A fuel oil-designed boiler was modified to fire dry, micronized coal. Major accomplishments, obtained in programs conducted for the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense and ABB Combustion Engineering while developing four commercial burners (two ABB Combustion Engineering burners, one Energy and Fuels Research Corporation burner, and one Foster Wheeler Development Corporation burner) were:
- Integrated the coal handling and micronizing systems with the burner;
- Conducted fundamental studies to determine the effect of the mineral matter on the boiler tube erosion and deposition;
- Determined that erosion was not significant in the convective pass;
- Quantified the extent of deposition during continuous operation;
- Computationally modeled the burners and boiler;
- Obtained targeted NOx emissions of < 0.6 lb/million Btu while maintaining combustion efficiencies of 98%; and
- Designed a compact, easy to retrofit burner with commercially acceptable combustion air pressure drop (< 8" W.C.).