By Lori Ehde
The long-awaited thermal oxidizer has arrived at Luverne's Agri-Energy ethanol plant.
It's the $1.5 million solution to the plants odor problem that has prompted community complaints since it began operating in 1998.
The equipment is in high demand and Luverne's been waiting for it since it was ordered in January.
"It's a huge project," plant manager Rick Serie said after it was ordered. "It'll require two additions, one for the electrical panel and one to house the boiler."
The oxidizer and boiler arrived last week, and crews have been working since Wednesday, July 10, to install them.
In the thermal oxidation process, odor is eliminated by venting plant emissions into the oxidizer and destroying them with heat.
Meanwhile, the plant will capture heat off that process in a waste recovery boiler to create steam for the ethanol production process.
In addition, Serie said the plant will realize savings by not having the operational costs of running the dryer scrubber.
Another advantage to the oxidation process is that it will allow the plant to increase production while remaining in compliance with the MPCA's emissions standards.
In fact, Serie said, the plant decided to pay $268,000 more for a larger model that will allow the plant to double its production in the future.
While the oxidation process requires a hefty up-front investment, Serie said it may pay for itself in five years.
Gained efficiencies of the boiler, costs cut by not using the scrubber and the freedom to expand production all make the oxidizer a worthwhile investment, Serie said.
The oxidizer for Luverne comes from MMT Environmental, a Minneapolis company, and the boiler comes from Victory Energy, Owasso, Okla.
The 175-foot stack will remain, but the steam plume coming out of the stack will be eliminated.
The existing boiler will be moved into a support position to be used as backup if needed.
Agri-Energy started production in 1998. It now employs 29 people full-time with an annual payroll of more than $1 million.
It processes 7 million bushels of corn per year and produces more than 20 million gallons of ethanol annually.