduated from Auburn University in December of 2006, with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He currently resides in Mobile, Alabama and enjoys hunting and Auburn football.

Welcome, Patrick!

Marspec Christmas Party

2008-12-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Marspec team held its annual Christmas lunch on Wednesday, December 24, 2008. Marspec executives did a great job of spoiling us this year with food catered by Wintzells Oyster House and
Saucy Q Bar B Q, followed by desert from Pollman’s bakery. Kay Turner, Controller, got everyone in the Christmas spirit by having several colleagues read holiday passages aloud. My favorite passage was by Dr. Suess, from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas: “….then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?” Mr. Tom Kelly, President, made some inspiring comments and special announcements about the ending year of 2008 and the New Year of 2009 before passing out a generous gift for each and every employee in the company.

On behalf of everyone at Marspec, we wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ole Miss Chooses Tower Tech for New Expansion

2008-12-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

The University of Mississippi selected Tower Tech cooling towers for the new law school building under construction on the Oxford campus.

Tower Tech was selected for it's overall energy efficiency characteristics due primarily to its ability to match its cooling capacity to the load demand. This advanced technology greatly reduces the amount of electricity consumed during the summer months and ultimately helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the power plant level.

The installing contractor liked the fast installation of the Tower Tech cooling towers - each tower can be lifted from the flatbed truck and set in place in about an hour.

For more details about Tower Tech visit the manufacturers web site.

2008-11-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Marspec’s CEM Co-Delivers Presentation at Environmental Conference

(Birmingham, AL) – Marine Specialty/Marspec Technical Products’ Certified Energy Manager, Wayne Hoggle, co-delivered a presentation on reducing wasted energy titled Energy, Money and the Environment – The Green Connection, at Manufacture Alabama’s Environmental Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on October 29, 2008. Wayne Hoggle was one of the professionals chosen to speak due to his vast experience in helping company’s identify and implement energy reduction projects.

Along with Glenn Corley of Cimtec, Wayne Hoggle demonstrated how to reduce energy waste by identifying steam and compressed air leaks, recovering steam condensate and utilizing efficient piping insulation. Mr. Corley and Mr. Hoggle stressed the importance of how reducing energy consumption will not only improve a company’s bottom line, but will also reduce its environmental impact.

Other topics covered in Manufacture Alabama’s Environmental Conference were The Science of Global Warming, Carbon Footprints What Are They & What Good Are They, Legislative Committee on Water Policy & Management, and Regulatory Agency Updates & Enforcement Trends. This environmental conference was designed to benefit plant managers, environmental and production managers, process engineers, and other individuals with environmental planning responsibilities and consultants who assist their clients with environmental matters.

Marspec on the Road

2008-11-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy month for the Marspec team.

We participated in the vendor table top display at the Alabama Energy Services Coalition Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Conference in Prattville October 22. A lot of state government facilities managers were present and it was heartening to hear that energy use reduction is a prime goal for them.

Later in the month found us attending the annual meeting of the Alabama Society for Healthcare Engineering in Destin, Florida. Marspec again set up the table top display and enjoyed the company of dozens of facility engineers. Again, energy use reduction was a common topic among attendees.

Stay tuned - we might coming to an event near you!

Strategic Energy Management Plan for Healthcare

2008-10-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

An interesting article is on the betterbricks web site detailing a case study of how energy management planning paid big dividends to a chain of west coast hospitals. The story of PeaceHealth's efforts can be found here.

Congress Extends Energy Tax Incentives through Economic Recovery Package

2008-10-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

The following is a press release from ASHRAE regarding extended energy tax incentives. Hopefully this information is helpful to those out there looking for well deserved tax breaks when upgrading to more energy efficient buildings, equipment, etc. Enjoy!

For Release: October 6, 2008
Contact: Wendy AngelPublic Relations 678-539-1216 wangel@ashrae.org

Congress Extends Energy Tax Incentives through Economic Recovery Package

ATLANTA – With the passage of the economic recovery package by Congress last week, banks aren’t the only ones relieved; proponents of energy efficiency efforts are as well. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) commends Congress on including in the package provisions for the extension of expired and expiring tax incentives for renewable energy, energy-efficient building upgrades, and appliance and equipment purchases. “These energy provisions are essential to realizing ASHRAE’s goal of reaching net-zero-energy buildings,” says Bill Harrison, ASHRAE president. “But more importantly, they are essential for the energy independence of our nation. While the banking industry may be visibly suffering now due to these economic times, we will all suffer if we don’t find ways to take advantage of alternative energy sources and make our buildings more efficient.” Though several attempts were made during the 110th Congress to extend these credits and incentives, those attempts failed due to disagreement over funding issues. One key provision in the legislation is the extension of the Commercial Building Tax Deduction (CBTD) through 2013. This allows building owners to claim a deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for HVAC, lighting or envelope upgrades resulting in 50% savings over ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2001. This five-year extension allows for the planning schedules often needed in design and construction, whereas the provision previously was only certain for shorter periods, affecting its usefulness. The legislation additionally creates new credits for combined heat and power system property, small wind energy property, and geothermal heat pump systems through 2016.

