Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance

The impact of particle size distribution (PSD) of pulverized, low rank high volatile content Alaska coal on combustion related power plant performance was studied in a series of field scale tests. Performance was gauged through efficiency (ratio of megawatt generated to energy consumed as coal), em...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rajive Ganguli, Sukumar Bandopadhyay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Combustion
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/786920
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832547061891858432
author Rajive Ganguli
Sukumar Bandopadhyay
author_facet Rajive Ganguli
Sukumar Bandopadhyay
author_sort Rajive Ganguli
collection DOAJ
description The impact of particle size distribution (PSD) of pulverized, low rank high volatile content Alaska coal on combustion related power plant performance was studied in a series of field scale tests. Performance was gauged through efficiency (ratio of megawatt generated to energy consumed as coal), emissions (SO2, NOx, CO), and carbon content of ash (fly ash and bottom ash). The study revealed that the tested coal could be burned at a grind as coarse as 50% passing 76 microns, with no deleterious impact on power generation and emissions. The PSD’s tested in this study were in the range of 41 to 81 percent passing 76 microns. There was negligible correlation between PSD and the followings factors: efficiency, SO2, NOx, and CO. Additionally, two tests where stack mercury (Hg) data was collected, did not demonstrate any real difference in Hg emissions with PSD. The results from the field tests positively impacts pulverized coal power plants that burn low rank high volatile content coals (such as Powder River Basin coal). These plants can potentially reduce in-plant load by grinding the coal less (without impacting plant performance on emissions and efficiency) and thereby, increasing their marketability.
format Article
id doaj-art-17ef262fa4004c719e56716ec68e8ff7
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-1968
2090-1976
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Combustion
spelling doaj-art-17ef262fa4004c719e56716ec68e8ff72025-02-03T06:46:04ZengWileyJournal of Combustion2090-19682090-19762012-01-01201210.1155/2012/786920786920Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant PerformanceRajive Ganguli0Sukumar Bandopadhyay1Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 755800, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USADepartment of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 755800, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USAThe impact of particle size distribution (PSD) of pulverized, low rank high volatile content Alaska coal on combustion related power plant performance was studied in a series of field scale tests. Performance was gauged through efficiency (ratio of megawatt generated to energy consumed as coal), emissions (SO2, NOx, CO), and carbon content of ash (fly ash and bottom ash). The study revealed that the tested coal could be burned at a grind as coarse as 50% passing 76 microns, with no deleterious impact on power generation and emissions. The PSD’s tested in this study were in the range of 41 to 81 percent passing 76 microns. There was negligible correlation between PSD and the followings factors: efficiency, SO2, NOx, and CO. Additionally, two tests where stack mercury (Hg) data was collected, did not demonstrate any real difference in Hg emissions with PSD. The results from the field tests positively impacts pulverized coal power plants that burn low rank high volatile content coals (such as Powder River Basin coal). These plants can potentially reduce in-plant load by grinding the coal less (without impacting plant performance on emissions and efficiency) and thereby, increasing their marketability.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/786920
spellingShingle Rajive Ganguli
Sukumar Bandopadhyay
Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
Journal of Combustion
title Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
title_full Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
title_fullStr Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
title_short Relationship between Particle Size Distribution of Low-Rank Pulverized Coal and Power Plant Performance
title_sort relationship between particle size distribution of low rank pulverized coal and power plant performance
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/786920
work_keys_str_mv AT rajiveganguli relationshipbetweenparticlesizedistributionoflowrankpulverizedcoalandpowerplantperformance
AT sukumarbandopadhyay relationshipbetweenparticlesizedistributionoflowrankpulverizedcoalandpowerplantperformance