Behavior of Chloride during Coal Combustion in an AFBC System

Abstract

Two 1000-h burns were conducted with the 12-in. (0.3 m) laboratory AFBC system at Western Kentucky University. Operating conditions similar to those used at the 160-MW AFBC system at the TVA Shawnee Steam Plant located near Paducah, KY, were used. A low-chlorine (0.012% Cl and 3.0% S) western Kentucky No. 9 coal and a high-chlorine (0.28% Cl and 2.4% S) Illinois No. 6 coal were used in this study. Four different metal alloys [carbon steel C1020 (0.18% C and 0.05% Cr), 304 SS (18.39% Cr and 8.11% Ni), 309 SS (23.28% Cr and 13.41% Ni), and 347 SS (18.03% Cr and 9.79% Ni)] were exposed uncooled in the freeboard area at the entrance to the convective pass, where the metal temperature was approximately 900 K. A two-phase investigation was carried out in order to study the fate of chlorine during coal combustion in an AFBC system and to study the susceptibility of boiler components to corrode in combustion gases containing hydrogen chloride. As determined from emission and ash studies, the temperature in an AFBC system plays a key role in the retention of chloride, which is more favorable at low operating temperatures. A small amount of scale failure was observed on the other three samples in both test runs. On the basis of the SEM-EDS mapping results, there was no localized chloride distribution observed on the surface of the coupons, either in the scale failure area nor on the rest of the metal part. Some trace amount of chloride was found but was evenly distributed on the surface of the coupons. There was no concentration of chloride on the spot of scale failure. The scale failure might be due to sulfur attack and/or the effect of erosion. Further study with higher chlorine-content coals for more conclusive information is needed.