Title: Application of CFD for a low-NO_x burner retrofit to a coal-fired utility boiler

Authors: David Moyeda, Roy Payne, Karl H. Kuehlert, Eric S. Bish

Addresses: GE Energy and Environmental Research Corporation, 18 Mason, Irvine, California 92618, USA. GE Energy and Environmental Research Corporation, 18 Mason, Irvine, California 92618, USA. Fluent Incorporated, 10 Cavendish Court, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766, USA. Fluent Incorporated, 10 Cavendish Court, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766, USA

Abstract: The design and application of low-NO_x burners and other combustion modification technologies to coal-fired boilers typically relies largely on designer know-how and previous experience. There is always some risk inherent in applying NO_x control technologies to new applications. This risk is offset by the use of design tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyse and simulate system operation. This paper presents the results of a study designed to validate the application of a combined coal/fuel oil burner to a coal-fired boiler. The modelling study includes simulation of windbox air distribution and detailed modelling of the low-NO_x burner alone, and as installed on the furnace. The results of the study validate the burner design for this new application and demonstrate the utility of CFD in studying such systems.

Keywords: boilers; combustion; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); furnace; low-NO_x burners; NO_x control; windboxes.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2001.001474

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2001 Vol.1 No.1/2/3, pp.91-103

Published online: 04 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article