Abstract

ROMERO, Carlos E. et al. Optimization of a 350 mW Oil-fired Boiler in Mexico for NO_x and Particulate Matter Emissions Control. Ingenier. mecáni. tecnolog. desarroll [online]. 2008, vol.3, n.1, pp.10-16. ISSN 1665-7381.

This project was done in an oil-fired 350 MW load-following unit with an opposed wall-fired boiler, steam-assisted atomized conventional burners and flue gas recirculation for steam temperature control. Combustion optimization was performed to improve unit performance while maintaining environmental compliance. A comprehensive combustion optimization program was carried out using a systematic approach that included: installation of a new continuous emissions monitoring system with a laser-based particulate matter monitor, combustion tuning of the burners to improve baseline performance, parametric field testing to create a database, data modeling using artificial neural networks, determination of optimal settings using a mathematical optimization algorithm, and development of an on-line advisory software. The real-time advisory software provides expert-system advice to the operators on the optimal boiler control settings for operation under area grid control. Operation with the advisory software allows better compliance with the environmental restrictions while maintaining optimal thermal performance of the unit. It also allows the operator to explore the impact of changes in operating parameters such as excess air, flue gas recirculation rate, fuel viscosity, fuel temperature, atomization pressure, and burner nozzle fouling on emissions and performance parameters.

Keywords : Combustion Optimization; Emissions Control; Power Plants.