Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power needs of a gasification facility are described. The systems include an ice refrigeration storage unit for supplying refrigeration to the larger consumers of cooling in the gasification facility. The methods include manipulating the ice refrigeration storage unit to minimize the utilization of power during peak price periods and maximize the utilization of power during offpeak price periods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low NOx gasification startup system and a method for starting up a low NOx startup system. During startup of a gasification unit, a gasifier must be pre-heated via combustion of a fuel source, which thereby generates pollutants. Once pre-heated, the gasifier initially generates off-spec syngas that requires disposal via combustion, thereby generating additional pollutants. The low NOx gasification startup system substantially lowers emission rates of NOx, CO, and/or VOCs during the startup process. During normal operation of the gasification unit, O2 and CO2 may be produced, stored, and later used during startup processes. The stored O2 and CO2 may be sent to one or more combustion devices and utilized as an oxidant for combusting undesired gases during the startup process. This CO2/O2 mixture provides a higher oxygen content than air and contains substantially less nitrogen than air, thereby substantially reducing NOx formation within the combustion device's emissions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid cooling tower and a method and system for using the cooling tower. The cooling tower is design to reduce water consumption and eliminate plume formation. The cooling tower comprises a wet section having a plurality of wet section fans and a dry section having a plurality of dry section fans. The wet section fans are adjustable to operate at an increased rate and a reduced rate, depending upon ambient conditions surrounding the cooling tower. The wet section may comprise at least one shutter door. In operation, typically the wet section fans operate at the increased rate during a summer peak price period and at the reduced rate during a winter peak price period and an offpeak price period. Typically, the dry section fans operate at the increased rate all year. This method allows for less evaporative cooling and more latent cooling thereby reducing water consumption.