Intelligent Sootblowing Systems
have proved to provide the following benefits:
- Increased boiler efficiency
- Improved furnace heat transfer
- Lower Furnace exit gas temperature
(FEGT)
- Reduced NOx emissions
- Improved unit availability
- Improved combustion efficiency
- Reduced convective region slagging
- Reduced tube erosion
- Reduced sootblower usage
- Reduced attemperation spray
rates
- Reduced tube crack propogation
Currently the maintenance of the
heat transfer surfaces in a utility boiler is more often
than not undertaken by the boiler operator. Operators can
be distracted by other tasks so the important area of boiler
cleanliness is neglected. Also where and when to clean is
decided by second order temperature indications done on
a shift basis. Efficiency gains have proved to be substantial
by automatic operation and activating cleaning systems when
required and only in the areas required based on the inputs
of the Boiler Cleaning Management Systems.
Experience gained from the 100+
plants (See Case Studies) already
fitted with such systems has shown that automatic control
over the boiler heat transfer surfaces invariably gives
an increase in heat rate. These increases are typically
in the region of 1-2%. Improving furnace heat transfer has
the effect of reducing furnace exit gas temperatures, attemporation
spray rates and finally outlet gas temperatures from the
economiser. The reduction in convective region gas temperatures
will lead to lower slagging in this area as the ash will
be further away from it's fusion temperature. By positively
identifying areas that are slagged and then cleaning these
areas there will be a reduction in the number of sootblower
operations (sometimes a substantial reduction) and of course
the number of operations on clean tubes, hence reducing
tube erosion and/or tube thermal fatigue damage. All of
these factors lead to increased boiler efficiency and hence
reduced fuel usage.
