MODERN LOW-NOX FIRING SYSTEM UPGRADE TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED RELIABILITY AND LOWER NOX EMISSIONS

摘要

Steinmuller Engineering was contracted by ESKOM to improve the firing system at Camden Power Station. Camden PS is a coal fired plant consisting of eight 200 MWe units. The plant was originally designed for a service life of 40 years and was commissioned during the period 1966-69. Due to surplus capacity the plant was shut down and preserved during the period 1988-90. Due to increasing power demand it was decided to reactivate the plant. The first unit was re-commissioned and synchronized in 2005 and the entire return to service project was completed in 2010. The Camden boilers are front wall fired and each unit is equipped with 20 burners arranged in five rows. Each row of burners is installed in a common windbox. The motivation behind this project was mainly driven by the need to improve boiler reliability. The previously installed combustion system was prone to severe burner related operational problems leading to unplanned boiler outages. To address the abovementioned challenges the existing burners were replaced with modern Low-NOX burners, which are characterised by very precise ignition and flame control. Simultaneously the new burners reduced the NOX emissions. Steinmuller Engineering implemented a solution with minimal impact on the existing system, in terms of scope of required modifications to the existing plant. The engineering phase to customize the design to meet the specific requirements of the boiler is completed. In 2015, the manufacturing and installation, executed by local companies,was completed for the first two units. The remaining six units will be retrofitted in the next years during scheduled plant outages. The installed Low-NOX burners are of Steinmuller Engineering’s latest generation bituminous coal burners.