Influence of Angled Secondary Air on Combustion Characteristics of a 660-MW_e Down-Fired Utility Boiler

Abstract

To overcome the problem of high carbon content in the fly ash of down-fired utility boilers using low-volatility coals, the combustion system of a 660 MW_e full-scale down-fired boiler was retrofitted, with the direction of the secondary air under the arch being changed from horizontal to an angle of declination of 20°. Industrial experiments were performed using the boiler before and after the retrofit to determine the reconstruction effect. Data are reported for the gas temperature distribution along the primary air and coal mixture flow, furnace temperature, gas compositions, such as O₂, CO, CO₂, and NO _x , and gas temperatures in the near-wall region. Comparisons between the two cases were made, and the results show that with the angled secondary air under the arches, ignition of the primary air and pulverized coal mixture was brought forward in the boiler. Gas temperatures rose in the fuel-burning zone, and the residence time of pulverized coal in the fuel-burning zone was extended. Thus, the quantity of unburned carbon in fly ash and the gas temperature at the furnace outlet decreased, and the boiler efficiency increased.

Keywords:

• Angled secondary air
• Carbon content in fly ash
• Down-fired boiler

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was sponsored by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (Contract No.: 2006AA05Z321).