Spray Technology is Critical in Helping a Plant Achieve Optimal Performance

Spray nozzles are used in several locations inside a powerplant and have intimate contact with the processes in the plant. Nozzles are used for inlet fogging, humidification, Wet and Semi-Dry FGD (Flue Gas Desulphurization) applications using open spray towers, CFB (Circulating Fluidized Bed) and SDA (Spray Dry Absorber) scrubbers, NOx using SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and SNCR (Selective Non-catalytic Reduction) technologies. As plants try to achieve optimum efficiency, spray nozzles need to be designed, installed, and maintained properly. In addition, operators and designers need to be aware when a spray nozzle needs to be cleaned or replaced. A defective spray nozzle will have an adverse affect on plant performance. Several factors are to be considered in selecting the proper nozzle. These include material of construction, flowrate, spray angle, operating pressure, placement, droplet size, maximum free passage, spray angle, and many more. New developments in spray nozzle technology are allowing powerplants to have better control and achieve/maintain the tighter regulations on key emissions in the plants. Examples of nozzle type, their application, and recent installations/retrofits will be discussed.