• Country
  Studies &
  Coal Markets
• Emissions & Control
• CO₂
  mitigation
• Pollution Control Technologies
• Residues & Management
• Coal Properties & Analysis
• Combustion
• Environmental Policy & Legislation
• Mining, Production & Preperation
• Power
  Generation
• Conversion & Industrial
  use of coal
• Gasification

Home > Coal properties and analysis > Coal blending for power stations, IEACR/81 

Coal blending for power stations, IEACR/81

Author(s): Anne Carpenter

Price: £60.00

Ref: IEACR/81 ISBN: 92-9029-256-3 Published Date: 01/07/1995

No. of Tables: 7 No. of Figures: 26 No. of Pages: 83

Blending of coals of different types at pulverised coal-fired power stations is becoming increasingly common as electric utilities attempt to save costs, meet SO₂ emission limits and improve the combustion behaviour of their coals. This report discusses the evaluation and prediction of the behaviour of blends of coals of different types and/or ranks in conventional pulverised coal-fired power stations. It begins with a discussion on why coals are blended and the methods of blending coals (in stockpiles, in bins and on moving belt conveyors). Current practice for determining the overall quality of blended coals is to use the weighted average of the determined values of the individual coals in the blend. The additivity or otherwise of various coal properties are examined. The additivity and non additivity of the properties and behaviour of blends is a running theme throughout the report. It is the interactions between components of the individual coals in the blend that makes its evaluation inherently complex. The utilisation of blends can significantly affect several areas of boiler operation which impact overall power plant performance and generating costs. Areas examined include the pulveriser (assessed by the Hardgrove grindability index), combustion behaviour and efficiency (assessed in terms of the ignition, flame stability, reactivity and burnout characteristics), ash deposition behaviour, and SO₂ and NOx emissions. The effect of lower sulphur coal blends on the performance of electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters is also covered. The evaluation and prediction of the behaviour of blends using empirical indices, and in bench scale apparatus progressing through to pilot scale plant to actual experience in power stations are discussed. A limitation to blending coals is the compatibility of the coal themselves; problems are more likely to occur when blending petrographically different coals or coals with different ash chemistries. One of the most successful outcomes of blending is in providing a fuel of consistent quality; wide swings in coal properties can wreak havoc with ancillary systems in a power station.

Back to previous page

Add to basket

Customers who bought this report also bought...

Home | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact Us © IEA Clean Coal, 2007. All rights reserved.