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The Importance of Boiler Water and Steam Chemistry

To maintain boiler integrity and performance and to provide steam of suitable turbine or process purity, boiler feedwater must be purified and chemically conditioned. The amount and nature of feedwater impurities that can be accommodated depend on boiler operating pressure, boiler design, steam purity requirements, type of boiler water internal treatment, blowdown rate, and whether the feedwater is used for steam attemperation.

15 Power Plant Safety Tips

B&W values the health and safety of each employee and will never be satisfied until the workplace is free of accidents and injuries. Our focus on safety extends to our 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.

Construction Project Controls Primer

Cost management software is used to integrate cost collection, time charging, expense reporting, work breakdown structure, procurement management, material receipt, accounts receivable, accounts payable, revenue recognition, and standard and custom report generation.

A Numerical Modeling Example – Kraft Recovery Boilers

Good air jet penetration and effective mixing of secondary and tertiary air are desirable for complete combustion and reduced emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide. Distribution of air to three or more air injection levels produces fuel-rich conditions in the lower furnace that are desirable for smelt reduction and reduced NOx emissions.

Upgrades to Existing Wet FGD Systems to Improve Performance, Reduce Operating and Maintenance Costs and Improve Reliability

Upgrading an existing wet FGD system may be an effective way to improve SO2 removal, allow the use of lower cost higher sulfur coals, reduce power consumption, allow for the use of an alternate, lower-cost reagent, and improve the reliability of the system while reducing the operating and maintenance costs.

Absorber Gas-Liquid Contact Devices

Wall rings improve SO2 collection efficiency by reducing the gas bypass in an open spray tower which results from the tendency of the flue gas to hug the walls of the absorber. Wall rings also push out the slurry that runs down from the walls back into the gas stream, improving the contact between the slurry and flue gas.

Boiler Cycling Considerations

Cycling operation can shorten the life span of such equipment based on number and duration of cycles. A thorough condition assessment program can determine potential equipment modifications that can make the unit more flexible and alleviate possible problem areas.

A Primer on Steam Generation

The steam generator (boiler) evaporates water and supplies high temperature, high pressure steam, under carefully controlled conditions, to a turbine-generator set that produces electricity. The steam may also be reheated in the steam generator, after passing through part of a multi-stage turbine system, by running the exhaust steam back to the boiler convection pass.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Primer

SNCR typically is limited to lower NOx reduction levels but may be the more economical choice depending on the required NOx reduction or the unique project requirements. Both technologies have been successfully applied for NOx reduction on multiple fuels and boiler types.

The Importance of Construction Technology

Technological advances including computer-aided design, global positioning systems, laser scanning systems, and more powerful lift cranes have enabled construction engineers and technicians to support supervision by refining the planning process and expediting the work in the field.

CO Boilers for the Hydrocarbon Processing Industry

Changes in FCCU catalyst and in process conditions have permitted reductions in the CO content of the gases leaving the unit. These changes also result in the gas temperature to the CO boiler increasing from the 1000F (538C) level to as high as 1450F (788C). New heat recovery boilers on FCC units are designed for these new process conditions.

Construction Planning and Scheduling

Typical participants include the project manager, scheduler/planner, project superintendent(s), construction engineer(s), and other contributors as selected by the project manager. The basis for this planning session is the scope of work as originally defined and estimated, and the existing conditions of the construction site.

B&W wrote the book on steam... literally

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This collection of articles and readings includes primers, how-to articles, technical tips, and other informational pieces which we think you’ll find useful.

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