Natural Gas Fleet

For now, the Frito-Lay natural gas fleet will run primarily on compressed natural gas, and eventually the company plans to implement a longer-range fleet that would run C.N.G as well as liquefied natural gas for long-distance hauls.

Frito-Lay’s move to a natural gas fleet should save millions of dollars in fuel charges as well as reduce the environmental footprint left by diesel trucks.  According to a recent article in the New York Times, Frito-Lay’s natural gas fleet will save the equivalent of $2.50 a gallon compared with the current diesel prices. With the U.S. becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, Frito-Lay will improve its corporate image by reducing greenhouse emissions by 23 percent compared with its current diesel rigs. There are 18 Frito-Lay trucks in the pilot testing stage of development that are burning natural gas in an 8.9 liter Cummins engine.

The New York Times article also quoted the senior director of fleet capability at Frito-Lay about the prospects of moving to a natural gas fleet: “The good news is that it’s a win-win for us, both in terms of our sustainability strategy and reducing our costs. The payback for the extra cost of the natural gas trucks is a year and a half, so it’s a little bit of a no-brainer. We retire approximately 125 tractors a year, and we plan to replace as many of them as we can with natural gas.”

The implications of a widespread transition from diesel to natural gas in the case of Frito-Lay should have a measureable effect on the natural gas industry. Frito-Lay confirmed that 67 trucks will be fully deployed by the middle of July.

Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens

Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens also weighed in on the implications of natural gas in the vehicle industry: “We have to target the heavy-duty vehicles, which is where you can get the volume.” Targeting the largest segment of the vehicle industry would grow the demand for natural gas innovation and exploration of new means to extract the valuable resource.

These innovations are made possible by the growing demand for natural gas in the United State and horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracking greatly increase the quantities of this gas. Victory Energy sees an ever increasing use of natural gas innovation and exploration in our future.  For more information on the efficient use of natural gas and how it can be productively utilized as a sustainable energy source, visit victoryenergy.com.

What is Hydrofracking?

Hydrofracking is an extraction process where a water and organic chemical mixture is injected into cracks in a shale bed at extremely high pressures.   Breaking open the rock allows the natural gas to be extracted.

Fracking Process

How much water is used in the fracking process?

Approximately 20 billion gallons of produced water is generated on an annual basis. Most fracking experts agree that it is not difficult to separate the organic chemicals from the water at the end of the process; however, after the organic chemicals are removed, but in many cases the remaining water is made up of 20% salt.

What is done with the wastewater?

Legislation varies from state to state as to what can be done with the wastewater.  In Texas and Arkansas, for instance, the wastewater can simply be stored in designated underground wells. There are some obvious risks with that approach. There is a possibility that the wastewater could seep into nearby fresh water wells. Some states take the wastewater to purification or water treatment plants. The risk with that scenario is that the water is not effectively treated before it is pumped into rivers and tributaries.   Other states, such as Pennsylvania, have more stringent geopolitical policies.  The geology around the Marcellus Shale Formation in Pennsylvania (which holds enough natural gas to fuel the entire United States for 2 years) does not accept the bury-and-forget technique as adequate.  They use a glass called Osorb that swells to eight times its original size and absorbs almost all of the volatile chemicals and hydrocarbons in the water.

Once the volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons are taken out of the fracking water, the challenge remains of what’s to be done with the leftover saltwater? Victory Energy is developing a solution to that very problem.  They contend that not only can they desalinate the water, but they can also use the water to generate energy.  The next blog in this series will shed light on how fracking water can be transformed into useable energy.

Victory Energy is a leader in innovative energy solutions. They strive to generate value exploring new ways of energy production. To learn more about the various types of energy solutions Victory Energy offers, visit www.victoryenergy.com.

Fracking Water

The natural gas extraction process of fracking produces nearly 20 billion gallons of wastewater, also known as fracking water, on an annual basis. This wastewater produced by the hydraulic fracking process can be harmful to the environment if not dealt with properly. Some companies have found ways to not only properly dispose of the vast amounts of wastewater but to use it for good. What separates innovators from the status quo is the ability to recognize opportunity.  Twenty billion gallons of wastewater presents a unique opportunity for innovation and industry improvement.

