MEASUREMENT OF PULVERIZED COAL AND PRIMARY AIR FLOW TO INDIVIDUAL BURNERS OF INDUSTRIAL AND UTILITY BOILERS

IN THE OPERATION OF LARGE INDUSTRIAL AND UTILITY BOILERS, VARIABILITY IN THE FLOW OF PULVERIZED COAL AND AIR IN FEED PIPES RESULTS IN FLAMES FROM THE MULTIPLE, INDIVIDUAL BURNERS THAT VARY IN TEMPERATURE, SHAPE, AND COMPOSITION OF THE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS-INCLUDING EXCESS OXYGEN (O2), NITROGEN OXIDES (NOX), CARBON MONOXIDE (CO), AND UNBURNED HYDROCARBONS. LARGE IMBALANCES IN COAL AND AIR FLOWS AMONG BURNERS CAN LEAD TO SUCH SIGNIFICANT BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS AS REDUCED STEAM PRODUCTION, INCREASED ENERGY LOSSES IN THE HEAT OF THE STACK GASES AND THE CARBON OF THE ASH, DECREASED BOILER EFFICIENCY, BOILER TUBE WASTAGE, AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR LEAKS, INCREASED SLAGGING AND ASH DEPOSITION, AND EXCESSIVE EMISSIONS OF NOX, CO, OR UNBURNED HYDROCARBONS. IN THIS PROGRAM, A TEAM OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DEVELOPING, DEMONSTRATING, AND EVALUATING A SYSTEM COMPOSED OF ULTRASONIC COAL AND AIR FLOW INSTRUMENTATION TOGETHER WITH MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS OR AUTOMATIC CONTROLS TO MAINTAIN BALANCE AMONG COAL AND AIR FLOWS TO BOILER BURNERS. THIS SYTEM HELPS BOILER OPERATORS ACHIEVE UNIFORM FLAMES OVER THE FULL RANGE OF OPERATING CONDITIONS, THUS PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED BOILER CAPACITY, EFFICIENCY, AND AVAILABILITY, AS WELL AS REDUCED EMISSIONS. IN PHASE I, A FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION IS BEING PROVIDED FOR THIS SYSTEM, AS WELL AS A PRELIMINARY DESIGN OR SPECIFICATION OF THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AND A STATEMENT OF ITS COST AND BENEFITS. A SITE AND A COOPERATING UTILITY OR INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR A PROTOTYPE DEMONSTRATION. PHASE II WILL INCLUDE THE DETAILED PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE DEMONSTRATION, FABRICATION OF THE TEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, AND INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM AT THE COOPERATING SITE.