Compositional and structural study of ash deposits spatially distributed in superheaters of a large biomass-fired CFB boiler

Recognizing the nature and formation progress of the ash deposits is essential to resolve the deposition problem hindering the wide application of large-scale biomass-fired boilers.Therefore,the ash deposits in the superheaters of a 220 t/h biomass-fired CFB boiler were studied,including the platen(PS),the high-temperature(HTS),the upper and the lower low-temperature superheaters(LTS).The results showed that the deposits in the PSs and HTSs were thin(several millimeters)and compact,consisting of a yellow outer layer and snow-white inner layer near the tube surface.The deposits in the upper LTS appeared to be toughly sintered ceramic,while those in the lower LTS were composed of dispersive coarse ash particles with an unsintered surface.Detailed characterization of the cross-section and the initial layers in the deposits revealed that the dominating compositions in both the PSs and the HTSs were Cl and K(approximately 70%)in the form of KCl.Interestingly,the cross-section of the deposition in the upper LTS exhibited a unique lamellar structure with a major composition of Ca and S.The contents of Ca and Si increased from approximately 10%to approximately 60%in the deposits from the high temperature surfaces to the low temperature ones.It was concluded that the vaporized mineral matter such as KCl played the most important role in the deposition progress in the PS and the HTS.In addition,although the condensation of KCl in the LTSs also happened,the deposition of ash particles played a more important role.

Modeling ash deposition and shedding during oxy-combustion of coal/rice husk blends at 70%inlet O_(2)

Co-firing rice husk(RH)and coal with carbon capture using oxy-combustion presents a net carbon negative energy produc-tion opportunity.In addition,the high fusion temperature of the non-sticky,silica rich,RH can mitigate ash deposition as well as promote shedding of deposits.To identify the optimum operating conditions,fuel particle sizes,and blend ratios that minimize ash deposition,a Computational Fluid Dynamic methodology with add-on ash deposition and shedding models were employed to predict outer ash deposition and shedding rates during co-combustion of coal/RH in AIR and O2/CO_(2)(70/30 vol%,OXY70)oxidizer compositions.After ensuring that the fly-ash particle size distributions and particle Stokes numbers near the deposition surface were accurately represented(to model impaction),appropriate models for coal ash and RH ash viscosities that were accurate in the temperature region(1200-1300 K)of interest in this study were identified.A particle viscosity and kinetic energy(PKE)based capture criterion was enforced to model the ash capture.An erosion/shed-ding criterion that takes the deposit melt fraction and the energy consumed during particle impact into account was also implemented.Deposition rate predictions as well as the deposition rate enhancement(OXY70/AIR)were in good agreement with measured values.While the OXY70 scenario was associated with a significant reduction(60%-70%)in flue gas velocities,it also resulted in larger fly-ash particles.As a result,the PKE distributions of the erosive RH ash were similar in both scenarios and resulted in similar shedding rates.

Soil Properties in Coniferous Forest Stands Along a Fly Ash Deposition Gradient in Eastern Germany

Physical, chemical, and microbial properties of forest soils subjected to long-term fly ash depositions were analyzed in spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands of eastern Germany on three forest sites along an emission gradient of 3 (high input), 6, and 15 km (low input) downwind of a coal-fired power plant. Past emissions resulted in an atypical high mass of mineral fly ash constituents in the organic horizons at the high input site of 128 t ha-1 compared to 58 t ha-1 at the low input site. Magnetic susceptibility measurements proved that the high mineral content of the forest floor was a result of fly ash accumulation in these forest stands. Fly ash deposition in the organic horizons at Site I versus III significantly increased the pH values, effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation and, with exception of the L horizon, concentrations of mobile heavy metals Cd, Cr, and Ni, while stocks of organic C generally decreased. A principal component analysis showed that organic C content and base status mainly controlled soil microbial biomass and microbial respiration rates at these sites, while pH and mobile fractions of Cd, Cr, and Ni governed enzyme activities. Additionally, it was hypothesized that long-term fly ash emissions would eventually destabilize forest ecosystems. Therefore, the results of this study could become a useful tool for risk assessment in forest ecosystems that were subjected to past emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Comparisons of Fly Ash and Deposition Between Air and Oxy-Fuel Combustion in Bench-Scale Fluidized Bed with Limestone Addition

In Oxy-fuel circulating fluidized bed,the residual Ca O particles may react with high concentration of CO2 in flue gas to form bonded deposit on heat transfer surfaces in backpass when limestone is used as a sorbent to capture SO2.In this paper,experiments were designed on ash deposition in a bench-scale fluidized bed under oxy-fuel and air atmosphere. A novel ash deposit sampling probe was used to simulate the tubes of tail surfaces.The chemical composition of fly ash and ash deposit from both air-firing and oxy-fuel firing cases were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry( ICP-AES) and Scanning Electron Microscopy( SEM),respectively. The degrees of carbonation reaction of ash deposits were measured by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis. The results showed that there are distinct differences in fly ash deposition rate between oxy-fuel and air firing cases,and oxy-fuel combustion with limestone addition can affect chemical composition of fly ash and ash deposit,especially for elements of Ca,Na,K,and S. However,the carbonation reaction degree of ash deposits is found weak,which is due to the relatively low Ca O content in ash deposit or not long enough of the sampling time.

