circulating fluidised

bed technology
clean, efficient &
fuel-flexible
 Alstom Power is the number one supplier of boilers
worldwide. Up to 30% of the world’s boilers use Alstom
technology, producing a staggering combined output
of 845 GW.

Our product portfolio is comprehensive, offering a wide

range of boiler types including pulverised coal-fired
boilers (up to 1,200 MW) in both tower and 2-pass
configurations, advanced oil- and gas-fired boilers (up
to 1,000 MW) and Circulating Fluidised Bed boilers
(up to 660 MW for lignite). We pioneered supercritical
steam generation and today lead the industry in Ultra-
supercritical boiler technology.

We have developed an unmatched level of expertise

in fuel combustion by designing, manufacturing and
supplying state-of-the-art systems and equipment that
work cleanly, cost-effectively and reliably.

02
Alstom CFB boiler
world class performer
Tackling the most difficult fuel conditions
Alstom Circulating Fluidised Bed technology can burn a wide
range of fuels, including difficult fuels such as petcoke with
a high sulphur content, anthracite with low volatile matter
content and lignite with a high ash and moisture content.
Leading expertise
Alstom entered the CFB market in the 1980s, and has since
developed a unique expertise in the combustion of difficult fuels,
and in scaling up to utility-size CFB boilers. Alstom CFB boilers
continually demonstrate their ability to burn a variety of fuels,
while showing top class reliability.

Modular approach
Our platform approach enables us to provide reliable products,
reduce lead time and improve cost effectiveness, while meeting
customer requirements.

Alstom is a leading supplier of CFB technology.

We have demonstrated our ability to supply efficient
and reliable CFB boilers with over 32 GW of boilers
installed using our technology.

03
 EN
LI
T Y
N D E E R GY
BI O P E SE
How Alstom is helping SI
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you meet the challenges

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of energy sustainability.

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& EX E

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CLEAN

FO OT P R EN

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ENVIRO N G
ENVIR

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L
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TIONS
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RED T OF
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ELECT
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TITI
AFF V E A S S E T SY
ORDAB CIT
L E EL E CT RI

REDUCING LOWERING INCREASING

COST OF ELECTRICITY
It takes competitive assets to keep
electricity affordable. We enable power
companies to compete successfully in
the marketplace and provide affordable
electricity to consumers. We help you
reduce the cost of electricity through:
• Efficiency improvements
• CAPEX reduction / scaling up
• Capacity Factor increase (renewable)
• Lead time reduction
• Competitive O&M
• Competitive financing
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT FLEXIBILITY & RELIABILITY
Clean generation is one way of Intermittent power generation is a
demonstrating environmental growing challenge of energy security, as
responsibility. Another is lowering is maintaining an aging installed base
resource usage, visual impact and noise and adapting it to changing market
pollution. In both cases, we can help conditions. We help you tackle both
you meet or exceed regulations and issues so that you can enjoy dependable
environmental standards. That is why operations with:
Alstom innovates in the following areas:
• Maintainability and outage
• Renewable portfolio time reduction
• Natural resource optimisation • Operational and fuel flexibility
• Pollutants control • Lifetime extension and power uplift
(SOx, NOx, PM, mercury) • Designs and service for improved
• CO2 emission reduction & CCS availability and reliability
• Land use, visual impact and noise • Climate packages
• Water intensity reduction & • Energy storage
recyclability