Other energy provisions in the legislation include:
• Extending the Renewable Energy Production Credit for wind to 2010, biomass, geothermal, solar and hydro to 2011, and adds a marine/tidal credit through 2012.
• Extending credits for solar energy property, fuel cell property and microturbines through 2016.
• Establishing provisions for Energy Conservation Bonds issued by states or localities to conduct energy conservation projects
• Extending residential tax credits for energy saving appliances, energy efficient homes, and on-site renewables.
• Adding accelerated depreciation period for smart meters and smart grid systems, encouraging investment in these systems.
• Extending a program providing tax-exempt bond designation to designated green building and sustainable design projects on brownfields.
• Extending the expired business research credit through 2009.
For more information on ASHRAE Government Affairs, please visit www.ashrae.org/advocacy.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ###

Marspec's Wayne Hoggle to Present at Conference

2008-09-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Wayne Hoggle, CEM is scheduled to co-present a program on energy efficiency titled Energy, Money and the Environment-The Green Connection at Manufacture Alabama's Environmental Congress in Prattville, Alabama October 29th.

Along with Glenn Corley of Climetic, Wayne will show how reducing energy consumption will not only improve a company's bottom line but will also reduce its environmental impact. This can be achieved by both controlling wasted energy and by recovering energy from otherwise wasted energy streams. By reducing energy consumption, a plant reduces its operating costs as well as its overall emissions.

Wayne Hoggle heads up Marpsec Technical Products' energy consulting efforts.

For more details about the conference visit Manufacture Alabama.

Improving Indoor Air Quality while Saving Air Conditioning

2008-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

We're pretty excited to be associated with Building Performance Equipment (BPE), a manufacturer of air to air heat exchangers for use in commercial and institutional buildings.

These heat exchangers allow fresh outdoor to be brought into a building while simultaneously exhausting stale indoor air. The two air streams never mix, but the patented heat exchanger recovers a large portion of indoor air stream's conditioning - whether heated or cooled - and transfers this energy to the fresh outdoor air stream. The only moving part is two small electric motors that move the air. You can download a brochure here and feel free to give us a call for more details. We can even arrange a demonstration of an actual unit for you.

"In Boiler Rooms, Green Is Red Hot"

2008-09-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

The following article by Alagasco Questline addresses the increased interest in boiler efficiency and the trends towards smaller, more economical boilers. Soaring energy prices and tighter emissions standards are a few of the many challenges that have been placed upon numerous facilities in the U.S., and according to the American Boiler Manufacturers Association sales data, 76% of existing boilers are more than 30 years old. This article provides helpful suggestions on how to improve boiler efficiency by identifying energy losses and lowering emissions. This article can be found at http://www.questline.com/Article.aspx?userID=973219&articleID=8602&NL=5221. Enjoy!

In Boiler Rooms, Green Is Red Hot

Key Points
· Boilers make up about 40 percent of total energy use in commercial and industrial facilities.
· Most operating boilers are over 30 years old and may operate below current efficiency standards.
· Improving boiler system efficiency can help cut energy costs and improve your environmental profile.

It is not exactly late-breaking news that boilers use a lot of energy. Currently, an estimated 163,000 commercial and industrial boiler systems are in operation nationwide [1]. Boilers make up about 40 percent of the total energy consumption in these sectors. It is also no secret that boilers emit air pollutants, such as nitrogen and sulfur compounds, that contribute to acid rain, ozone depletion, and other environmental problems.
Soaring energy prices and tighter emissions standards have created additional challenges for facilities all across the country that are already struggling to cut costs and meet operating budgets. Age is another factor. According to American Boiler Manufacturers Association sales data, 76 percent of existing boilers are more than 30 years old. These boilers likely operate well below the efficiency standards of current technology and are probably less reliable than newer models. Some units may even violate state and federal emissions standards, contributing further to greenhouse gas emissions.These issues have combined to increase interest in boiler efficiency and to drive sales trends toward smaller, more economical boilers. If you are one of the many facilities looking to cut boiler operating costs and improve your environmental profile, there are a number of steps that you can take to identify energy losses, improve efficiency and lower emissions.

Install Energy Efficient Burners
The purpose of a burner is to mix air and fuel. Burners are designed to maximize combustion efficiency while minimizing the release of emissions. A boiler will run only as well as the burner performs. An efficient burner provides the proper air-to-fuel mixture throughout the full range of firing rates, without constant adjustment. Consider purchasing a new energy-efficient burner if your existing burner is cycling on and off rapidly or if repair costs become excessive and reliability becomes an issue. For further details, see the U.S. Department of Energy document "Upgrade Boilers with Energy Efficient Burners."

