Technical Papers
Sep 21, 2020

Effects of Lignite Predrying Degree on the Combustion and NO Generation in a 600-MW Lignite-Fired Boiler

Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 6

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that predrying can improve lignite combustion performance and lignite-fired boiler efficiency. This paper numerically investigated the effect of the lignite predrying degree on the combustion and NOx generation characteristics in a 600-MW lignite-fired boiler. The simulation models were firstly validated by the design value and part of the in situ data of the boiler, and then, the effects of the lignite predrying degree on the velocity, volatile distribution, combustion, and NOx generation were conducted. The results show that the moisture content of lignite affects the devolatilization, ignition, combustion, and NOx generation processes because moisture evaporation changes the temperature distribution. In addition, the NO concentration in the burnout zone is higher than that in the main combustion zone, which is different from the distribution of NO in a bituminous-coal-fired boiler. When the moisture content of lignite decreases, the devolatilization and ignition rate increase, the combustion intensity and flue gas temperature increase, and the NO production and the heat transfer between the flue gas and the water-cooled wall increase as well.

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Data Availability Statement

All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2018M633507) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51806159).

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Go to Journal of Energy Engineering
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 146Issue 6December 2020

History

Received: Jan 7, 2020
Accepted: Jul 7, 2020
Published online: Sep 21, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Feb 21, 2021

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Authors

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Hu Liu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong Univ., Xi’an 710049, China.
Lei Zhang, Ph.D.
Senior Engineer, State Key Laboratory of Coal-Based Clean Energy, Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., No. 99, Yanxiang Rd., Xi’an 710054, China.
Xiaoqu Han, Ph.D.
Lecturer, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong Univ., Xi’an 710049, China.
Sai Zhou
MA. Sc. Candidate, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong Univ., Xi’an 710049, China.
Pengfei Yu
Ph.D. Candidate, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong Univ., Xi’an 710049, China.
Professor, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong Univ., Xi’an 710049, China (corresponding author). Email: [email protected]

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