Fluidized Bed Combustion XXV Conference
May 21-23, 2012
Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Jay Hofmann Trinity Consultants, Inc. Chairman, Communication Education & Outreach Committee

Gary L. Merritt Inter-Power/AhlCon Partners, L.P. Conference Chairman

CIBO's Fluidized Bed XXV Conference and Stoker Owners Workshop will focus on the operations, management, performance, technology developments and regulations impacting Fluidized Bed and Stoker combustion systems for Industrial, Utility and University installations.

Since 1985, when CIBO hosted the first FBC conference in Washington, D.C., boiler owners, engineering firms, regulators and suppliers have gathered each year to discuss the design, applicability, operation and performance of fluidized bed combustion units to improve overall performance and operations in times of changing environmental regulations, energy demand and fuel availability and acceptability.

In the last 5 years, we have found that stoker fired boiler owners have similar operational and performance concerns with a need for peer-to-peer discussions. As such, we are adding a Stoker Owners' Workshop to this year's XXV CIBO FBC Conference - marking the beginning of our second 25 years of industry networking and technology transfer to help bring the technology for industrial, institutional and utility facilities where it is today.

With BOILER MACT, Area Source MACT, CISWI, U-MACT, and a Transport Rule published this year affecting all solid fuel combustion, especially those burning COAL, and this Administration's EPA pushing more stringent regulations for Air, Water, Land (Ash) and Energy, many are thinking of alternative fuels and energy efficiency as a way to save money, stay in business and comply with environmental rules.

• Are today's Fluidized Bed and Stoker combustion systems capable of meeting the full slate of new state and federal environmental requirements when using locally available, lower cost solid fuels across the full range of boiler sizes?
• Can they comply with the new regulations? And, how is this to be accomplished?

Understanding the capabilities of the technology alternatives that could be applicable to these systems, and the ways to improve the efficiency and add or increase the use of Bio-fuels is imperative to lowering costs, improving operations and the possibility of compliance and possibly survival.

The Monday afternoon FBC Owners' only, Stoker Owners' only Workshop and Manufacturers' & Suppliers' Only Forums should be most interesting and provide an ideal opportunity to begin this discussion when all sessions join together for a general discussion looking for solutions, savings and joint benefits later that afternoon. We have also added a Stoker Workshop Monday afternoon. The conference will include presentations of the results of the CIBO Annual FBC Survey; the latest FBC Technology developments in alternative fuel additions (Bio-fuel); and discussion on plant performance assessment, maintenance, and emission control and sorbent considerations. This year's optional tour on Wednesday is set for a tour of the University of North Carolina FBC power plant.