Problems seen with chinese Stoker fired boilers

1)

Steam output capacity

These boiler can give rated steam output only if coal of very high heating
value is used. If the coal is changed to a source with lower heating value, the
capacity of the boiler drops much more than the reduction in heating value.
Typically if the boiler can deliver capacity with coal of 6000 kcal/kg GCV, and
a fuel with heating value 5000 kcal/kg is used, the steam output will drop to
50 % of rated capacity

2)

Reliability- Breakdown of the stoker

The stoker is a mechanical assembly consisting of thousands of cast iron
links and frequently breaks down thereby stopping the boiler. Repair is
needed nearly every month.

3)

Boiler is rated on F&A 100 C basis

These boilers are specified on basis of F&A 100 C, this means that one kg of
steam is considered as 540 kcal. The actual energy required to produce 1 kg
of steam at 10 barg pressure from feed water at 30 C is 630 kcal. This
means that a Chinese steam boiler rated at 10 t/hr F&A 100 C will produce
only 8571 kg/hr of steam from feed water at 30 C.

4)

Cannot burn rice husk

A stoker fired boiler cannot accept rice husk as fuel since the bulk density of
rice husk if much lower (125 kg/m3) compare4d to coal (800 kg/m3)

5)

Higher SO2 and NOx emissions

A stoker fired boiler produces much higher amount of SO2 emissions and NOx
emissions

6)

Stoker fired boilers cannot burn sludge along with coal.

7)

The instrumentation used by Chinese boilers if of very low quality and

frequent shut downs are seen due to failure of critical instruments such as
level control, pressure control etc.

There were many Chinese boilers purchased by Indonesian industry during year
2000 2008. After a few years experience, most of the industries have removed

these boilers due to many problems faced and unreliable operation. Now these
industries are buying only fluidized bed boilers.