04
 CFB boiler
Our promise to customers

Customer benefits
Reducing cost of
electricity
Primary sulphur removal by limestone
injection into the CFB furnace ensures
that emissions meet most of the
current SO2 regulations with no back-
end treatment such as a Wet Flue Gas
Desulphurisation (WFGD). For very
stringent SO2 emissions, our integrated
proprietary dry scrubber NID™ is a
cost-effective solution that also reduces
the limestone consumption. Inherently
low NOx values make Selective Catalytic
Reducers (SCR) unnecessary.
Thanks to CFB boilers’ intrinsically
low emissions, capital investment
and operation costs are reduced and
permits are often easier to obtain.
Our key features also contribute to
reducing the cost of electricity. One
example is the Just-in-time™ limestone
feed system developed to offer
operational cost savings and higher
reliability.
Lowering environmental
footprint
Alstom’s CFB technology has
demonstrated its ability to meet the
most stringent environmental
requirements.
Our continuous R&D efforts are dedicated
to core technologies. Innovations include:
Dual grate furnaces for larger size
boilers; External beds and high efficiency
cyclones to provide longer fuel residence
times, thus achieving high combustion
efficiency while operating the fluidised
bed at moderate temperatures.
Combining low bed temperatures and
our fuel-based air staging system results
in inherently low NOx formation. Our
Ultra-supercritical CFB technology
reduces the CO2 footprint with higher
plant efficiency.
Increasing flexibility
& reliability
During the past three decades, we
have continuously improved our CFB
technology based on feedback collected
from operational experience.
Critical equipment has been improved
or replaced with proven technology.
Furthermore, all the critical systems
such as the fuel feeding system, the
limestone feeding system or the bottom
ash extraction systems include a safety
margin so they can operate with several
sub-systems out of service without
impacting the availability of the plant.

Unparalleled fuel flexibility

Over the past 30 years, we have acquired great experience in the combustion of low grade fuels such as lignite, anthracite, discarded
coal, waste coal with a high sulphur content and also petroleum coke. In addition to low grade fuels, our fuel-flexible CFB boilers are
designed to burn simultaneously multiple fuels in the same unit. Our CFB units have demonstrated their outstanding fuel flexibility in
burning opportunity fuels such as biomass (wood chips, olive pits, wood pellets) oil shale, and even tires.

05
 Alstom CFB
A wide range

A wide range of solutions for your plant

Three bay arrangement Dual grate arrangement Ultra-supercritical CFB
From 100 to 350 MW class Up to 350 MW 660 MW for lignite
Most common design Design for specific requirements

Furnace arrangement
Single grate is the common design to
meet most technical requirements within
the 100 – 300 MW range.
The dual grate concept is based on a well
proven design. Alstom’s dual grate CFBs
have been in successful operation in the
United States, France and China for more
than 20 years.
Alstom leverages its world-class
knowledge of both technologies
to offer a proven firing system for
660 MW class and higher.

06
boiler
of capacities and technologies

Alstom’s CFB boilers are the result of continuous, evolutionary development

that enables the power plant to tackle challenging conditions induced by
fuel characteristics. Our CFB boilers deliver clean and fuel-flexible solutions
for outstanding efficiency, high availability and economical operations.

Advanced flexible technology

Unmatched, flexible technology Highly efficient cyclones
Fluidised bed firing is well suited for low grade fuels. In Alstom cyclones have been improved through design
a CFB boiler, fuel is fed in a stream of fluidised hot solids development, computerised modelling, rig and full-scale tests.
consisting mainly of fuel ash and limestone. Efficient cyclones
ensure extended residence times allowing full combustion The benefits are
at a temperature lower than in conventional pulverised fuel • Burnout improvement and reduced limestone utilisation
firing. Uniform low temperature distribution helps to mitigate • Increased concentration of solids in the upper furnace.
fuel ­related issues such as slagging and corrosion, drastically This enhances heat transfer
reducing or even eliminating them. • Limitation of the size and quantity of particles going through
the back-pass, thus limiting the heat exchanger’s erosion and
fouling potential
• Homogeneous bed temperature that avoids bed
agglomeration and enhances sulphur capture

An illustration of a 250 MW CFB boiler in operation,

firing diverse fuels without modification

© ASTM D388 - 05 Standard Classification of Coals by Rank

meta a. low
anthracites
semi a.
low
Our CFB technology provides a unique
reactivity
volatile bit.
ability to burn a wide range of fuels
- fixed carbon +

medium high
same boiler
volatile bit.
in the same boiler. With a simple and
high high
high
volat. subbit. subbit.
reliable fuel preparation system, our
volatile volat. lignite
A bit. B bit. C bit. or
subbit. A
B C
CFB boilers can accommodate large
quantities of biomass or opportunity fuels.
+ gross calorific value -

