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U.S. Department of Energy
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Cofiring biofuels With coal: Results of 3 years of test programs

Conference ·
OSTI ID:349131
 [1];  [2]
  1. Foster Wheeler Development Corp., Sacramento, CA (United States)
  2. Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation and the Electric Power Research Institute have tested cofiring of biofuels with coal in numerous cyclone boilers, tangentially-fired pulverized coal (PC) boilers, and well-fired PC boilers. Cofiring has been practiced at low percentages (< 5 percent by mass) and at moderate percentages (5--20 percent by mass, 2--10 percent by heat input). Biofuels have included green sawdust, dry sawdust, urban wood waste, and switchgrass. Boilers have been fueled with eastern bituminous coals, western bituminous coals, and Powder River Basin (PRB) subbituminous coals. Boilers have ranged in capacity from 32 Megawatts (MW) or 330,000 lb/hr of steam to 469 MW, and 3.45 {times} 10{sup 6} lb/hr of steam. Analyses of these tests have included impacts of cofiring on boiler capacity, efficiency, operability, and the formation of such emissions as particulates and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). In general, the impact of cofiring on capacity depends upon the type and extent of cofiring practiced, and the base coal. The efficiency impacts are governed largely by the quality of the biofuel, the quality of the coal being fired, and the type of cofiring practiced. Impacts of cofiring on emissions are generally favorable, and are driven by particular mechanisms. This paper reviews the results of testing at 8 different locations. It highlights the advantages and unresolved issues associated with cofiring and overviews the longer-term testing program now underway to commercialize the cofiring family of technologies.
OSTI ID:
349131
Report Number(s):
CONF-980985--; ISBN 1-890977-15-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English