CATALYTICA AND SOLAR TURBINES TEAM TO DEVELOP ULTRALOW-EMISSION CATALYTIC COMBUSTOR FOR NEW APPLICATION.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 1995-- Catalytica, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTAL CTAL Confederacion de Trabajadores de America Latina (Confederation of Latin American Workers) CTAL Canadian Tire Acceptance Limited CTAL Computer Technology Application Lab, Inc. CTAL Confidentially Typed Assembly Language ), announced today that it has entered into a cooperative development program with Solar Turbines Inc. to investigate the application of Catalytica's ultralow nitrogen oxide Noun 1. nitrogen oxide - any of several oxides of nitrogen formed by the action of nitric acid on oxidizable materials; present in car exhausts pollutant - waste matter that contaminates the water or air or soil (NOx) emission combustion technology to Solar gas turbines. Catalytica and Solar will collaborate to design a catalytic combustor com·bus·tor n. A combustion chamber and its igniters, injectors, and other related apparatus in a jet engine or gas turbine. A name generally assigned to the combination of flame holder or stabilizer, igniter, combustion chamber, and unit for Solar's Mars gas turbine, a 10-megawatt machine used for driving gas pipeline compressors and for power generation. The Phase I development program, which is being funded by Solar, includes prototype and subscale testing at both companies' facilities. Full-scale and turbine tests could occur in a next phase program depending on the results of Phase I. Robert L. Garten, president of Catalytica Combustion Systems, said, "The agreement with Solar is another important step forward in the implementation of our strategy to broadly apply catalytic combustion for emissions prevention in gas turbines. We now have in place programs that cover the full range of turbine sizes and applications with the leading gas turbine manufacturers, including Solar Turbines." Peter B. Roberts, director of development engineering at Solar Turbines, said, "Solar recognizes that catalytic combustion offers potential for attaining the lowest possible levels of NOx emissions from natural gas-fueled turbines without resorting to the use of complex, costly, post-combustion clean-up devices, a challenge that all turbine manufacturers are facing. Catalytica is well-known in this field, and the program now under way will help us determine whether incorporating their advanced technology in our gas turbines can help us meet emissions requirements." A catalytic combustor reacts fuel with oxygen in the air on a catalyst surface to form hot combustion gases that are used to power the turbine. Unlike conventional flame combustion, which produces high levels of NOx emissions, catalytic combustion prevents the formation of this pollutant pol·lut·ant n. Something that pollutes, especially a waste material that contaminates air, soil, or water. as well as carbon monoxide carbon monoxide, chemical compound, CO, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, extremely poisonous gas that is less dense than air under ordinary conditions. It is very slightly soluble in water and burns in air with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide; and unburned hydrocarbons Unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs) are the hydrocarbons emitted after petroleum is burned in an engine. Any fuel entering a flame will be reacted. Thus, when unburned fuel is emitted from a combustor, the emission is caused by fuel "avoiding" the flame zones. . These smog-producing air pollutants pollutants see environmental pollution. are regulated in many localities worldwide. Solar Turbines, a Caterpillar Inc. subsidiary in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , has an installed base of 9,400 turbines worldwide and is the industry leader in the 1- to 10-megawatt range. Catalytica is developing the next step in manufacturing technologies and products that offer economic and environmental benefits. Catalytica Combustion Systems focuses on the development of such products for the power generation industry. CONTACT: Catalytica Inc. Alice Galloway, 415/940-6382 |
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