Experimental Study in a 350 MW_e Utility Boiler of Oil Droplet and Coke Size Analysis

A study was carried out to find out the cause of premature plugging of air heaters of a 350 MW_e oil fired boiler. The unit burnt a heavy fuel oil number 6, with both high levels of sulfur (3.75%) and asphaltenes (16.2%), as well as high viscosity (555 SSF at 50°C) and API gravity of 11.2. Particle concentration at the furnace exit and at the stack were measured, also flue gas analyses were performed at the same sites. In the furnace were employed water cooled probes of six meters in length which allowed traversing 70% of its width. In addition, the oil droplet size distribution from an atomizer was measured with a Malver Particle Sizer. Cold condition using simulating fluids were taken in this analysis. Also, the unburned carbon particles size distribution, both from the furnace exit and from the stack, was performed with a particle Malver Sizer. The atomizer produced large oil drops, 5.7% by volume larger than 300 micron size, which were considered as promoters of unburned carbon. The concentration of carbon particles in the stack was 60% of that of the furnace exit. Furthermore, the particles from the stack were of smaller size (95% <150 μm) than those of the furnace (89% <150 μm). Deposition of carbon particles in the internal component of the boiler, mainly in the air heaters, was the cause of this finding. To solve the premature plugging of the air heaters of this oil fired boiler, the atomizers should be modified to reduce at a minimum level the oil drops larger than 200 micron size.