07

External Fluidised Bed Heat
Exchangers (FBHEs)
The use of external FBHE containing heat exchange surfaces,
a mature and reliable technology proven by operation records,
may be necessary to optimise plant layout and performance:
• For large size CFBs, as the furnace water walls and upper
furnace internal heating ­surfaces cannot be large enough to
pick-up the required heat
• When burning corrosive fuels, to which final superheater
and reheater heat exchangers are sensitive; moving
those to the FBHEs isolates them from high temperature
­corrosion potential, as they are no longer in the flue gas
flow, only in the ash flow
• For units which have to cope with a very large range of fuels
• For an accurate control of the bed temperature to mitigate
NOx and SOx emissions over a wide range of loads and fuels,
and for fuels that may be prone to bed agglomeration
coal
air
air
limestone
air
ash
air air
Model of CFB boiler arrangement with external FBHE
08
Alstom CFB
Proven and
Low SOx and NOx emissions without
back-end flue gas cleaning systems
• NO emissions are generally kept within regulatory
x
requirements due to low combustion temperatures from
800°C to 900°C (1,470°F to 1,650°F) combined with
staged combustion. Should lower levels be required, the
Alstom advanced, low ammonia slip Selective Non-Catalytic
Reduction (SNCR) system is the solution
• SOx emissions are low as well, due to sulphur capture by
limestone, at temperatures no higher than the typical CFB
combustion temperature
• Sulphur capture efficiency is often higher than 95%. Should
higher efficiency and / or reduced limestone consumption be
required, the advanced Alstom flash dryer absorber (NID™)
is the solution
The intrinsically low SOx and NOx emissions from CFB
combustion have a beneficial impact on plant capital and
operating costs, as additional back-end flue gas cleaning
systems are generally not required. Water consumption
is also reduced due to the absence of back-end flue gas
desulphurisation systems.
technology
cutting edge features

Matching its state-of-the-art circulating fluidised bed technology, Alstom offers

advanced CFB auxiliary equipment for limestone feed, ash cooling and – when
appropriate – additional desulphurisation and denitrification.

Flash dryer absorber (NID™) advanced Just-In-Time™ (JIT) limestone feed system
desulphurisation process
To meet stringent SOx emission requirements and / or reduce
the limestone consumption, Alstom’s advanced flash dryer
ne
absorber (NID™) technology provides a cost efficient option. esto
lim
This technology takes advantage of the free, non-reacted lime raw
in the fly ash to further capture residual sulphur oxides. Savings limestone furnace isolation
valve
up to 50% in limestone consumption can be achieved, ­allowing silo
­significant savings in operating costs. Ash handling and the to furnace
­associated capital and operating costs are also reduced. slide gate
gravimetric feeder

Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) hot primary air

Alstom has developed a unique, patented design for ­the injection roller
of ammonia into the cyclone inlet and outlet ducts. Thanks to an mill
tempering air
­optimised injection pattern, ammonia consumption is s­ ignificantly
reduced, as well as ammonia slip. Model of JIT limestone feed system arrangement

Rotary ash coolers for bottom ash

In the case that large amounts of ash need to be conveyed, CFB operation needs crushed and dry limestone. Conventional
water-cooled rotary ash coolers provide a robust system that is limestone feed systems use oil / gas fired dryers, and a silo for
insensitive to coarse particles such as stones. intermediate limestone storage.

Alstom’s advanced, integrated Just In Time™ (JIT) direct

limestone feeding system simplifies the process and
equipment and reduces auxiliary power consumption. Drying
is implemented in the mills with heat from main fuel firing.
An intermediate silo is not necessary: the crushed and dried
limestone goes directly to the furnace. The Alstom JIT limestone
feed system reduces capital and operating costs, compared to a
conventional system.

09
 Ultra-supercritical CFB
State-of-the-art

Higher efficiency & lower CO2 footprint

Based on design innovations in larger sized boilers, and higher steam temperatures, Alstom’s highly efficient
Ultra-supercritical CFB technology is ready to provide our customers with 660 MW output for lignite. The USC CFB
provides reliable, state-of-the-art fuel-flexible power generation, while minimising the CO2 footprint.