Fracking wastewater contains organic chemicals and large amounts of salt. Once the organic chemicals and hydrocarbons are removed, the water contains approximately 20% salt. How then can someone use the highly salinized water for good?

One obvious answer to that question is desalination by means of distillation. Distillation has been around for hundreds of years; simply put, it is the process of removing salt from water by applying heat. This process is quite simple in nature but is useful in taking advantage of the resources left over from the hydraulic fracking process.  The salt water is heated to the point where it produces water vapor in the form of steam. That hot vapor is captured and then cooled, and the vapor undergoes a phase change from gas to liquid. The liquid byproduct of this process is clean, distilled water. Desalination can also be achieved by reverse osmosis.

The distillation process generates vast amounts of heat. Whenever vast amounts of heat are produced energy potential is gained. The thermal energy used to drive the desalination process can also be utilized to benefit the environment and other various process scenarios.  In this case, that thermal energy can be captured and reused in productive areas such as electrical generation and process heat. This means that not only is fracking water being recycled, but the heat used to recycle it can supplement energy needs, further reducing the environmental impact.

Jeff Coale, VP of Business Development at Victory Energy, has this to say about the need for such solutions: “Victory Energy is actively developing solutions to meet the critical need for our continued development of our natural resources while maintaining good stewardship of the environment.”

The growing demand for energy spurs innovation. These innovations can lessen the environmental effects of the fracking process by utilizing every bit of usable energy to supplement current energy initiatives.

Victory Energy is a leader in energy innovation and supports the improvement of current energy practices. To learn more about how the power of 1 degree can change the energy industry at large, visit victoryenergy.com.

Open Bottom A-style boiler, engineered specifically for a biomass application.

Using biomass for energy has been around since people used fire to cook food and keep warm. The growing demand for energy production creates an opportunity for biomass to become a substantial supplement to current energy production methods.  Biomass initiatives have gained popularity in recent years due to the uncertain nature of foreign fuel sources. Abundant resources and waste materials make biomass energy possible because of the variety and quantity of substances that can be burned to create energy.

Understanding Energy Potential

Nearly anything can be used as a fuel source when using biomass for energy; however, remember that biomass fuel sources have varying amounts of energy potential. Energy potential is simply the amount of energy stored in a substance that when combusted or gasified creates energy.  If a fuel source has relatively high energy potential, less of that source is needed to achieve energy production. Adversely, if a fuel source has low energy potential, then larger quantities of that source will be needed to achieve the same energy production levels.

Using Biomass for Energy

What exactly can be used as fuel for the biomass process?

Wood is the most widely used biomass energy resource today, but other sources of biomass can also be used. These include crop waste, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, oil-rich algae, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. There is also the possibility of capturing and using the methane created from landfills. Some other main contributors to biomass fuel are paper mill residue, lumber mill scrap, and municipal waste. The technology is available to utilize farming residue, such as corn stover (stalks and leaves left over in the farming process) and wheat stalks to use as a fuel source for biomass energy. Long term biomass plans include growing dedicated crops for the biomass process such as fast growing crops, grasses, trees and algae.

Some benefits of using biomass for energy

• Using biomass for energy is actually better for the environment. True, when biomass is consumed it releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as fossil fuels, however the carbon dioxide that is released is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured during its own growth.
• By using biomass for energy, the United States can reduce dependency on foreign sources of fuel.
• Biomass also has positive economic value. The use of biomass energy supports several different critical industries. Agricultural and forestry industries are assisted by the use of biomass as an energy production method. The promotion of these industries creates more jobs from the farmers and forestry workers, to the energy professionals who engineer ways to effectively turn biomass to energy.

Want to know more?

To learn more about how biomass can be turned into usable energy, visit victoryenergy.com. Victory Energy specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of boilers that can be used in the biomass process.  Contact Victory Energy today to find out how they can help your operation increase efficiencies and maximize energy output.

Biomass plant in Michigan

2012 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in the biomass industry. Four much anticipated biomass plants are under construction or soon will be, and other plants will undergo a coal to biomass conversion. Such is the case for a Virginia plant that is awaiting regulatory approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The success or failure of the biomass industry largely hinges upon the regulations set by the EPA.  Growth of the industry is likely to be limited to projects nearing completion after years of development.  Though growth is limited, the economic benefits are still measurable, bringing hundreds of jobs to Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, Texas, and Virginia.