Analog-experiment analysis of ash-deposition monitoring model of boiler economizers in power plants

Ash deposition is a form of particulate fouling, and appears usually in boiler economizers. The ash deposition increases capital expenditure, energy input and maintenance costs. An analog experiment for monitoring ash deposition was performed from the analogous objective of a 410 t/h boiler economizer to verify the rationality and reliability of the ash-deposition-monitoring model presented in order to increase the security and economy in economizer running. The analog experiment platform is a tube-shell exchanger that conforms well to the conditions of a self-modeling area. The analog flue gas in the shell side is the heated air mixed with ash, and in the tube side the fluid is water heated by the flue gas. The fluid state in the water side and the flue gas side follows the second self-modeling area. A 4-factor-3-level orthogonal table was used to schedule 9 operation conditions of orthogonal experiment, with the 4 factors being heat power, flue gas velocity, ashes grain diameter and adding ashes quantity while the three levels are different values due to different position classes in every factor. The ash deposition thermal resistances is calculated by the model with the measure parameters of temperature and pressure drop. It shows that the values of the ash deposition thermal resistances gradually increase up to a stable state. And the experimental results are reliable by F testing method at α= 0.001. Therefore, the model can be applied in online monitoring of ash deposition in a boiler economizers in power plants and provides scientific decision on ash deposition prediction and sootblowing.

Scavenging Effects of Kaolin on Fine Ash Formation during Zhundong Coal Combustion

The previous work found that the additive kaolin could scavenge not only sodium(Na)but also calcium(Ca)and magnesium(Mg),which is the important ash fluxing agents in low rank coal combustion.Such scavenging effects of kaolin on fine ash formation were studied in the present work.A typical Zhundong coal and its blends with kaolin at dosages of 1,2 and 4 wt%were combusted in an electrically heated drop tube furnace(DTF)at 1300℃.The fine ashes generated were collected and size segregated by a low pressure impactor(LPI).The morphology and chemical composition of fine ash were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energydispersive spectrometer(SEM-EDS).In addition,char/ash particles were sampled at various positions of DTF to elucidate how kaolin additive affected the fine ash formation process.The results further showed that apart from the scavenging of volatile Na,kaolin additive could also strongly scavenge the refractory Ca,Mg and Fe in the fine ash during Zhundong coal combustion,which transformed the sintered particles with irregular shape into melted spherical particles,and finally resulted in the considerable decrease of these elements in both PM_(0.4)and PM_(0.4-10)by melting and agglomeration.The close contacts between kaolin particles and coal resulted from physically mixing were a key factor responsible for the reaction of kaolin with the refractory Ca,Mg and Fe.

Form transition of sodium during combustion of black liquor coal slurry

Several typical ash samples from a 0.25 MW test furnace fired black liquor coal slurry were selected for investigation. The phases and compounds containing sodium in ash samples were acquired from X-ray diffraction analyses. As well, detailed analyses of the amounts of major mineral elements along thickness gradients of representative ash samples were carried out. The elements, including Na, Si, A1, S and C1 were analyzed by the advanced electron probe microanalyzer equipment, which provid evidence and interpretation for the analytical results of XRD. The findings indicate that the occurrence form of sodium has experi- enced important changes during the combustion of black liquor coal slurry, which translated into nepheline, thenardite, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium silicoaluminate, hanyne and other phases containing sodium, from NaOH, Na2CO3 and Na2S in raw fuel. Of all the sodium compounds, nepheline, thenardite and sodium sulfate are the most important forms of Na in solid com- bustion residues. Such a transformation of Na during the combustion of black liquor coal slurry resulted in a considerable impact on ash deposition and is not only different from the raw coal and papermaldng black liquors, but is also affected by local circum- stances in the combustion furnace. Amounts of Na, S and C1 in ash deposits from low temperature zones were larger than those from high temperature zones. Our findings should provide important theoretical instructions for industrial applications of black liquor coal slurry.

Influence of Biomass Co-combustion on Heating Surfaces Thermal Efficiency

Pulverized coal-fired(PCF) boilers were first and foremost intended to fire pulverized hard or brown coal. However, biomass co-firing has become a fairly common practice in the Polish power generation system and many existing boilers have been modernized to serve this purpose. This paper presents calculations of the coefficient of thermal efficiency of the boiler heating surfaces and of the time needed for complete reconstruction of deposits on the second-stage steam reheater(RHII) of an OP-380 boiler with the output of 380×10~3 kg/h. The boiler was equipped with a purpose-designed installation of direct feeding of biomass. The main co-fired fuels were wood and sunflower husk pellets. Intense formation of deposits on the steam reheater tubes and problems related to a reduction in the diameters of the tubes were identified during the power unit operation.

