Industrial application of fluidized-bed combustion. Quarterly technical progress report, January-March 1981

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6298923

In line with a determination by the federal government that a fluidized bed combustion process can efficiently convert the energy of coal to usable power in an evironmentally acceptable manner, Georgetown University was awarded a contract to construct and operate a demonstration plant. This report reflects the progress made during the fifth full quarter of plant operation. The January through March 1981 period constituted the sixth full quarter of Task 4 Operations in which plant operations were essentially performed by the Georgetown University staff, with 2 contractor-supplied men on site to monitor and evaluate boiler operations and to assist the university staff in preventive and corrective maintenance procedures, evaluation of plant auxiliary systems equipment malfunctions, and to institute minor plant modifications. The boiler was operated for six different periods during the quarter for a total of 1041 h. Of the six shutdowns, three could have been averted by operator attentiveness, one resulted from rock buildup in the bed, one was due to over limits particulate emission due to leaking bags in the baghouse, and one was due to an external control circuit short which affected the Solids Removal Control Panel. Quarterly operations since startup are summarized. 90% of the quarter's operation was performed with both beds in operation. During much of this period, the AFBB plant was supplying all of the campus steam load. Boiler thermal efficiency remained low reportedly averaging only 61.4% for the quarter. Factors affecting efficiency are discussed. As the result of a boiler inspection the decision was reached to plan for a shutdown in the succeeding quarter during which all in-bed tubes would be replaced with new treated tubes.

• Research Organization: Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-76ET10381
• OSTI ID: 6298923
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/10381-197; ON: DE81030272
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290800* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
42 ENGINEERING
421000 -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BOILERS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMBUSTORS
CONTROL
DISTRICT HEATING
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTORS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
POLLUTION CONTROL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS