Electrostatic Precipitator Seminar

Rob Hummell

In 1990, Rob received an honorable discharge from the United States Navy, having completed extensive technical training in electronics, nuclear prototype instruction, nuclear power plant, and submarine operations. Over the course of 28 years, he garnered a wealth of expertise in designing, installing, operating, and resolving issues with electrostatic precipitator control systems. Rob's dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovative ESP technology earned him four U.S. patents in recognition of his achievements.

Rob is a regular speaker at technical training sessions, where he spearheads discussions that foster the exchange of knowledge and the generation of practical, valuable ideas among participants.

James ”Buzz”  Reynolds

James Reynolds, often referred to as "Buzz," serves as the Director of Industrial Sales within Babcock & Wilcox's Environmental division, boasting an impressive career spanning over three decades in the air pollution control field. Buzz is widely acknowledged as an expert in wet ESP technology and industrial marketing.

During his professional career, he has played a pivotal role in helping companies strategically position themselves in the CO2 capture space by piloting wet ESP technology ahead of CO2 capture technology. He has been instrumental in assisting new coal-fired power plants address fine particulate emissions with Wet ESP technology, and successfully help manage the completion of more than 100 wet ESP projects, both at pilot and industrial scale.

Beyond his operational achievements, Buzz is a true innovator, holding several patents and co-authoring technical papers. He is a frequent presenter at industry conferences, sharing his insights and expertise with peers and colleagues. His contributions to the Institute for Clean Air Companies earned him special recognition, and he has actively served on the World Pollution Control Association Board of Directors.  Buzz's educational background includes an MBA from Dartmouth College's Tuck Business School and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.

John Knapik

Mr. Knapik held the role of Applications Engineer specializing in ESPs at B&W for an impressive 42 years before his retirement in 2022. His extensive knowledge and experience in this field have made him a sought-after speaker at numerous prominent conferences, including the Western Canada BLRBAC Conference, Eastern Canada BLRBAC Conference, MEGA Symposium, Energy, Utility, Environment Conference (EUEC), PRB Coal Users Group, Catalytic Cracker Conference, Western Regional Boiler Association, American Forest & Paper Association Conference, and the International Conference on ESPs. Additionally, he has presented at the Reinhold ESP Users group on seven occasions. Mr. Knapik's expertise extends to the publication of technical papers on electrostatic precipitators, with two of them featured in "Power Magazine."

Beyond his speaking engagements and publications, he has provided valuable consulting services on precipitator performance and operations to a wide range of industries, including Electric Utility, Paper, Refining, Cement, and Mining. Mr. Knapik is renowned for his ability to decipher ESP performance through meticulous analysis of automatic voltage control data. He excels at simplifying complex concepts in laymen’s language and offering clear explanations of what is happening and why. Over the last 30 years, he has conducted numerous ESP training courses for various industries.

Royce Warnick

Since 1977, Royce Warnick has been dedicated to meeting the environmental needs of power and industrial clients.

His career commenced at Virginia Power, where he assumed responsibility for the operational and maintenance aspects of ESPs at a flagship power plant for over 12 years. Subsequently, Royce held various positions encompassing sales, technical expertise, and management roles at Epscon-FLS and Stock Equipment Co. Most recently, he served as the Director of Aftermarket Services at Hamon Research-Cottrell, overseeing field service operations, parts management, and engineering enhancements for ESPs and fabric filters throughout North America.

In his current role as Service Manager – Environmental for the ESP Parts & Services group at B&W, Royce helps customers evaluate ESP performance and collaborates on project strategies for existing and new ESPs.   

Donovan Fitzgerald

In 1999, Donovan received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, having completed extensive technical training in electronics, navigational avionics, communication avionics, and wartime radar receiving & jamming operations. Over the course of 21 years, he acquired expertise in retrofitting, installing, operating, and resolving issues with electrostatic precipitator control systems. Donovan’s dedication to his craft has enabled him to travel the world servicing our customers' pollution control equipment needs.

Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin is QA Coordinator for B&W’s ESP team based in Newport News, Va. He has more than 29 years’ experience with B&W. He began his career soldering circuit boards and building control cabinets. Currently, he coordinates quality testing of electrical products, precipitator software, and computer systems. He also has expertise in assisting customers with DCS integrations, troubleshooting and setup.