Gulf Coast Environmental Systems

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State By State Air Permitting Resources

With so many air permitting agencies across the nation it can be a bit confusing. What permits are required in your state? In your county? In your country? This list compiles many of the major permitting agencies for each U.S. state as well as many of the federal agencies. You may also find that your state has grants that may be available for you. We have shared information on many of the common air pollution prevention and air quality grants, those for water quality and other forms of pollution control are available on many of the state websites. Many of the grants for air pollution control are specific to energy usage and the implementation of an energy efficient Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is often the first step to qualification.

Clean Air Act Permitting and Air Permitting Related Services often fall into the Following Categories:

  • Permit Application and Exemption Submittals to Regulatory AgenciesAir Permitting
  • Permit Condition Negotiations
  • Air Dispersion Modeling Studies
  • Compliance Audits, Assessments and Program Assistance
  • Notice-of-Violation Technical Support
  • New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
  • National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS)
  • Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
  • Title III – Air Toxics/Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
  • Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) and Best Available Control Technology (BACT) studies
  • Title IV – Acid Rain (Regulation 75)
  • Title V – Operating Permit Program

[Read more…]

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Earth Day Tips

With Earth Day being in the month of April, we here at GCES spent a lot of timelearning ways we can reduce our own carbon foot prints. We shared what we learned, including great articles, tips, and videos so our followers could learn with us. With all that research, we were able to put together a pretty awesome series of tips, we titled “Easy Ways to Save The Planet.” These daily posts were designed to help people reduce the amount of energy they use, waste they create, and save money! While we have the industrial side of it covered, here, these are things you can easily emulate. It doesn’t get any better than that!

 

With this being Day 1 of our, series we decided to keep it simple with #Recycle. Looking for ways to improve on the basics of cardboard, glass and paper? Well look no further, those little K-cups of coffee can be recycled! It is estimated that 17 million K-cups end up in US landfills every year. Keep watching for more easy ways to save the planet from your pollution control partners at GCES.  [Read more…]

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Sulfur Oxides

What are sulfur oxides?

Sulfur oxides (SOx) are compounds of sulfur and oxygen molecules. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is the predominant form found in the lower atmosphere. Sulfur oxide is the common term for many types of sulfur and oxygen containing compounds such as:

  • Lower sulfur oxides(SnO, S7O2 and S6O2)SOx, Sulfur Oxides
  • Sulfur monoxide(SO)
  • Sulfur dioxide(SO2)
  • Sulfur trioxide(SO3)
  • Higher sulfur oxides(SO3 and SO4 and polymeric condensates of them)
  • Disulfur monoxide(S2O)
  • Disulfur dioxide(S2O2)

These molecules are colorless, but have a very distinct and strong scent and taste that can be detected when the gas is of high concentration.

Sulfur monoxide, SO, is a common sulfur oxide compound that is rarely found outside of space. When concentrated or condensed it becomes S2O2, or disulfur dioxide (see below). Under extreme laboratory conditions sulfur monoxide can be produced by treating sulfur dioxide with sulfur vapors in a glow discharge. In spaced sulfur monoxide is detected around one of Jupiter’s moons, Lo, in the atmosphere and in the plasma torus. It has also been found in the atmospheres of Venus and the Hale-Bopp comet as well as the interstellar medium. In biological chemistry, sulfur monoxide may have some biological activity, the formation of transient SO in porcine coronary artery has been inferred from the reaction products. Because it is rare in occurrence it is difficult to fully understand the hazardous of sulfur monoxide but as sulfur dioxide it is both toxic and corrosive.

Sulfur dioxide, one of the more popular sulfur oxides, is a poisonous gas with a smell that is often described as a just struck match. Sulfur dioxide can be can be liquefied at room temperatures under moderate pressures. As a liquid it freezes at -37° C (-99.4° F) and boils at -10° C (+14° F) under atmospheric pressure. Sulfur dioxide, like sulfur monoxide is often found in space. In the atmosphere of Venus it is the third-most significant gas at 140 ppm. Interestingly, on Venus it is a contributor to global warming and is a key component of the chemical reactions in the planets atmosphere. [Read more…]

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Pollution Control Engineering

National Professional Engineers Week: February 18th through February 24th

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems is proud of the superior team of engineers and pollution control experts that we employ. Not only are they the who’s who of industry experts but they are truly wonderful people who are engaged in their communities, families and of course their careers. With this being National Professional Engineers week there is no better opportunity to introduce a few of our team members.

The Expert: Chad Clark, GCES Technical Director Chad Clark, Pollution Control Engineer

Education: Vanderbilt University, Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering (ME)

What is your favorite GCES product or service? Our Engineering Services because we are able to make the most positive impact with customers by improving people’s lives both at work and at home.  The equipment we design and supply brings it all together making the work we do within our engineering team and services come to fruition.

What is the best part of working at GCES? Being able to bring an idea from paper to operation.

As our Technical Director, Chad Clark, has developed many of our internationally recognized BACT (Best Available Control Technology) air pollution control systems including the breakthrough patent pending Aqueous Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO). Mr. Clark is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has spent most of his career in environmental protection engineering. Mr. Clark is a sought after speaker and thermal oxidizer expert who is regularly sought out for this knowledge on air pollution control technologies and remediation best practices. Having recently developed a line of Thermal Oxidizers that can be operated through heat recovery, natural gas or electric, Mr. Clark has once again lead the field in technological development and best practices.

When Mr. Clark is not immersed in work and on the road visiting customers,  he enjoys continuing his worldwide travel with his wife of 15 years and 3 beautiful children.  He finds it exciting to view different cultures and experiences through a child’s eyes.  Mr. Clark believes there can never be too much time on a golf course.

[Read more…]

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Holiday Startups & Shutdowns

Startup & ShutdownWith the holidays around the corner it is time to start preparing for shutting down and quality time with family. This season provides plant and facility operations with unique circumstances outside of standard operating conditions. Utilize these tips to ensure the safety of yourself, your team and your facility. From all of us at GCES we wish you a safe holiday season filled with family, friends, laughter and joy.

Let’s begin by reviewing the Top Safety Considerations During a Shutdown:

Slips and Falls: Per OSHA, slips and falls are the accidents most cited during a shutdown. As a result of the demanding schedules of shutdowns and turnarounds, workers tend to be more likely to create spills or other slip hazards and be slower to clean them up or otherwise address them. [Read more…]

Company Profile

Gulf Coast Environmental Systems (GCES) is your custom solutions provider for pollution control systems, industrial ovens, systems engineering and field support worldwide. Our unique approach is to analyze your process stream and business objectives and propose an ideal solution or range of options to help you optimize these objectives. GCES is a one-stop shop: we provide engineering services, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and ongoing support. With our broad base of expertise and large installed global base, we are well-positioned to solve your pollution control issues.

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