The best of two technologies Added value for our customer

As a leading supplier of Ultra-supercritical, pulverised coal –
fired boilers (up to 1,200 MW), we have demonstrated
our ability to design once-through boilers, select proven
materials and manufacture the pressure parts.
Alstom has entered the CFB market in the 1980s, demonstrating
our ability to burn a wide variety of fuel while showing top class
reliability with over 140 references.
Using our modular approach, we are able to modulate the
power output to meet our customers needs, while ensuring
high reliability and outstanding fuel flexibility. Using this
same platform, we can provide a product delivering higher
capacity when burning hard coal.

These design developments have allowed us to combine the

Alstom Ultra-supercritical CFB
best of both technologies, creating the Alstom Ultra-supercritical technology
CFB boiler, allowing for larger, more efficient and more flexible
boilers.
Advanced boiler size
660 MW for lignite
Core improvements
The technology’s higher steam temperature and pressure Reduced cost of electricity
parameters provide the most economical solution to improving +3 points of plant net efficiency compared to
sub-critical conditions
plant efficiency and operating flexibility, achieving fuel cost
savings and reducing emissions for each kWh of electricity
generated. Lower environmental footprint
60,000 tons of CO2 per year vs. subcritical condition
Combining our expertise in combustion with both single and
dual grate technologies enables us to scale-up the furnace Increased flexibility & reliability
dimensions to larger sizes. ×2 fuel quality window

10
boiler
technology applied to a top class product

660 MW Ultra-supercritical CFB boiler

The Ultra-supercritical circulating fluidised bed boiler

offers the most efficient and reliable solution to deal with
difficult fuel conditions.

11
 Local presence,
We are
North America Europe
Ottawa (Canada) Massy (France)
Harrisburg (USA) La Courneuve (France)
Windsor (USA) Stuttgart (Germany)
Erlanger (USA) Neumark (Germany)
Suwanee (USA) Ashby (UK)
Asia and Oceania
Chattanooga (USA) Milan (Italy)
Wuhan (China)
Tyler (USA) Brno (Czech Republic)
India Xiamen (China)
Denver (USA)
Delhi (India) Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Kolkata (India) Surabaya (Indonesia)
Durgapur (India) Sydney (Australia)

Boiler capabilities worldwide

New equipment
• We have execution centres in charge of project execution,
project management and engineering in key locations around
the world
• Our manufacturing sites are also spread around the globe,
ensuring our ability to provide the product you need to the
location you want
Boiler services and retrofits
Alstom offers a full portfolio of services for the complete
plant lifecycle:
• Boiler island rehabilitation: We provide an integrated
approach for boiler rehabilitation using process engineered
solutions to improve steam parameters to boost plant
efficiency and output
• Field service includes boiler inspections, plant condition
assessment outage support and planning, and commissioning
and start up
• Spare parts using genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) replacements, plus ­product upgrades for OEM and
Other OEM (OOEM) equipment
• Subsystem retrofits for biomass co-firing conversions and / or
to reduce NOx or SOx emissions resulting from degraded fuel
quality or in order to comply with environmental regulations.
• Construction services for new constructions, installations and
maintenance service