Effect of oil shale semi-coke on deposit mineralogy and morphology in the flue path of a CFB burning Zhundong lignite

The effect of oil shale semi-coke(SC)on the mineralogy and morphology of the ash deposited on probes situated in the flue path of a circulating fluidized bed(CFB)which burns Zhundong lignite(ZD)was investigated.10 wt%or 20 wt%SC was added to ZD,which were then combusted in the CFB furnace at 950℃.Two probes with vertical and horizontal orientations were installed in the flue duct to simulate ash deposition.Both windward and leeward ash deposits on probes(P_(1)W,P_(1)L,P_(2)W and P_(2)L)were analyzed by using a scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray(SEM-EDX),X-ray diffraction(XRD),an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry ICP-OES,and a particle size analyzer.When ZD was burned alone,the P1W deposit was comprised of agglomerates(<30µm)enriched in CaSO_(4)and Na_(2)SiO_(3),incurring significant sintering.The P1L and P2W deposits,however,were of both discrete and agglomerated particles in similar mineral phases but with coarser sizes.The P_(2)L deposit was mainly fine ash particles where Na_(2)SiO_(3)and Na_(2)SO_(4)were absent.As SC was added,the agglomerates in both P1W and P1L decreased.Moreover,SiO_(2)and Ca/Na aluminosilicates dominated the mineral phases whereas Na_(2)SiO_(3)and Na_(2)SO_(4)disappeared,showing a decrease in deposit stickiness.Likewise,the P2W deposit was found less spread on the probe,decreasing its deposition propensity.Na-bearing minerals turned into(Na,K)(Si_(3)Al)O_(8)and(Ca,Na)(Si,Al)4O8 in the P_(2)W deposit.Moreover,Na in the deposits decreased from 32 mg/g to less than 15 mg/g as SC presented.The addition of SC would therefore help alleviate the propensity of ash deposition in the flue path in the CFB combustion of ZD.

Research on the slagging characteristics of blended coals in a pilot-scale furnace

This paper applies digital image techniques to observe the slagging characteristics of blended coals in a pilot-scale furnace. Collected deposit samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy linked with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis （SEM-EDX）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and X-ray Fluorescence （XRF） to acquire the microstructure, chemical composition, and mineralogy. The deposit thickness of three blends was analyzed between their parent coal A （Datong） and coal B （Shan）, and we noted that the time to reach a stable stage decreased with the ratio of coal B. The addition of coal A into coal B could remarkably restrained the growth and thickness of ash deposits. The results of XRD analysis indicated the initial layer was predominantly comprised of the crystalline minerals quartz, anorthite, or albite except for coal B. All of the blends and coals contained quartz and Ca- to Al-silicates （Ca0.68Na0.32）（All.68Si0.32）Si2O8 in the slag layer where iron-bearing minerals （e.g., ilvaite） were altered into an amorphous phase. The result of SEM-EDX suggested that there was an elemental disparity between the coal ash and deposit.

In-situ sampling investigation of deposition and corrosion of convective heating surfaces in a grate type municipal solid waste incineration plant:a case study

Metal corrosion and ash deposition are two common issues in municipal solid waste incineration(MSWI)plants.An in-situ sampling investigation was conducted in an MSWI plant in Jiangsu,China.The deposit samples were collected from 6 convective heating surfaces including the reheaters,superheaters,and economizer.The corrosion samples were obtained from a ruptured tube cut from the tertiary superheater.The element composition,crystal phases,and morphology of deposit and corrosion samples were characterized and analyzed.The results show that S contents of these deposits are 32-45 wt%,considerable Cl(10.63 wt%)was only detected in the deposits of the tertiary superheater.The composition of the deposits varies with the location because the flue gas temperature determines the thermodynamic trend of the sulfation reactions of different chlorides and the SO_(2)equilibrium partial pressure required in these reactions.Ca sulfates mainly exist in deposits at high temperatures(above approximately 500℃).Whereas alkali metal sulfates are the main component of deposits at low temperatures(below approximately 500℃).A multi-layer structure is exhibited on the cross-section of the corrosion samples.The discovery of Cl in the interface between the matrix and the oxide layer confirms that Cl can penetrate the outer oxide film.Besides,polysulfate components were observed inside the metal oxide layers,which indicates that a melt has occurred there.This study has provided a better understanding of ash deposition and corrosion phenomena in MSWI systems and more emphasis should be placed on the research of ash deposition and corrosion mechanisms.