Results of fibec test program at Canadian forces base Halifax dockyard

Abstract

As part of the national management plan for NO x control, Environment Canada has drafted emissions regulations for industrial boilers to encourage the use of best available technology economically achievable (BATEA). National Defence Canada, as a major boiler owner, has undertaken to demonstrate low- NOx burners in two plants. One is fuelled by natural gas with No. 2 fuel oil backup and one is fuelled by Bunker C oil. This report describes the results of combustion tests on the second demonstration - a package watertube boiler at CFB Halifax Dockyard which has been retrofitted with a heavy-oil burner employing flue gas recirculation (FGR) and a limited amount of air staging. Tests were conducted with No. 6 Bunker C oil, with and without FOR, over the load range of the boiler. Both efficiency and emissions were measured. It was found that FGR has only a limited effect in reducing NO x w hen firing No. 6 Bunker C oil. The draft regulations permit NO x e missions of 110 ng/J, but the measured values typically exceeded this limit by about 50%. CO emissions were well below the limit and with a fuel sulphur content of about 2%, SO2 emissions were close to double the allowable limit.