Page 19 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 2/2017

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PRAXAIR AND LIBBEY

GRANT FOR EMISSIONS

REDUCTION PROJECT

IN EUROPE

Praxair, Inc. and its customer, Libbey Inc. have been
awarded a EUR 2.3 million euro LIFE grant (LIFE15
CCM/NL/000121 – LIFE OPTIMELT) from the
European Commission. The LIFE programme is the
European Union’s financial instrument for supporting
environmental, conservation and climate action projects.
This grant is supporting the installation of Praxair’s
®
OPTIMELT thermochemical regenerator (TCR) system
at Libbey’s glass melting facility in the Netherlands.
In April 2016, Praxair and Libbey, one of the largest
glassware and tableware manufacturers globally,
announced they would install the OPTIMELT TCR system
as well as an on-site oxygen vacuum pressure swing
adsorption (VPSA) plant at Libbey’s facility. The system
is designed to support a capacity realignment plan that
reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
emissions by approximately 45 to 60% and 30 to 40%
respectively. Through Praxair’s proprietary OPTIMELT
TCR system, incoming natural gas is heated and reacts
with a portion of the flue gas to produce a hot syngas
fuel that recovers the waste heat stored in regenerators
for more efficient combustion in the furnace. Both the
OPTIMELT TCR system and oxygen supply are scheduled
to start up in 2017.
“At Praxair we are achieving our mission of making our
planet more productive through the development of
technologies that reduce emissions, save energy and lessen
our reliance on natural resources,” said Todd Skare, chief
technology officer at Praxair. “Through our innovative
OPTIMELT technology and VPSA oxygen supply system,
we are improving air quality and helping Libbey to achieve
its sustainability goals.”
“Libbey is committed to minimizing its impact on the
environment through the reduction and conservation of
natural resources,” said Terry Hartman, vice president,
global engineering and manufacturing support, Libbey
Inc. “Reductions in global air pollution require innovative
solutions that go beyond filters. In partnership with
Praxair, we have constructed and launched the highest-
efficiency glass melter in the industry at our Royal
Leerdam facility in the Netherlands. This new furnace
represents the type of collaboration and process innovation
that enables us to help lead change as a responsible global
company.”