Burner modifications to reduce NOx and opacity

The Challenge

Chalk Point Electric Generating Station Units 3 and 4 are two T-fired,supercritical double reheat, 640 MW Combustion Engineering (CE) boilers firing #6 (Bunker C) oil.

RJM was tasked to engineer and supply burner modifications to the existing CE burners and windbox to achieve NOx levels below 236ppm and to reduce opacity below 10%.

Chalk Point had high NOx and opacity for these two units and need to comply with the US EPA New Source Regulations and the State of Maryland Environmental Regulations. The high opacity was very visible and neighbors were reporting the smoke to the State of Marland.

RJM Solution

RJM supplied a new flame stabilizer and new low NOx atomizers for each burner. The air and fuel to each burner was balanced using RJM’s proprietary measurement systems. Windbox air flow problems were identified and a CFD model of the windbox was prepared. Modifications to the air flow in the windbox were provided.

Results

NOx levels on both units were reduced to 0.246 lb/mmBtu and opacity was held to below 10%.