System and method for removing ash deposits within a boiler

Abstract

A system for removing ash deposits within a boiler is provided. The system includes a soot blower disposed within the boiler, and a gas supply line in fluid communication with the soot blower and a gas source. The soot blower is operative to inject compressed gas from the gas source into the boiler to remove the ash deposits from a surface of the boiler.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical Field[0001]Embodiments of the invention relate generally to boilers, and more specifically, to a system and method for removing ash deposits within a boiler.Discussion of Art[0002]Many power plants utilize boilers that combust fuels, e.g., coal, oil, and / or gas, to generate steam which in turn is used to produce electricity via a steam turbine generator. Such power plants typically generate and heat steam by using heating surfaces, e.g., evaporators, superheaters, etc., to transfer thermal energy produced from combusting a fuel into water and / or steam.[0003]In addition to producing a flue gas that contains carbon dioxide (“CO2”), combustion of a fuel may also produce dust and ash that accumulates on one or more heating surfaces within a boiler so as to form ash deposits. Ash deposits on heating surfaces of a boiler often act as insulators that restrict the ability of the heating surfaces to transfer heat into the water / steam. In other words, ash deposits usually ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a system and method for removing ash deposits from a boiler using a soot blower. The system includes a supply line for supplying compressed gas from a gas source to the soot blower, which then injects the gas into the boiler to remove the ash deposits. The system can also use carbon dioxide gas from a storage vessel for the same purpose. The technical effect of this patent is improved efficiency and effectiveness in removing ash deposits from boilers, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.

Problems solved by technology

Ash deposits on heating surfaces of a boiler often act as insulators that restrict the ability of the heating surfaces to transfer heat into the water / steam.

Thus, ash deposits typically reduce a boiler's performance / efficiency.

As such, ash deposits usually lead to higher fuel consumption by the boiler and / or other operational problems.

Many boilers often use steam for soot blowing because of its overall cost and availability.

Steam, however, is expensive in countries / locations where water sources are costly (e.g., in countries / regions where water is produced from desalination).

Further, in many boilers, the steam utilized for soot blowing is often drawn / tapped from a supply of steam used to generate electricity, which in turn may reduce the amount of steam available to generate electricity and result in a power production loss in the encompassing power plant.

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