Cofiring wood waste with coal at the Seward Generating Station

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:20012946

Tillman, D; Battista, J; Hughes, E

In December, 1996 and July, 1997, The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) sponsored wood waste cofiring tests at the Seward Generating Station of GPU Genco. Some 20 parametric tests were conducted. These tests, conducted by Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, evaluated cofiring up to 10% (heat input basis) using wood wastes with various moisture and ash contents, and with varying fuel volatility. fuel moisture contents ranged from 13% to over 50%. Ash contents ranged from <1% to 5%. Fuels ranged from kiln dried sawdust to >2 year old sawdust that had begun the process of devolatilization. The tests were conducted to examine the impact of biomass cofiring on boiler capacity, efficiency, stability, emissions, and potential problems associated with unburned carbon in the flyash and bottom ash. They were the first cofiring tests conducted on a wall-fired boiler using separate feed of wood waste into the unit. The cofiring technique involved screening all of the biofuel to <1/4 inch particle size. The screened material was then transported to the burner and injected in the center of the coal flame. The biofuel did not go through the pulverizers on the way to the boilers but was injected separately. Results of the testing documented the ability of cofiring to increase the capacity of the boiler when wet coal was encountered and the boiler normally experienced derating. The results of testing also documented modest impacts of cofiring on boiler efficiency, and only slight impacts of cofiring on unburned carbon. Impacts on emissions were favorable with respect to SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x}, with the latter impacts being caused by the fuel injection technique. This paper summarizes the results of the parametric tests, leading to the proposed program for longer term demonstration of cofiring at this location.

• Research Organization: Foster Wheeler Development Corp. (US)
• OSTI ID: 20012946
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ASH CONTENT
BOILERS
COAL
COCOMBUSTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
WOOD WASTES