1. Crown Capital Eco/biomass
Boiler Addresses Alaskans'
Environmental, Economic
Concerns
Crown Eco Capital Management
Reference: http://jdave2274.blogspot.com/

2. The heavily forested city of Ketchikan, Alaska, is built
on rock and surrounded by water. Every commodity
that comes into Ketchikan must arrive by sea or air.
The use of fuel oil is problematic for both economic
and environmental reasons because the oil must be
obtained and refined elsewhere and transported (using
additional fuel). What's more, fuel oil is subject to
price instability.

3. Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan, which
provides information to more than a million visitors
each year, is the site of a pilot biomass boiler system
now coming to life. Two oil-fired boilers serving the
250,000-sq-ft center were replaced with a highly
efficient system fueled by local wood. Manufactured by
Hurst Boiler & Welding Company Inc., the hot-water
boiler was custom-designed to fit within very limited
indoor space.

4. Under the direction of E. Dane Ash, project manager
for Tyonek-Alcan Pacific LLC, the biomass boiler
system was developed with Hurst representative
Gregory W. Smith of Global Energy Solutions Inc. to
address environmental concerns, as well as issues
related to building space, fuel
costs, comfort, reliability, and simplicity of operation.

5. Under the direction of E. Dane Ash, project manager
for Tyonek-Alcan Pacific LLC, the biomass boiler
system was developed with Hurst representative
Gregory W. Smith of Global Energy Solutions Inc. to
address environmental concerns, as well as issues
related to building space, fuel
costs, comfort, reliability, and simplicity of operation.

6. The boiler system was designed to highlight how
biomass can reduce or eliminate the use of fossil
fuels. Visitors can see the boiler operate through
specially designed windows. In the hall just outside of
the boiler room, the noise level and ambient
temperature is consistent with the rest of the
building.

7. Savings
Fuel costs have been cut by two-thirds. The densified
pucks are used with almost no residual ash;
eventually, however, tree clippings from the
Ketchikan walking trails will be ground and fed into
the boiler, eliminating the need for transport to a
landfill, burning, and other methods of disposal.

8. The Boiler
The Hurst S100 Series Fire Tube 27 HP
Hydronic Water Heating Boiler features a pre-
heater to optimize combustion and an
underfeed stoker with dry-ash-removal
system.

9. Results
The system easily can be replicated for heat or heat/power
generation up to 20,000 kw. In June 2011, Smith served as a
keynote speaker for the fifth annual Native American
Economic Development Conference in
Anaheim, Calif., where he described the initiatives being
implemented in Ketchikan and shared success stories of
biomass-fired boiler systems installed on institutional
campuses and in manufacturing facilities throughout the
United States, particularly in challenging and remote
locations. Systems include municipal solid waste, as well as
woody biomass for steam production and steam to power.