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Babcock & Wilcox News
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B&W strengthens environmental offerings with Hamon Research-Cottrell emissions control technologies
With the addition of Hamon Research-Cottrell (HRC) experts, technologies and experience to our environmental portfolio, B&W has even more options for helping customers reduce emissions and produce cleaner energy.
Background
The former Hamon Research-Cottrell got its start in 1906 when Dr. Frederick Gardner Cottrell, a physical chemistry professor at University of California, Berkeley, proved his invention for precipitating sulfuric acid in a small test unit. He applied and received a patent for his electrostatic precipitator (ESP) design in 1908. In 1912, he and other patent holders from around the world formed The Research Corporation, and the technology has advanced technically and geographically ever since.
Enhanced Product Offerings
Hamon Research-Cottrell environmental technologies enhance B&W’s already-robust portfolio of advanced air quality control system (AQCS) technologies and processes, including:
- Wet and dry electrostatic precipitators
- Fabric filters
- Wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems (scrubbers) including a wet gas scrubber specifically designed for oil and gas refineries
- Spray dryer absorbers (SDA)
- Circulating dry scrubbers (CDS)
Enhanced Service Offerings
B&W serves as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of all Hamon Research-Cottrell environmental products and services. The addition of HRC technologies also broadens our experience and installation base for parts, repairs, upgrades, performance optimization, inspections, maintenance and construction.
HISTORIC MILESTONES
| 1906 | Dr. Frederick G. Cottrell proved his ESP technology on a lab test unit |
| 1907 |
Dr. Cottrell formed the International Precipitation Company to bring the ESP to market Western Precipitation was established as a licensee in California Commercial feasibility of Cottrell’s ESP was first demonstrated at E.I. DuPont de Nemours Powder Works in Pinole, California |
| 1908 | Patent no. 895,729 awarded for Cottrell’s ESP design |
| 1912 | The Research Corporation was established |
| 1954 | Company renamed to Research-Cottrell |
| 1959 | Western Precipitation acquired by Joy Manufacturing, which combined operations with Joy’s Allen-Sherman-Hoff unit to form Joy Environmental Technologies |
| 1995 | Babcock & Wilcox acquired Joy Environmental Technologies |
| 1998 | Through acquisition Research-Cottrell became Hamon Research-Cottrell |
| 2003 | B&W licensed wet ESP technology from FLS |
| 2010 | B&W acquired Gotaverken Miljo (GMAB), a leading European provider of flue gas treatment and energy recovery technologies |
| 2010 | B&W acquired the Preciptech/BHA brand of dry ESP technology from GE to enhance its already robust product offerings of aftermarket ESP parts and services. |
| 2022 | B&W acquired all business assets and technologies of Hamon Research-Cottrell, Inc. |