Georgetown University atmospheric fluidized bed. Report on boiler thermal-efficiency test

Technical Report · Mon Jun 28 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5186653

The thermal efficiency of the Georgetown University atmospheric fluidized bed boiler is discussed. Based on the results of the tests, conclusions pertaining to the goal of improving this efficiency will be made. The predicted design efficiency base was 82.5% (which includes the customary 1% manufacturer's margin) at 100% load. However, it should be recognized that the divergence of the test parameters from those of the design base contribute to the disparity. A conservative conversion of the calculated test efficiency to the design base conditions resulted in an efficiency of 79.8% at 100% load, which is 2.7% below the predicted 82.5%. The short fall in efficiency is attributed to several factors, e.g., test coal analysis and sizing, test limestone characteristics and control of limestone feed, and high rate of recycled solids. Improvements in these three areas should significantly increase the unit efficiency. Recommendations are as follows: the coal specification should be revised to provide a tighter size distribution, that has a limited fines content of 20% less than 1/4 inch; a limestone that has a better reactivity and a lower attrition rate should be used; the test procedure could be revised to maintain constant or automatic limestone feedrate; and the solids recirculation rate should be reduced. These actions should have the effect of increasing the overall efficiency by increasing both fuel burn-up and limestone utilization to the levels attained in pilot plant tests, and by lowering the average stack gas temperature.

• Research Organization: Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC (USA); Foster Wheeler Boiler Corp., Livingston, NJ (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-76ET10381
• OSTI ID: 5186653
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/10381-1192; ON: DE82016708
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CENTRAL HEATING PLANTS
FLUIDIZED BED BOILERS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
COAL
DISTRICT HEATING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTION
OPERATION
STEAM GENERATORS
BOILERS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DATA
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VAPOR GENERATORS
421000* - Engineering- Combustion Systems
320600 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- (1980-)