Application of the Technology of Combustion of Solid Fuels in a Circulating Fluidized Bed

It is shown that the basic variations in the energy market are related to increasing requirements designed to assure ecological cleanliness as well as increase efficiency, reliability, and maneuverability. The ability of the technology underlying the combustion of solid fuels in a circulating fluidized bed to respond to these variations is demonstrated using concrete examples. It is noted that the efficiency of the circulating fluidized bed technology is determined basically by the quality of the fuel and the capacity of the power station with specified constraints imposed on discharges of harmful substances. Attainment not only of the norms on harmful substances existing in the Russian Federation, but also of prospective norms without the use of desulfurization and denitrogenization devices, is an important condition for optimal use of the technology. Another major advantage is the diversification of fuel deliveries. The first boiler in Russia employing a circulating fluidized bed was built at Unit No. 9 of a condenser type electricity-only thermal power station (GRES) at Novocherkassk, Rostov oblast’. Delivery of the boiler was performed by the firm of JSC EMAl’yans Inzhiniring while delivery of certain critical parts and auxiliary equipment, by the firm of Amec Foster Wheeler (now Sumitomo Foster Wheeler, or SFW). The first results of the operation of a circulating fluidized bed boiler are presented and an analysis of trial data on the thermal balance of the heating surfaces is presented. In the case of similar values of the trial and design heat absorption of the boiler guard screens, the temperature of the gases in the boiler is substantially higher than the design temperatures. Certain difficulties associated with the technology of combustion are identified in the process of adjustment and early use of the circulating fluidized bed boiler in Unit No. 9 of the Novocherkassk GRES. The need for a more detailed study of the processes involved in production of additional measurements and of studies on operational development of the equipment and thermal circuit, and optimization of the operating conditions is demonstrated.