|
A combination of company policy to reduce use of 33/50 chemicals, increasing production rates and implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) with regard to emission limits of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) led General Electric (GE) Small Motors-Donthan to initiate a project with the university of Alabama to find a satisfactory solution to the potential problem of excess Xylene air emissions from Varnish curing operations. The process of interest was the coating and curing of small motor feels coils with polyester varnish using Xylene as the carrier. Replacement of the current varnish with a waterborne varnish would help the plant meet environmental regulations while still expanding to take advantage of higher productivity potential in the plant. An additional benefit expected was a potential energy savings. The project was funded by the Alabama Universities-Tennessee Valley Authority Research Consortium (AUTRC) and GE, with cost-sharing by the University. GE and the University of Alabama had worked together previously on a waste reduction project in an epoxy armature-coating operation with satisfactory results.
|
| |
 |
|
