Lime to Boilers

The total limestone flow indicates the total amount of limestone currently being burned each hour in Boilers 1 and 2, the two circulating fluidized bed boilers. The limestone flow varies as the university's energy demands vary.

The two fluidized bed boilers are the most efficient boilers at the power plant and are specially designed to minimized emissions. The fluidized bed boilers burn limestone with the coal while they produce steam. The limestone reacts with the sulfur in the coal and forms calcium sulfate. This material is collected with the ash. The addition of the limestone reduces emissions of sulfur dioxide by over 90%. The limestone comes from a quarry near Iowa Falls, Iowa and is trucked to the power plant.