Debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt On June 30, 2013, Fuel Tech amended its existing revolving credit facility (the Facility) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A (JPM Chase) to extend the maturity date through June 30, 2015. The total borrowing base of the facility is $15,000 and contains a provision to increase the facility up to a total principal amount of $25,000 upon approval from JPM Chase. The Facility is unsecured, bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a spread range of 250 basis points to 375 basis points, as determined by a formula related to the Company’s leverage ratio, and has the Company’s Italian subsidiary, Fuel Tech S.r.l., as a guarantor. Fuel Tech can use this Facility for cash advances and standby letters of credit. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings on the credit facility. The Facility contains several debt covenants with which the Company must comply on a quarterly or annual basis, including a maximum Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio (or “Leverage Ratio”, as defined in the Facility) of 2.0:1.0 based on the four trailing quarterly periods. Maximum funded debt is defined as all borrowed funds, outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees. EBITDA includes after tax earnings with add backs for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expenses. In addition, the Facility covenants include an annual capital expenditure limit of $10,000 and a minimum tangible net worth of $50,000. At September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants specified by the Facility. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees totaling approximately $8,262 and $3,478, respectively, on its domestic credit facility in connection with contracts in process. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank for any payments made by the bank under these instruments. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no cash borrowings under the domestic revolving credit facility and approximately $6,738 and $11,522, respectively, was available for future borrowings. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.25% per year on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. On June 27, 2014, Beijing Fuel Tech Environmental Technologies Company, Ltd. (Beijing Fuel Tech), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuel Tech, entered into a new revolving credit facility (the China Facility) agreement with JPM Chase for RMB 35 million (approximately $5,686), which expires on June 26, 2015. This credit facility replaced the previous RMB 35 million facility that expired on June 27, 2014. The facility is unsecured, bears interest at a rate of 125% of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Base Rate, and is guaranteed by Fuel Tech. Beijing Fuel Tech can use this facility for cash advances and bank guarantees. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Beijing Fuel Tech has borrowings outstanding in the amount of $1,624 and $1,636, respectively. These borrowings were subject to interest rates of approximately 7.0% at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees totaling approximately $427 and $646, respectively, on its Beijing Fuel Tech revolving credit facility in connection with contracts in process. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $3,635 and $3,443 was available for future borrowings. In the event of default on either the domestic facility or the China facility, the cross default feature in each allows the lending bank to accelerate the payments of any amounts outstanding and may, under certain circumstances, allow the bank to cancel the facility. If the Company were unable to obtain a waiver for a breach of covenant and the bank accelerated the payment of any outstanding amounts, such acceleration may cause the Company’s cash position to deteriorate or, if cash on hand were insufficient to satisfy the payment due, may require the Company to obtain alternate financing to satisfy the accelerated payment. Interest payments in the amount of $96 and $29 were made during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

Debt

On June 30, 2013, Fuel Tech amended its existing revolving credit facility (the Facility) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A (JPM Chase) to extend the maturity date through June 30, 2015. The total borrowing base of the facility is $15,000 and contains a provision to increase the facility up to a total principal amount of $25,000 upon approval from JPM Chase. The Facility is unsecured, bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a spread range of 250 basis points to 375 basis points, as determined by a formula related to the Company’s leverage ratio, and has the Company’s Italian subsidiary, Fuel Tech S.r.l., as a guarantor. Fuel Tech can use this Facility for cash advances and standby letters of credit. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings on the credit facility.

The Facility contains several debt covenants with which the Company must comply on a quarterly or annual basis, including a maximum Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio (or “Leverage Ratio”, as defined in the Facility) of 2.0:1.0 based on the four trailing quarterly periods. Maximum funded debt is defined as all borrowed funds, outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees. EBITDA includes after tax earnings with add backs for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expenses. In addition, the Facility covenants include an annual capital expenditure limit of $10,000 and a minimum tangible net worth of $50,000. At September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants specified by the Facility.

At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees totaling approximately $8,262 and $3,478, respectively, on its domestic credit facility in connection with contracts in process. Fuel Tech is committed to reimbursing the issuing bank for any payments made by the bank under these instruments. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no cash borrowings under the domestic revolving credit facility and approximately $6,738 and $11,522, respectively, was available for future borrowings. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.25% per year on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility.

On June 27, 2014, Beijing Fuel Tech Environmental Technologies Company, Ltd. (Beijing Fuel Tech), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuel Tech, entered into a new revolving credit facility (the China Facility) agreement with JPM Chase for RMB 35 million (approximately $5,686), which expires on June 26, 2015. This credit facility replaced the previous RMB 35 million facility that expired on June 27, 2014. The facility is unsecured, bears interest at a rate of 125% of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Base Rate, and is guaranteed by Fuel Tech. Beijing Fuel Tech can use this facility for cash advances and bank guarantees. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, Beijing Fuel Tech has borrowings outstanding in the amount of $1,624 and $1,636, respectively. These borrowings were subject to interest rates of approximately 7.0% at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit and bank guarantees totaling approximately $427 and $646, respectively, on its Beijing Fuel Tech revolving credit facility in connection with contracts in process. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $3,635 and $3,443 was available for future borrowings.

In the event of default on either the domestic facility or the China facility, the cross default feature in each allows the lending bank to accelerate the payments of any amounts outstanding and may, under certain circumstances, allow the bank to cancel the facility. If the Company were unable to obtain a waiver for a breach of covenant and the bank accelerated the payment of any outstanding amounts, such acceleration may cause the Company’s cash position to deteriorate or, if cash on hand were insufficient to satisfy the payment due, may require the Company to obtain alternate financing to satisfy the accelerated payment.

Interest payments in the amount of $96 and $29 were made during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.