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U.S. Department of Energy
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Economic evaluation of alternative solutions to decrease boiler ash fouling. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5987596

Alternative solutions for decreasing boiler ash fouling are compared from an economic perspective. These alternatives are: boiler load reduction; boiler design modifications for new plants; installation of soot blowers; use of additives injected into the boiler to weaken ash deposits or to decrease deposit buildup; blending of lignites with higher quality coal; purchase of better grade, i.e., 100% subbituminous coal; and ion exchange treatment of high sodium-content lignites to produce a lignite of reduced sodium content and reduced fouling potential. New and existing lignite-fired power plant designs are modified and their performance evaluated, based on the latest technical information. From this data, revenue requirements are generated and compared for each model power plant design alternative. The major conclusions derived from this economic analysis are that all the alternative are significantly more attractive than the base case power plant; load reduction is one of the more costly alternatives; boiler modifications to permit the combustion of high fouling lignites is one of the most cost competitive solutions for new plants; the blending of subbituminous coal is not practical for plants whos purpose is to use lignite sources; coal washing plus ion exchange treatment is not economic at any plan; and a combination of sootblowing and additive injection is the most economically competitive alternative for use at an existing plant. (LCL)

Research Organization:
Energy Resources Co., Inc., Walnut Creek, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5987596
Report Number(s):
DOE/FC/10232-T1; ON: DE82003036
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English