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Newsletter spring 1996 |
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Dry Cleaning Equipment Upgrades Cut
Costs and Reduce Perc
- by Cindy McComas
Changing to new or add-on dry cleaning equipment
that efficiently uses and recovers perchloroethylene (perc)
can significantly reduce operating costs. Currently, perc
costs approximately $10 per gallon*. To discourage perc use,
taxes and fees comprise approximately 50% of purchasing
costs. Efficient equipment can make your perc go further through
recycling and recovery and by significantly reducing evaporative
losses.
Three options exist for perc dry cleaning
equipment upgrades:
1. Switch to Dry-to-Dry
Machines
Switching from the more traditional transfer machines
to a more efficient refrigerated dry-to-dry machine eliminates
garment transfer, which can reduce perc use and purchase by
as much as 90% annually. The newest dry-to-dry machines
are equipped with a refrigerated condenser, which is very
efficient at recovering perc and recycling it back through
the machine. The new, tighter machine design also significantly
reduces fugitive emissions. In addition, perc recovery from
waste is increased with the new spin-filter design. This generates
less waste and lowers perc emissions from waste removal.
Cost: A new refrigerated dry-to-dry
machine starts at $28,000 installed for a 30-pound capacity
machine.
Perc Use Reduction: Up to 90% annually.
Note: payback calculations are only based on perc savings,
not hazardous waste disposal savings.
2. Add Refrigerated Condensers
If purchasing a new refrigerated dry-to-dry machine is not cost
effective, a refrigerated condenser could be added to a nonrefrigerated
dry-to-dry machine, or to a transfer machine. This option may
be required to meet the National Emission Standard for Hazardous
Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for perc dry cleaners. Refrigerated
condensers operate efficiently to recover perc at high concentrations.
Cost: $7,000-8,000 installed
Perc Use Reduction: Up to 40-50% annually.
Note: payback calculations are only based on perc savings,
not hazardous waste disposal savings.
3. Add Carbon Adsorption Units
In some cases, it may be effective
to add carbon adsorption units (sniffers) to refrigerated
dry-to-dry machines to achieve greater perc recovery. (Note:
machines with refrigerated condensers work so well at recovering
perc that adding a carbon adsorber for a newer machine may
not be cost effective.) It should be noted that older carbon
adsorption units require a high level of maintenance, and
the carbon should be desorbed daily to make them effective
at removing perc from the vent stream. Once the carbon adsorption
sites are filled, perc is not captured efficiently if the
units are not maintained. Also, over time, the carbon does
not desorb as effectively, and it eventually would need to
be replaced. New, improved carbon units desorb with heat,
are not as costly to operate, and do not produce large quantities
of contact water from steam use.
Regulatory Compliance
Dry cleaners in Minnesota must keep perc concentration in
the shop under 25 parts per million (ppm) during an eight-hour
period, according to rules from the Occupational Safety and
Health Division of the Minnesota Labor and Industry Department
(MNOSHA). This law is stricter than the federal OSHA standard,
which limits perc concentration to 100 ppm.
Existing dry cleaners must comply with the
Clean Air Act Amendment (CAAA) NESHAP by September 22, 1996.
Depending on your annual perc consumption (greater than 140
gallons per year for dry-to-dry systems and greater than 200
gallons per year for transfer systems) you may need to add
a refrigerated condenser to nonrefrigerated systems to comply
with the NESHAP. In addition, certain monitoring, inspection
and leak detection/repair requirements must be met.
Switching to efficient new or add-on dry
cleaning equipment can help dry cleaners comply with these
state and federal regulations.
More Information
and Assistance
If you are a Minnesota dry cleaner and want to reduce perc
use and costs, call Cindy McComas at MnTAP at 612.624.4678
or 800.247.0015. MnTAP provides free, nonregulatory technical
assistance to help Minnesota dry cleaners reduce their perc
emissions and associated costs.
Minnesota dry cleaners that need help with
air quality, hazardous waste or wastewater rules, permits
or calculations can receive free, nonregulatory help from
the Small Businesses Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) at the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency. To request assistance or more information,
call Kim Grosenheider at SBEAP at 651.282.5487 or 800.657.3938.
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