Conforma Clad Expands Technology to Protect SCR Popcorn Screens

Press Releases

Conforma Clad Expands Technology to Protect SCR Popcorn Screens

New Albany, IN - October 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conforma Clad, a global leader of severe wear solutions, introduces its infiltration brazed tungsten carbide coating to popcorn screens for coal-fired power plants. These screens are used to protect SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) equipment from large particle ash (popcorn ash) which can plug the catalyst system.

Many coal-fired power plants are installing steel mesh screens upstream of the SCR system in order to filter out popcorn ash. This approach works, but not for long due to high-temperature erosion of the screen.

An unprotected SCR is extremely vulnerable to popcorn ash, which is typically light, porous, irregularly shaped, and often forms in the upper furnace or on the convective section heat exchanger surfaces of steam generators. Particles can reach ten millimeters or more in size; however ash four to five millimeters in size has been known to cause SCR catalyst plugging. The ash plugs the catalyst and many times forces costly premature replacement of the equipment.

Conforma Clad^® screens last up to eight times longer in field tests than standard stainless steel screens. Additionally, the use of Conforma Cladcladding allows for the substitution of less expensive carbon screens in place of stainless steel. Conforma Clad screen capabilities include screens up to 4 feet by 12 feet (longer lengths may be possible), with screen openings ¼ inch and larger (screen opening size may need to be adjusted to accommodate coating thickness).

Conforma Clad will be exhibiting its new popcorn screen technology at the Power Gen International tradeshow, New Orleans, LA, December 11-13, 2007. Application Engineers will be on hand to answer any questions from the public.

Conforma Clad is a leading provider of severe wear solutions for industrial components exposed to extreme abrasion, corrosion and erosion. The proprietary Conforma Clad^® process brazes tungsten carbide to the base material of steel parts, producing a hard, uniform protective cladding that is extremely durable. The company is a major supplier of wear-resistant parts for directional oil and gas drilling, plastics and food extrusion, coal-fired power plants and other industrial applications. Conforma Clad is a business unit of Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT), the world's premier supplier of tooling solutions, engineered components and advanced materials. Customers buy approximately $2.4 billion annually of Kennametal^®products and services -- delivered by 13,500 talented employees in over 60 countries -- with approximately 50 percent of these revenues coming from outside the United States. Visit us at www.conformaclad.com and our parent company at www.kennametal.com.