Kati Savolainen

Co-firing of biomass in coal-fired utility boilers

Co-firing tests with sawdust and coal have been carried out at FORTUMs Naantali-3 CHP power plant (315 MWfuel). The Naantali-3 plant is a tangentially-fired pulverised-coal unit with a Sulzer once-through boiler that produces 79 MW electricity, 124 MW district heat and 70 MW steam. Naantali-3 is equipped with roller coal mills (Loesche), modern low-NOx-burners (IVO RI-JET), over-fire air (OFA), electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and flue-gas desulphurization plant (FGD). Coal and sawdust were blended in the coal yard, and the mixture fed into the boiler through coal mills. Tests were carried out for three months during the April 1999 to April 2000 period with pine sawdust (50-65% moisture as received). During the tests, sawdust proportions of 2.5-8% (from the fuel input) were examined. The co-firing tests were successful in many ways, but the behaviour of the coal mills caused some problems, and therefore the simultaneous feed will not be the solution in a long-term use. Fortum has developed a new concept for co-firing coal and biofuels in large pulverised-coal fired boilers. The experiences gained from the Naantali co-firing tests and a good knowledge of low-NOx burning and combustion behaviour of different fuels at Fortum, was used when the new co-firing concept was developed. This concept consists of a separate biofuel grinding system and bio- or bio-coal-burners. By using this system, it is possible to utilize many kinds of biofuels in PC-boilers as well as increase the share of biofuels, compared to the simultaneous feed of biofuel and coal.

Reducing the minimum load and NOx emissions for lignite-fired boiler by applying a stable-flame concept

For the purpose of improving the load range and NOx emission level of lignite-fired power plants, a new combustion technology, called NR-LE burners (NOx Reduction-Load Extension), has been developed in co-operation between Babcock-Hitachi and Fortum. A single-burner combustion test was performed in Japan with this new NR-LE type burner using Czech lignite. Adapting the flame-stabilization ring and a special additional air-nozzle resulted in achieving a stable flame, which enables: - The burner minimum load to be less than 50% (Boiler load: 30-40%) - Low NOx emissions of less than 200 mg/m3 (6% O2, dry base) The first commercial full-scale application of the NR-LE burner was by the IPP power producer in the Czech Republic (Sokolovska Uhelna, a.s. at Vresova Unit2 boiler with steam parameters 325 t/h, 535 °C, 13.5 MPa). The commissioning test runs of the new burners were carried out during September to October 2001. The boiler is now in commercial operation, with (i) a 30% minimum load without supplementary fuel, and (ii) lower NOx emission levels.