The EPA is not the only factor that is limiting the growth of the biomass industry, but cheap natural gas prices make it more difficult to justify large amounts of biomass energy production.  Strict environmental standards outlined in the bill “Boiler MACT” make it difficult to cost-effectively develop biomass production plants. Revisions to the bill will be necessary to continue with large scale implementation of biomass energy production. Also causing trouble for the industry is the looming 2013 expiration of the federal production tax credit for biomass power. The uncertainty has halted development of new projects with few exceptions.

Wood pellets

Not every aspect of the biomass industry is pessimistic. For instance wood pellet manufacturing is on the rise amid promise that this will provide a more sustainable fuel source for the biomass industry.  The new biomass plants in Virginia provide hope for other companies considering the switch from coal to biomass. Even a small number of biomass plants will spur growth in the industry.

All in all, if environmental restrictions are loosened on the biomass industry, 2012 could see sustainable growth over the next several years. Even if restrictions are not lifted, any energy source that is a viable contributor that lessening dependency on any one single fuel source, will aid the energy industry at large in perception and production.

Victory Energy supports biomass energy production as well as all innovative energy solutions. Victory can engineer and manufacture boilers that can produce energy by burning biomass fuel sources. At the end of the day, diversifying energy sources not only benefits the United States on an economic level by creating thousands of new jobs, but it reduces dependency on foreign energy sources. To learn more about alternative energy sources, visit victoryenergy.com. 

If you own and operate an industrial boiler you know that fuel costs are the largest operations cost in the boiler operation. However, did you know that depending on the type of boiler, 15- 20 percent of the energy from that fuel is being lost right up the stack? There are multiple solutions available that will reduce your fuel costs by maximizing the heat recovery process. In this video, Victory Energy Operations discusses these cost-effective solutions, which can pay for themselves within a matter of months and give you fuel savings for your boiler operations for years to come. Find our more at http://blog.victoryenergy.com

Steam boiler systems offer some of the most efficient and cleanest energy available for refineries, food processing, power plants and other industrial facilities. In this video, learn how to determine which boiler design is right for your operations. To learn more about what custom boiler design might be right for your facilities visit, http://www.victoryenergy.com.

© 2012 PHOTO COURTESY OF
HLI RAIL & RIGGING, LLC

When exploring different ways of transporting industrial steam boilers, water transportation is another alternative to highway and rail transportation. Finding an industrial boiler manufacturer that can facilitate and orchestrate unique boiler transportation is an important factor of any job.  Like any mode of transportation there positives and negatives that go along with barge transportation.

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to use barge transportation to move your industrial steam boiler.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Accessibility to Port: Proximity to a servicing port is important when deciding to use barge transportation.  Also remember that re-transportation will almost always be required in barge transport (meaning the unit must be carried to port by other means and then loaded onto its designated barge). Re-transportation costs must be included when figuring the cost of total transportation effort. Surprisingly, inland waterways are more common than is the perception, and there are many locations that are served by barge transportation.

Cost: The re-transportation required before the barge transport can take place and the transportation from the destination port to the site are factors that can affect cost. For this reason, barge transport is sometimes more costly. However, the rigging that is required to secure the unit on the barge is far less extensive than highway and rail transport.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Unit Size: Barge transport is ideal for transporting large units. Scenarios can arise where steam boilers are so large that it simply makes more sense to use barge transport.

Destination Environment: The environment of the destination can play a significant role in deciding on the effectiveness of barge transport. Densely populated urban areas are more conducive to barge transport rather than using rail or truck because difficulties can arise when trying to bring a large load down city streets or largely populated areas.

© 2012 PHOTO COURTESY OF
HLI RAIL & RIGGING, LLC

Length of Transport: Because barge transport takes place on inland water ways it is at times a lengthy process to complete the transport. If the time allowed for transportation is short, it may be more practical to use highway or rail transport.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the mode of transportation for industrial boilers that best suits your needs. Victory Energy has extensive experience with many types of transportation, including barge transport. Victory is conveniently located within 10 miles of the Port of Catoosa, which services barge transportation.  So whether it is most practical to use barge or other means of transportation, Victory Energy can assist the customer in planning and implementation of steam boiler transportation.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Using highway transportation to ship industrial steam boilers is one common method of boiler transport. Knowing whether your industrial boiler manufacturer has first-hand industry experience with highway transport should be a deciding factor on using this mode of transportation. With any mode of transportation there are pros and cons to using that method for a given situation.

