THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ORIMULSION COMBUSTION IN LARGE UTILITY BOILERS

摘要

There is considerable worldwide interest in the practical use of Orimulsion as a replacement fuel in both oil and coal fired utility boilers. Practical experience of such applications has been gained in Canada, UK, Japan, Europe and USA (1-5). Fundamental work (6-8) has demonstrated the different combustion characteristics of Orimulsion (which has been termed the 'fourth' fossil fuel (9) to the fossil fuels normally used for power generation and how, in certain circumstances, these can be used to advantage in the application of Orimulsion in utility boiler combustion systems.Orimulsion is an emulsified fuel prepared from naturally occurring bitumen deposits located in the Orinoco Basin in Venezuela and comprises approximately 70% bitumen and 30% water. Compared to the heavier (No. 6) fuel oils the sulphur content of Orimulsion is medium to high, the ash content is high with high levels of Vanadium and Nickel. The ash content is enhanced by the addition of Magnesium compounds, to the commercial fuel, to mitigate against the potential in boiler corrosion effects arising form the Va, Na and S content in the fuel.