Erosion in Steam General Tubes in Boiler and ID Fans in Coal Fired FBC Power Plant

Abstract

The FBC (Fluidized Bed Combustion) is a technique used to make solid particles behave like fluid and grow very fast for the power generation using low grade coal. Due to its merits, first time this technology has been introduced in Pakistan by installing 3x50 MW power plants at Khanote. Fluidized beds have long been used for the combustion of low-quality, difficult fuels and have become a rapidly developing technology for the clean burning of coal. The FBC Power Plant at Khanote has been facing operational and technical problems, resulting frequently shut down of generation units, consequently facing heavy financial losses. This study reveals that due to the presence of high percentage of silica in the lime stone that are further distributed in the bottom ash, fly ash and re-injection material, the generation tubes in the boiler and wings/blades of ID (Induced Draft) fans were eroded. In addition, filter bags were also ruptured; resulting frequent shut down of power plant units.

Keywords

• Steam Generation Tubes
• Erosion
• Boiler
• Coal
• Power Plant.