Results of combustion and emissions testing when co-firing blends of binder-enhanced densified refuse-derived fuel (b-dRDF) pellets and coal in a 440 MW(sub e) cyclone fired combustor. Volume 1: Test methodology and results

摘要

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Program, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) conducted a multi-phase research study on the use of low-cost binder additives for improving densified refuse-derived fuel (dRDF) pellets. The laboratory test phase of this study, completed in 1985, examined more than 150 potential binders and binder combinations. The 13 most promising candidates from this laboratory testing were selected for field testing. The field work, was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Navy at the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory's test facility in Jacksonville, Florida during 1986. The results of these tests indicated that calcium hydroxide was the top-ranked binding agent. As the third and final phase of the multi-phase study, ANL conducted two full-scale co-fired combustion tests of calcium hydroxide-enhanced dRDF pellets and coal. The first test was conducted in 1987 in ANL's spreader-stoker combustion unit. With the successful completion of the ANL tests, it appeared desirable to consider the feasibility of co-firing binder-enhanced drdf (b-dRDF) pellets and coal in a cyclone/fired combustor since these combustors are more extensively used in the industrial and electric utility market place than the older, smaller spreader-stoker units. Commercial-scale tests for this study were conducted at Otter Tail Power Company's 440-NW(sub e) cyclone-fired generating station located at Big Stone City, South Dakota. These tests were conducted under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA). The CRADA participants included two national laboratories and three industrial partners. The study was designed to determine the following: the amount of pollutants, both gaseous and ashes, released during the co-firing of binder-enhanced dRDF pellets with coal in a cyclone-fired combustor; boiler efficiencies when combusting b-dRDF/coal blends; and the effect of firing b-dRDF/coal blends on plant operations.