Flue Gas Recirculation
Upgrading or adding options to the burner is the most effective way to cut down on boiler emissions. While there are a number of combustion and post-combustion emissions control options, flue gas recirculation (FGR) has the potential to offer the greatest emissions reduction. FGR involves recirculating part of the relatively cool exhaust gases back into the combustion process in order to lower the flame temperature and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) formation. It is currently the most effective and popular low NOx technology for firetube and watertube boilers. In many cases, it does not require any additional reduction equipment. For information about other emissions control options, see the Energy Solutions Center's Boiler Efficiency Improvement Guide.

Increase Turndown Rate
Another energy-saving option for burners is to increase the turndown rate. Boiler turndown is a ratio of a boiler's capacity at full fire to its lowest firing point before shut-down. Old boilers may have only two firing positions: low and high. Newer boilers offer a wider range of firing capacities. A higher turndown ratio reduces burner starts, provides better load control, saves wear-and-tear on the burner, increases refractory life, reduces purge-air requirements and provides fuel savings.

Consider Condensing Boilers
Many currently installed boilers, especially older ones, are oversized, wasting energy and emitting more pollutants than necessary. In many applications, it is a good idea to replace an older boiler with a smaller, more efficient condensing boiler. A condensing boiler is a hot water heating device designed to recover energy normally discharged to the atmosphere through the flue. The real energy savings from a condensing boiler come from the drop in the temperature of flue gases flowing through the stack, multiplied by the mass-flow rate of the flue gases. A typical non-condensing boiler has a flue gas temperature of 135°C (275°F). A properly-sized condensing boiler may drop the flue gas temperature to 77°C (170°F) or lower, condensing the flue gases and transferring the absorbed heat into the water flow. This can raise the effective seasonal thermal efficiency of these boilers from below 80 to 90 percent or higher. See Condensing Boilers for Maximum Efficiency.

Boiler Blowdown Heat Recovery
The boiler blowdown process involves the periodic or continuous removal of water from a boiler to remove accumulated dissolved solids and/or sludges. Boiler blowdown wastes energy, however, because the blown-down liquid is about the same temperature as the steam produced. Much of this heat can be recovered by routing the blown-down liquid through a heat exchanger that preheats the boiler's makeup water. Blowdown heat recovery systems can offer a payback in as little as 12 months. Several boilers can be attached to a single recovery unit, thus reducing capital costs. Any boiler with continuous surface blowdown exceeding 5% of the steam generation rate is a good candidate for blowdown waste heat recovery. For more information, see "Recover Heat From Boiler Blowdown," a U.S. Department of Energy fact sheet.

[1] Characterization of the U.S. Commercial/Industrial Boiler Population, Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Arlington, VA, 2005.

New ASHRAE Ventilation Requirements for Hospitals

2008-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

The following is a press release from ASHRAE concerning new ventilation requirements for hospitals. I found this article quite interesting because I didn't realize how much of a health hazard could be at risk in hospitals with poor ventilated systems. Also, we just became an authorized representative for B.P.E., a leader in energy recovery ventilators. I hope you enjoy the article!

ASHRAE
For Release: Sept. 9, 2008

Contact: Jodi DunlopPublic Relations 678-539-1140jdunlop@ashrae.org

New Ventilation Design Requirements for Health Care Facilities Available from ASHRAE
ATLANTA – Just like the right dose of medicine can improve health, proper ventilation is an integral part of patients’ well-being in health care facilities.
Requirements to ensure high-quality ventilation can be found in a new standard written by ASHRAE and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2008, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, defines ventilation system design requirements that provide environmental control for comfort, as well as infection and odor control.
The standard is the first ANSI standard in the nation to specifically address ventilation in health care facilities and is available for adoption by various authorities for health care facility construction such as city, state and federal governments and by private national organizations such as the Facilities Guidelines Institute and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
Without high-quality ventilation in health care facilities, patients, health care workers and visitors can become infected by simply breathing.
“Air-transmitted pathogens can be found everywhere in poorly ventilated health care facilities,” Richard Hermans, P.E., ASHRAE certified healthcare facility design professional (HFDP), chair of the committee that wrote the standard, said. “Because these organisms are found in higher concentrations in hospitals and because patients are susceptible to them, additional care should be taken in the design of ventilation systems.”
The standard addresses systems and equipment; space ventilation for a variety of areas in health care facilities, including airborne infection isolation rooms, critical care units, burn units, surgery rooms, and Class B and C operating rooms; and planning, construction and system startup.
The cost of ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, is $54 ($43, ASHRAE members).
To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit at www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
###

Welcome to the Marspec Blog

2008-09-10T14:39:00.001-07:00

Thanks for looking in.

We intend for this blog to be a place where our friends and customers can get information on industry practices, interesting news or links to technical articles and maybe a commercial or two about us and our product lines. We would appreciate your comments and ideas.