Ecomb Combustion Consulting Services

Understanding your combustion process

Temperature Measurements:

We conduct accurate furnace temperature measurements of flue gases by using a water-cooled suction pyrometer otherwise known as an HVT Probe. The probe in short consists of shielded thermocouple for radiant heat from the combustion process, flue gases are withdrawn past the thermocouple by using a suction pump or an air aspirator.

The suction pyrometer is used to map and plot temperatures in and across the combustion camber. This information can show local laminar gas columns due to for example insufficient secondary air mixing, poor fuel distribution on the grate/fuel bed etc. Accurate temperature measurements are also vital for optimising any SNCR system.

Temperature Profile in a 120MWe Pulverized Coal Fired Boiler

Flue Gas Analyser:

The HVT Probe is also used to conduct flue gas analysis. Here the extracted flue gases are drawn to a flue gas analyser. ECOMB AB currently operate a portable Horiba PG-250 that can simultaneously measure NO, CO, CO2, SO2 and O2. The data is also recorded directly to a data logger so it can be analysed in detail at a later stage.

The flue gas analyser gives us information on air/fuel ratios across the furnace section. This information together with the temperature measurements gives ECOMB and the local operators the chance to optimise the combustion process with regard to emission of NOx, CO and 02.

CO and O2 Profile in a 120MWe Pulverized Coal Fired Boiler

Summery

By conducting a combination of temperature and flue gas measurements the possibities to optimising the day to day operation of your combustion plant are drastically improved.

The route cause of boiler fouling and build up of deposits can in many cases be explained and helped by understanding and adjusting the combustion process in detail.