Thermal and mechanical grate wear increases maintenance costs. If the grate is not operated correctly, or if combustion is not properly managed, wear accelerates and there is risk of substantial damage. As a fuel, waste tends to be unpredictable and varies over time. It presents challenges for the plant, and can cause mechanical, thermal and chemical wear.

The good news is there is a way to characterize waste fuel and predict calorific values. Two B&W experts share their experience and offer some suggestions to optimize combustion and minimize grate wear.

We continue our series of articles on wet FGD upgrades with a discussion on limestone forced oxidation systems.

Learn how existing absorber systems can be converted to LSFO to produce a stable gypsum byproduct which can be sold for use in the manufacture of wallboard or to the cement industry.

In the hydrocarbon processing industry, the operation of a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU), depending on its arrangement, produces gases rich in carbon monoxide (CO).
To reclaim the energy in these gases, the FCCU can be designed to include a CO boiler to generate steam.

This article provides an overview of CO boiler design criteria, firing requirements and operation.

Keeping your boiler clean during operation is critical to maximizing the thermal efficiency of the boiler and maintaining the proper flue gas temperatures at critical junctures within the steam generating system.

This primer will explain the differences in boiler cleaning technologies and operation and define key terminology used in all aspects of online boiler cleaning.

The combustion of virtually all fuels generates ash or other inert residuals. There are many options available to a power plant for the effective movement and disposition of this material.

This primer defines key terminology used in all aspects of ash handling as well as describes the differences in ash handling technologies and operation to help you make more informed equipment and component buying decisions.

Preparing well-written, targeted and thorough project specifications is the first step in assuring that any equipment you procure will meet your specific needs.

This article provides basic guidelines on how to evaluate bids and proposals to accurately assess and compare the product offerings and pricing from the suppliers. We outline factors to consider such as scope, equipment operating ease, maintenance and operating costs, aftermarket services, schedule, project management and project team expertise, and experience. And although price is a factor, it’s not always best practice to go with the lowest bidder.

An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is an effective method of particulate collection in power generation applications. Its history dates back to the early 20th century. Of course, technology upgrades to enhance performance have continued for nearly as long. We have prepared a two-part article discussing ESP operation and some of the available upgrades and modifications now available for new and existing installations.

Read Part 1 of this series which covers the basics of ESP operation.

Skip the Load Cycling Limbo. Find out how low you can go.

With shifts in energy demand and the use of alternative fuel and energy supplies, plant personnel are looking to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of boiler cycling for more flexible operation in meeting varying load requirements. Making targeted upgrades to select components can minimize damage and ensure your steam generation and air quality control systems continue to operate reliably, regardless of load.

Advances in computer technology have allowed engineers to manage larger-scale problems and more complex systems, or to look in more detail at a specific process. Numerical modeling has emerged as an important tool which can be used to provide analytical information that otherwise would not have been available with more traditional engineering methods.

This article defines the method of numerical modeling and outlines some of its advantages.

Results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling can be used in a wide range of applications.

This article shows how recovery boiler operational factors such as liquor spray distribution, air jet penetration, gas velocity and furnace temperature can be modeled to determine potential upgrades for optimal boiler performance.

Regardless of the firing method, when coal is burned, a relatively small portion of the ash will cause deposition problems.

Although the dominant factors affecting deposition are ash characteristics and boiler design, operating variables can also have a significant impact on slagging and fouling in the boiler furnace and on convective surfaces. This article describes those operating variables, boiler surface cleaning options, and the benefits of applying advanced diagnostic and control systems.

Our focus on safety extends to our employees, customers, contractors, suppliers, and all those who we interact with, whether on a job site, in a manufacturing facility, or even in an office setting.

While certainly not an exclusive list, we’ve identified 15 safety precautions to follow when working in or near a boiler or other equipment found at power plants.

Thermal and mechanical grate wear increases maintenance costs. If the grate is not operated correctly, or if combustion is not properly managed, wear accelerates and there is risk of substantial damage. As a fuel, waste tends to be unpredictable and varies over time. It presents challenges for the plant, and can cause mechanical, thermal and chemical wear.

The good news is there is a way to characterize waste fuel and predict calorific values. Two B&W experts share their experience and offer some suggestions to optimize combustion and minimize grate wear.

Construction schedules are a key input to the integrated project schedule that focuses on all the disciplines needed to complete a given project. Detailed planning sessions are necessary to document and develop a comprehensive construction plan.

This article discusses the key session inputs and outputs that make for a successful planning session, and explains how a series of work activities leads to establishing project construction schedules.

Controlling all phases of a construction project is vital for safe and successful project execution.

Read about the three primary goals of utilizing construction project controls and the two steps of the basic control process in this primer. Analysis of lessons learned (both positive and negative) are documented and prove useful for future performance improvements.

Construction projects at power generation facilities, including all associated equipment, is a complex and challenging undertaking.

Integrating technology into the construction process increases the opportunity to deal with constraints and take advantage of any opportunities that may arise during a project.

This article discusses the vital role a construction technology group plays within an organization.

Engineering is an integral component of the safe and successful execution of most construction projects. Taking an engineered approach to the execution of heavy lifts requires the use of specialized tools, equipment, rigs, jigs and fixtures.

This article reviews some of the engineering approaches in construction and three basic construction methods, as well as the factors that influence the chosen erection methods.

Combustion of any fossil fuel generates some level of NOx due to high temperatures and the availability of oxygen and nitrogen from both air and fuel. But, how is it formed? What are the two principle mechanisms of NOx formation? And what are the various ways to control NOx emissions?

This primer provides the basics for understanding these questions, and discusses both combustion and non-combustion methods of reducing NOx levels in a fossil fuel-fired boiler.

SO2 removal in a limestone forced oxidized (LSFO) wet scrubber is controlled by how much SO2 can be absorbed per unit volume of recirculated slurry (lb SO2 per gallon, or kg per liter). This is referred to as absorption.

SO2 absorption is limited by the amount of solid- and liquid-phase alkalinity provided in each gallon of slurry. The absorption is also a function of the physical design of the absorber, which sets the gas-slurry contact area. Better contacting exposes more of the slurry to the gas and the increased exposure allows more of the alkalinity in each gallon of slurry to be utilized.

We continue our series of articles on wet FGD upgrades with a discussion on limestone forced oxidation systems.

Learn how existing absorber systems can be converted to LSFO to produce a stable gypsum byproduct which can be sold for use in the manufacture of wallboard or to the cement industry.