Project Overview
Customer: Loma Linda University Health
Location: Loma Linda, California
Application: Central Utility Plant Steam Generation
Equipment:
- Three (3) Cleaver-Brooks CBEX Elite 1,400 HP firetube boilers
- EcoCAT® Direct Urea Injection with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
- Cleaver-Brooks Profire XL burners
The Challenge
As part of the Loma Linda University Health Campus Transformation Project, two new hospital towers significantly increased the campus’s demand for steam. The expanded medical facilities required additional capacity for sterilization, humidification, clean steam production, and heating while continuing to operate around the clock.
The new boiler plant also needed to comply with some of the country’s most stringent air quality regulations. Because each new boiler operates at approximately 58 MMBtu/hr, the system was required to achieve less than 5 ppm NOx emissions under South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations.
In addition to emissions compliance, the project presented several engineering challenges:
- Integrating higher-capacity boilers into an existing central utility plant
- Rigging large equipment through the facility roof with minimal clearance
- Maintaining long-term reliability for a mission-critical healthcare campus
- Minimizing the footprint and operating costs of the emissions control system
The Solution
R.F. MacDonald provided a complete engineered solution that combined high-efficiency steam generation with its patented Direct Urea Injection with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.
The project included:
- Engineering and installation support
- Three Cleaver-Brooks CBEX Elite 1,400 HP boilers
- Patented Direct Urea Injection SCR system
- Startup, commissioning, and performance testing
Unlike conventional SCR systems that require ammonia vaporizers and hazardous ammonia storage, the patented design injects a non-hazardous urea solution directly into the boiler exhaust stream ahead of the catalyst. The system converts NOx emissions into harmless nitrogen and water while simplifying the overall installation and improving plant safety.
The Results
The completed installation successfully met the university’s steam demand while delivering exceptional environmental performance.
Results at a Glance
- Achieved sub-5 ppm NOx emissions
- Maintained sub-5 ppm ammonia slip
- Eliminated the need for hazardous ammonia storage
- Reduced electrical consumption by removing the ammonia vaporizer
- Lowered installation footprint and overall system complexity
- Achieved a 10:1 burner turndown ratio
- Provided a reliable, future-ready emissions solution for a critical healthcare facility
Why Direct Urea Injection Matters
Traditional SCR systems often require additional equipment to vaporize ammonia before injection, increasing installation costs, maintenance requirements, and safety considerations.
R.F. MacDonald’s patented Direct Urea Injection technology simplifies the process by using a non-hazardous urea solution (similar to Diesel Exhaust Fluid) while maintaining the same ultra-low NOx performance expected from advanced SCR systems. The result is a safer, more compact, and lower-cost emissions control solution for hospitals, universities, industrial plants, and commercial boiler systems.
Looking for an Engineered Ultra-Low NOx Solution?
Whether you’re expanding a central utility plant, replacing aging boilers, or meeting new emissions regulations, R.F. MacDonald delivers complete boiler and emissions control solutions—from engineering and equipment selection to startup and long-term support.
Contact our emissions specialists to discuss your SCR application.