12
global strength
where our customers are
Project highlights worldwide
Spurlock # 4 (USA)
A variety of fuels including biomass
and tires
1 × 300 MW CFB boiler burning
bituminous coal. Integrated CFB / dry
scrubber (NID™) technology with latest
Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)
system for very low NOx emissions.
Tamuin (Mexico)
Petroleum coke
4 × 130 MW CFB boilers to burn p­ etcoke.
The ashes are used by CEMEX, the
world’s third largest cement c­ ompany.
Alstom’s technology achieves high sulphur
capture with greatly reduced l­imestone
consumption.
Seward (USA)
Discarded high ash coal
2 × 290 MW CFB boilers using waste coal
as the primary fuel source, contributing
to cleaning up more than 40 million tons
of coal refuse accumulated in the first 15
years of the plant’s operation.
Baima (P. R. of China)
Anthracite coal with coarse ­particles,
minimum load on coal very low without
fuel back-up
1 × 300 MW, the first demonstration
unit in China, commissioned in 2005.
It is one of the world’s largest CFB boilers
for an anthracite-fired power plant
generating clean, cost-effective power.
Sulcis (Italy)
High ash coal, high sulphur coal,
biomass co-firing
1 × 340 MW CFB replacing one of the
plant’s original pulverised coal units to
cleanly burn a range of imported and local
high-sulphur coals. Integrated with high
efficiency fabric filter system for dust and
particulate control.
CAN (Turkey)
One of the highest load factor ratios
in Turkey
Burning low lignite with high sulphur
content for 2 × 160 MW, Can shows an
impressive 70% capacity utilisation
since 2007.
13
Case study: Narva, Estonia
1 × 300 MW CFB boiler

The largest oil-shale fired boiler in the world

Narva is a best industrial practice, demonstrating Alstom’s Narva CFB boiler key features
leadership in CFB Technology. Configuration Dual grate – 4 cyclones
Boiler efficiency 92.3%
In January 2011, Alstom signed a full turnkey EPC contract (LHV basis)
with Narva Elektrijaamad AS, to supply one 300 MW steam Main steam flow 850 t/h | 1,880 Mlb/h
power plant. The plant implements the circulating fluidised Superheater outlet 178 bar | 2,567 PSIg
bed (CFB) boiler technology on a large scale. steam pressure
Superheat/reheat 543°C / 568°C (1,009°F / 1,054°F)
For reduced environmental impact and increased operational steam temperature

flexibility, the boiler is designed to burn oil shale, peat and Nitrogen oxides 150 mg/Nm3 without an additional
denitrification system
up to 50% co-firing of wood chips. Despite high nitrogen content
Sulphur dioxide 200 mg/Nm3 without limestone injection
in the fuel, the required 150 mg/Nm3 emissions will be met
without an additional denitrification system.

The CFB technology will be fitted with large tubular air

preheaters, an option preferred to the conventional rotating
regenerating air preheaters to maximise boiler efficiency.

Alstom’s latest developments in CFB technology allow

us to guarantee 92.3% boiler efficiency (LHV basis).

Alstom listening to local requirements

The Narva CFB boiler was built especially to meet its customer-specific requirements: External bed technology provides a safe
place to locate heat exchangers operating at high temperatures and, as such, prevents high-temperature corrosion (chlorine) while
offering an accurate control of the bed temperature. The Narva CFB boiler has been fitted with large tubular air preheaters, an
option preferred over the conventional rotating regenerating air preheaters to maximise boiler efficiency.

14
 Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation,
power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark
for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.

Power generation Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated
metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant
solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy
sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal, wind, solar thermal,
geothermal and ocean energies. Alstom offers a wide range of
solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids.

Power generation
Alstom Power offers solutions which allow their customers to
generate reliable, competitive and eco-friendly power.

Alstom has the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of thermal

technologies – coal, gas, oil and nuclear – and holds leading positions
in turnkey power plants, power generation services and air quality
control systems. It is also a pioneer in carbon capture technologies.
Electrical grid
Alstom offers the most comprehensive range of renewable power
generation solutions today: hydro power, wind power, geothermal,
biomass and solar. With ocean energies, we are developing solutions
for tomorrow. Alstom is one of the world leaders in hydro power,
the largest source of renewable energy on the planet.

Rail transport
PWER/BPROB/CCFBCN12/eng/BOIL/09.13/CH/7403 © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is indicative only. No representation or
warranty is given or should be relied on that it is complete or correct or will apply to any particular project. This will depend on the technical and commercial circumstances. It is
provided without liability and is subject to change without notice. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties, without express written authority, is strictly prohibited.
Photo credits: © ALSTOM 2013. All rights reserved. Printed on environmentally friendly paper. A PDF version of this brochure is available at: www.alstom.com

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