Several deciding factors help determine if highway transport is the optimum method.

Speed of Delivery: Highway transport is one of the faster methods of transportation simply because the driver has more control than with rail and barge transports. Typically no re-transportation is needed in highway transport, meaning the truck and trailer can pull from the manufacturer straight to the destination site.

Cost: Because highway delivery is faster than most other means of transportation it is typically more costly. Especially large loads require bucket crews and oversized load escorts for highway travel, which drives up cost. Specialized trailers needed to accomplish the transport are also costly to use.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Routing Specifics:  There are several aspects to keep in mind when creating the transportation route.  For instance, large loads that cannot pass under highway overpasses will require rerouting. Keep in mind that each state has its own rules, regulations, and permits. This can lengthen the planning stage of the transport by making it tedious and complex. For this reason it is important to work with an industrial boiler manufacturer who has an experienced transportation staff that is familiar with inter-state rules and regulations.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Load out and Clean up Procedures:  The load out and clean up procedures in highway transportation of steam boilers is far less extensive than rail transport.  Cranes are still needed to load the boiler onto the trailer; however, a more standardized tie-down process is used.  Crane crews are still needed in the offloading stage of the transport but little to no cleanup is required.

Transport Monitoring:   Highway transport allows for direct communication throughout the transportation process. This gives the end user the peace of mind that the steam boilers transport is closely monitored by the manufacturer.

Victory Energy has its own fleet of highway transport experts. With years of experience in all types of boiler transport, Victory provides guidance and expertise as to which mode of transportation will best accommodate the specific application. To learn more about Victory Energy’s transportation capabilities visit http://victoryenergy.com/transportation/.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

One of the more common means of transportation of industrial steam boilers is by rail, but there are several factors to consider when deciding if this mode of transportation is best on a per job basis.  Make sure that your industrial boiler manufacturer’s facility is served by rail so that the transportation process can be closely monitored.

The following factors can all play a part in deciding if rail is the best mode of transportation for a specific job.

Size of Unit: Transportation by rail accommodates relatively large shipments. Knowing the design and specific dimensions of the boiler will help determine if that unit is suitable for rail travel. Clearance must be given by the railroad once the perspective route is mapped.

Proximity to Rail: Ideally the boiler manufacturer and the end user are served by rail. If not, re-transportation will be required, which may drive up transportation costs.  If however, both parties are rail served, this mode of transportation is not only effective but also competitively priced.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Load-out Procedures: The load-out process of rail transport requires planning and preparation.  The boiler must be craned onto a predetermined position on the railcar. Once the boiler is in place, extensive tie-down procedures take place to ensure the boiler is secure throughout the transport. A certified rail inspector monitors the entire process to ensure the load out falls within the parameters set by railroad regulations.  Once the inspector approves the load out, the shipment begins its journey.

Clean-up Procedures: When the shipment arrives at its destination, a crane is needed to off load the steam boiler. Once the boiler has been removed, the railcar is cleaned—including all weld connections and rigging—so that the railcar is returned to its original state. The sales agreement should spell out who is responsible for cleanup. It is also important to coordinate times in which to receive the boiler due to demerge chargers that are the result of a delay in offloading the boiler at the destination.

© 2012 VICTORY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

Time frame of Delivery: Rail transport often takes longer than other modes of transporting steam boilers.  Determining the number of rail line switches will help to determine the length of the shipment.  Every time a rail line switch takes place the shipment is transferred to a rail yard to await the next train going to its destination. These rail line switches can cause delays up to a few days per rail line switch. “Special trains”— solely designated to one shipment for the entire journey—can be deployed to expedite delivery, but special trains come at a premium cost that requires an analysis to see if this makes sense in a given situation.

Victory Energy is an industrial boiler manufacturer who has an experienced transportation staff that can accommodate all transportation needs.  Their facility is rail served, which reduces transport cost for the end user. To learn more about how Victory Energy can assist you in your industrial boiler transportation needs, visit victoryenergy.com.