BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS

JUNE 13, 2013

“Monitoring & Optimizing Fuel Feed, Metering and Combustion in Boilers”

STEVE ULLOM – BABCOCK & WILCOX

BIO: Steve Ullom has worked for B&W for 7 years as a Product Development and Field Service Engineer.  His focus has been on the development of optimization software in the areas of combustion, boiler performance, and emission cleanup equipment.  He assisted in the parametric testing and development of the Even Flow system.  Steve holds a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering and a bachelor degree in computer science from Youngstown State University.

ABSTRACT: Coal Flow Balancing - B&W has successfully balanced coal flow in a roll wheel style pulverizer using a system of internal elements known as the Even Flow system.  By affecting the coal flow in the turret of the pulverizer, there is a lesser impact on the primary air distribution when moving the solid stream.   Two methods have been used to determine the needed bias of Even Flow elements, Flame Doctor flame quality and air/fuel index along with overall CO emissions from the plant.  Using this methodology, Even Flow was able to reduce CO emissions by over 100ppm by improving coal distribution to the burners. 

DAVE EARLEY – COMBUSTION TECHNOLOGIES

BIO:   Dave is the co-founder of Combustion Technologies and has been involved with (for over twenty years) and authored numbers papers on the topic of combustion optimization.  Prior to starting Combustion Technologies, Dave headed the Power Division of Air Monitor Corporation – a company whose products are still used and crucial to optimizing combustion.

ABSTRACT: Proper metering of coal too the boiler is critical not just to load control but to emissions, efficiency and reliability.  Accurate fuel feed to the mills, combined with accurate fuel feed to the burners will result in the best controllability of the boiler as well as the ability to reduce CO, NO_x and LOI.  This paper will focus on the bulk control to the mill as well as control of the coal in the individual pipes to the burners.  The use of real time, continuous burner line coal flow measurement and precision control coal valves are some of the highlighted products used to achieve these goals.

ROBERT E. SOMMERLAD, P.E. - CONSULTANT

BIO:   In his most recent position Mr. Sommerlad returned to his private consulting business where he has been an agent for two firms. Clients included Quinapoxet Solutions, Global Stone Chemstone Corp., Loesche America Inc., and Clean Coal Solutions, LLC.  Previously he was responsible for business development of GE EER’s NO_x Control Technologies, which were mainly combustion modifications for industrial and utility boilers.  Experience includes marketing/business development in combustion and environmental engineering including air emissions, R&D and commercial proposal preparation, contract administration, marketing sales presentations, and technology transfer from R&D to commercialization.

Dave is the co-founder of Combustion Technologies and has been involved with (for over twenty years) and authored numbers papers on the topic of combustion optimization.  Prior to starting Combustion Technologies, Dave headed the Power Division of Air Monitor Corporation – a company whose products are still used and crucial to optimizing combustion.

ABSTRACT: The Case for Fuel Delivery System Upgrades for Utility Boilers

Robert E. Sommerlad (Speaker and Contact), Donald B. Pearson, Grant Grothen, and Steven McCaffrey

Boilers 50 years and older comprise about 53 GW or 20% of the total fleet capacity and 40% of all coal-fired units.  Most of these will be retired due either to normal business decisions or to mandated upgrades to the air pollution control systems. The next age group, the 30- to 45-year old units, comprise 216 GW and 63% of the fleet with an average capacity of 500 MW. These units will bear the burden of ensuring the usual high standards of performance, availability, and reliability.  A vital part of any coal-fired unit is the Fuel Delivery System (FDS), comprising the equipment from the silos to the burners, including feeders, pulverizers, coal piping and burners. A committee of users, suppliers and architect/engineers under an ASME Research Committee has investigated a three typical 500-MW wall-, cyclone-, and tangential-fired boilers originally designed for eastern coal and now firing PRB coals, selecting retrofit upgrades to various parts of the FDS, determining costs and the value of the ensuing benefits.  The comparison of costs and benefits show surprisingly near-term breakevens of 1, 2, and less than 1 years, respectively for the wall-, cyclone-, and tangential-fired boilers.

ROGER LUOMA – SCHENCK PROCESS GROUP, STOCK EQUIPMENT CO.

Roger is Manager of New Product Development for Stock Equipment Company, a member of the Schenck Process Group. He has held positions within Stock from Service Manager, Engineering Manager, and R&D Manager. Overall he has more than 15 years material handling experience.