The UK collaborative research programme on slagging in pulverised coal furnaces: Sample characterisation

A major collaborative research programme is in progress in the UK, addressing all aspects of slagging in pf-fired boilers. An outline of the programme was presented at the previous EPRI conference on {open_quotes}The effect of coal quality on power plants{close_quotes} (1992), and preliminary results at the Engineering Foundation conference in Solihull, 1993. Key components of this programme are studies on full-scale plant, single-burner rig, ash deposition rig and laboratory-scale entrained flow reactor. All of these trials share the same three coals, which were chosen for their range of slagging propensities. The trials have been complemented by particulate and deposit characterisation using advanced analytical techniques, and the development of sophisticated computer models. The objectives of this programme are to improve the understanding of slagging behaviour with respect to coal composition, boiler design and boiler operation, and to develop a more reliable method for predicting slagging behaviour. This paper briefly describes the other programme activities, including the plant and rig trials. The analytical techniques used to characterise samples are outlined, and analyses of a range of samples from trials using a single coal are presented. The deposition behaviour of the coal is discussed in terms of the quantitative microstructure of the coalsmore » and their combustion products, and the use of the sample characterisation results to investigate particular aspects of the deposition process is illustrated.« less