FUEL CHEM®
FUEL CHEM® programs can improve the efficiency, reliability and environmental status of plants operating in the electric utility, industrial, pulp and paper, and waste-to-energy markets with emphasis on controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, acid plume, loss on ignition and SO3-related issues, including ammonium bisulfate and particulate matter formation (PM2.5).
Central to our approach is the introduction of chemical reagents, such as magnesium hydroxide, to combustion units via in-body fuel application (pre-combustion) or via direct injection (post-combustion) utilizing our patented technologies. FUEL CHEM®addresses:
- Slagging
- Fouling
- Corrosion
- Opacity Acid
- SO3 & Acid Plume Issues
- Loss on Ignition (LOI)
- Ammonium Bisulfate (ABS)
Our programs offer numerous operational, financial and environmental benefits to owners of boilers, furnaces and other combustion units.
Benefits of FUEL CHEM®:
- Availability and Reliability Gains
- Efficiency Gains
- Fuel Flexibility
- Maintenance Benefits
- Environmental Improvements
Availability and Reliability Gains
Gains are reflected in the incremental degree to which power generators avoid service interruption or degradation as a consequence of the failure or deterioration of a system component. FUEL CHEM® programs can reduce: derates arising from slag shedding, derates due to less sootblowing and burner anomalies, water lance/water cannon usage, forced outages due to fewer repairs, the number of planned outages, and downtime for outages due to less maintenance, including deslagging.
Efficiency Gains
There are sizable benefits arising from improved energy efficiency from the fuel combustion process. FUEL CHEM® programs increase MW per unit of fuel input (or constant MW with lower fuel consumption), reduce power requirements for Induced Draft/Forced Draft (ID/FD) fans, reduce sootblowing requirements, reduce unburned carbon and LOI in ash, reduce furnace exit gas temperature (FEGT), reduce operating O2, and reduce furnace and stack CO.
Fuel Flexibility
Plants need the flexibility to burn lower quality, lower cost fuels in their combustion units. FUEL CHEM® programs can mitigate the effects of slag-forming impurities such as sodium and iron, which are present to varying degrees when burning economcial coals, such as Powder River Basin (PRB) and Illinois Basin (ILB). Higher-sulfur coals, such as those found in the ILB and certain Eastern coalfields, can also be made less problematic with a FUEL CHEM® program, which can be designed to mitigate the adverse effects of SO3 formation in power plants utilizing Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to reduce NOx.
Maintenance Benefits
FUEL CHEM® offers numerous opportunities for operating cost reductions, including labor cost savings, and avoided equipment replacement. FUEL CHEM® programs can offer the following: reduced cold end corrosion in the air pre-heater, stack and ductwork, reduced high-temperature tube repairs/replacements (corrosion/erosion), increased life of super heater pendants, reduced clinker formation, elimination of equipment damage from falling slag, reduced air pre-heater fouling, reduced fireside cleaning expenses, including explosives, reduced water/air treatment costs (less steam/air for sootblowing), and reduced sootblower maintenance (manpower and parts).
Environmental Improvements
FUEL CHEM® programs can help mitigate the effects of SO3, which can lead to acid plume formation and suppression. In addition, Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and CO2 can be reduced.
FUEL CHEM® programs include custom designed, state-of-the-art pumping/injection equipment and on-site technical support. Our programs are monitored, serviced, and supported worldwide by our sales and project execution teams. Performance is monitored using Return on Investment (ROI) as the foundation for program success. FUEL CHEM® customers have achieved ROI of as much as 400% or greater by identifying and quantifying the relevant operating benefits described above.