Co-firing sludge in a pulverized coal-fired utility boiler: Combustion characteristics and economic impacts. (15th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Peng; Ma, Lun; Xia, Ji; Fang, Qingyan; Zhang, Cheng; Chen, Gang
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 119(2017)
• Page Start: 392
• Page End: 399
• Publication Date: 2017-01-15
• Subjects: Sludge -- Co-combustion -- Combustion characteristic -- Economic impacts -- Coal-fired boiler; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.12.084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: Co-incineration of sludge in the existing coal-fired utility boilers is a promising sludge disposal approach, but study on the combustion characteristics and the economic impacts of co-firing sludge in full-scale utility boilers is in absence. In this study, a series of full-scale field experiments and numerical experiments were conducted to study the coal-sludge co-combustion characteristic in a 100 MW coal-fired utility boiler. The effects of sludge blending ratio and moisture content in sludge are concerned. Subsequently, the economic impacts of co-firing sludge is presented. The results demonstrate that the combustion characteristics is acceptable when co-firing 10% sludge. The ignition property and the flame stability are significantly affected when the mass content of co-fired sludge is over 10%. Decreasing the moisture content in sludge is beneficial to the combustion characteristics but the improvements are limited. Co-firing sludge is profitable for power plants as the savings from coal and sludge disposal allowance is quite substantial. Considering both the combustion characteristics and the economic impacts, co-firing 10% sludge with moisture content ranging from 40% to 56% is optimal. The annual profit from co-firing sludge can reach 4.2 million to 5.5 million Chinese yuan (CNY), which is remarkable for the power plant. Highlights: The effect of sludge blending ratio on the combustion characteristics was studied. The effect of sludge moisture content on combustion characteristics is investigated. Economic impacts of co-firing sludge for power plants were demonstrated. Co-firing 10% sludge at the moisture content ranging from 40% to 56% is optimal.