Converting used-oil to radiant air heating in the Northwest Territories

The average low temperature in Tuktoyaktuk is -23 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months. Record lows have been recorded at -56 degrees. Even in the middle of the summer, temperatures are a chilly 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re one of the 870 residents of this hamlet of Canada’s Northwest Territories, you’d better be ready for some cold weather.

Doug Saunders, operations manager for E. Gruben’s Transport Ltd. in Tuktoyaktuk doesn’t let the cold bother him in this hamlet that’s north of the Arctic Circle. That’s because his maintenance facility is always warm and toasty, thanks to used-oil converted to heat in the company’s Clean Burn Used-Oil Coil Tube Boiler.

“We recycle all the used-oil for our heavy equipment,” says Saunders. “We’ve got more than 100 pieces of heavy equipment such as excavators, graders, loaders, trucks, dozers and stationary engines. Our company specializes in industrial construction and maintenance, road work, excavating and grading, and wrecking and demolition. We’ve got a fleet of large machines that require nearly constant oil changes and maintenance.

“The Clean Burn boiler allows us to recycle almost 500 gallons of used-oil each month. We use the free heat generated as radiant air heating in the five-bay garage we operate.”

In business for more than 35 years, E. Gruben’s Transport purchased their first Clean Burn boiler in 1992 and recently replaced it with another unit. “The Clean Burn boiler is critical for our operations,” says Saunders. “It would be nearly impossible --- and way too expensive --- to safely ship the used motor oil to another facility. By recycling the used-oil on site, we’re able to reap the benefits with a warm shop space … which is important on days like today when it’s -40 degrees outside!”

Clean Burn is an ENERGY STAR partner. The company holds numerous industry certifications and works with the U.S. government, the Environmental Protection Agency and various associations to help coordinate the establishment of standards and regulations related to heat recovery and recycling efforts involving used motor oils. For more information on Clean Burn, visit www.cleanburn.com.