Thermal

Circulating Fluidized-Bed Boilers

Economical, reliable and flexible

Circulating Fluidized-Bed (IR-CFB) Boilers

Drawing upon our extensive technical expertise and operating experience, B&W developed the Internal Recirculation Circulating Fluidized-Bed (IR-CFB) boiler which is the technology of choice for power plant owners seeking economy, reliability and flexibility. In addition, load-following capabilities are attainable with B&W’s in-bed heat exchanger technology.

B&W’s IR-CFB technology offers:

  • Higher reliability and availability
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • High combustion efficiency
  • A compact, economical design
  • Reduced erosion
  • Fuel flexibility
  • Low emissions

Design features improve performance, reduce costs, and minimize maintenance requirements.

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Great River Energy Spiritwood Plant Babcock Wilcox

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Alunorte CFB Boiler Image Babcock Wilcox

Specifications
  • Capacity: To 2,200,000 lb/h (277 kg/s) or greater as required
  • Steam pressure: To 2600 psig (17.9 MPa)
  • Steam temperature: As required, usually to 1050F (566C)

B&W’s IR-CFB low maintenance design features:

  • Two-stage particle collection requires less maintenance than hot cyclones:
    • Eliminates thick refractory linings
    • Subject to lower erosion and can be thermally cycled faster than thick refractory
    • U-beams capture and recycle solids at lower gas velocities
    • Multi-cyclone dust collector (MDC) with metallic cyclones operate at lower temperature
    • Air slides eliminate loop seals and loop seal blowers
    • No sootblowers are needed with lower gas velocity convection pass; fine solids clean the tubes
    • MDC storage hoppers offer independent heat transfer control and more operating flexibility
  • Thin cooled refractory with higher stud density in furnace is a robust wall protector
  • IR-CFB uses 1/10 the mass of refractory of a hot cyclone CFB
  • Reduced diameter zone (RDZ) almost completely eliminates solids erosion of membrane wall at the transition section (solids flow obstructions from refractory and change in wall angle)
  • Bubble caps minimize back sifting of bed solids and bubble cap erosion
  • U-beams are contained in a water/steam-cooled enclosure eliminating hot expansion joints
  • Open bottom design can handle tramp materials in feed

Standard Circulating Fluidized Boiler Diagram Babcock Wilcox

B&W IR-CFB Boiler

Standard Circulating Fluidized Boiler with In-Bed Heat Exchanger Babcock Wilcox

B&W IR-CFB Boiler with In-Bed Heat Exchanger

CFB Boiler Success Stories

United States Flag
Hastings, Nebraska
Coal-fired internal recirculation circulating fluidized-bed (IR-CFB) boiler from outlet of coal bunkers to outlet of tubular air heater.
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United States Flag
Spiritwood, North Dakota
Combined heat and power plant will provide process steam for an adjacent malt plant and will normally generate approximately 56 MW net of electricity for the regional transmission grid.
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Brazil Flag
Para, Brazil
Alunorte Case Study
The steam produced by the CFB boiler, in conjunction with the existing steam generation units, will fulfill the needs of the alumina production process in a safe, reliable and efficient manner.
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