97/04860 Developments in staged combustor technology: Murrell, F. J. and Ashworth, R. A. Proc. Annu. Int. Pittsburgh Coal Conf., 1996, 13, (1), 210–215

Abstract

A staged coal combustor is being developed under a licensing agreement with Florida Power Corporation. This new technology offers life extension for aging cyclone-fired units that are threatened with shut-down because of EPA`s new NOx emission regulations. The combustor is called the CAIRE{trademark} Combustor, for Controlled AIR Emissions. The CAIRE combustor is designed for reduction of NOx, and removal of sulfur and slag in the combustor proper, thus controlling on the front end of the combustion process, the quantity of pollutants that enter a boiler furnace. At present status, the CAIRE Combustor technology has been developed through pilot plant (12 million Btu/hr) operation. A 50 million Btu/hr commercial prototype unit is in the design phase with startup and testing being scheduled for late 1996, early 1997. The goal of this combustor development, when applied to electric utility boilers, is to reduce particulate (also PM-10 and certain HAPS) up to 75 to 80%, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions to 0.30 lb per million Btu of coal fired and to reduce sulfur oxide emissions by 70 to 90%. Further, this combustor is designed for low pressure drop to minimize auxiliary power requirements. With the use of this combustion technique, the three major airmore » emissions pollutants associated with coal combustion can be significantly reduced in one device at a low cost. The advanced technology represented by the CAIRE Combustor, holds the key to low cost and environmentally acceptable (low particulate and acid rain precursors) high sulfur coal combustion. It also provides benefits for combustion of low rank Western coals.« less