Coal Pipe Balancing

ASC provides ample services to assist with balancing Primary Air and Coal Flow in coal pipes.  From the Advanced Coal Flow Measurement (ACFM) System to our own 1-D network solver, to advanced two-phase CFD simulations and physical laboratory models, ASC has the capabilities to solve your balance issues.

Advanced Coal Flow Measurement (ACFM)
A Service and Technology for Accurate and Repeatable Primary Air and Coal Flow Rate Measurements 		FINESSE
 1-D Fluid Network Simulation
Complete pipe cross-section is sampled.
Pipe Cross-Section
All test functions are automated and computer controlled.Computer Controlled ACFM Test Program 		Coal Pipe Testing at a Power PlantSmall, mobile system can reach even the most inaccessible coal pipes.
Mobile ACFM System Reaches Even the Most Inaccessible Coal Pipes 		FINESSE is a state-of-the art two phase program for calculating flow rates, pressures, and temperatures for each branch of a fluid network. It is generally used to analyze and balance single or multiphase flows through piping networks and branching duct systems.
1-D Network Model Schematic
ASC uses FINESSE in conjunction with coal pipe testing to balance coal pipes at power generating stations. Expensive and time consuming trial-and-error balancing is not necessary.  A baseline test, the coal pipe model, and a verification test are all that are necessary to achieve balanced coal pipes.
baseline balance

redesign balance
Plus:
  • Proven repeatability of 1.0% for air flow and 3.5% for coal flow measurements
  • Sampling rate maintained at 100% isokinetic across velocity profile
  • Realtime spreadsheet report generation
  • Fabric filter collects 99.9% of coal particles
  • Uses standard 1 1/2" NPT test port
ASC provides more than coal pipe testing services. ASC can use its state-of-the-art two phase program FINESSE to balance your coal pipes in a single step. Expensive and time consuming trial-and-error balancing is not necessary. A baseline test, the coal pipe model, and a verification test are all that are necessary to achieve balanced coal pipes.
Download the complete ACFM Brochure (306 kB).
coal pipe testing photo

 
For the most challenging tasks, ASC has the ability to utilize laboratory or computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models of coal pipes or coal pipe networks.  These models can include:
  • Flow modeling of several configurations of coal distributions was performed (of rifflers, in this case).
  • Model results provided air velocity distributions and coal particle trajectories throughout the system.
  • Model inlet flow conditions were obtained from onsite testing.
Below, a riffler system was studied.  The analysis revealed that even slightly different geometries resulted in significant variation in coal flow rates to the downstream coal pipes.  It also was found that existing geometries can be made less sensitive to imbalances.		lab model of a coal splitter
Imbalanced Trajectory Plot
Configuration 1:
Imbalanced Flows		Balanced Trajectory Plot
Configuration 2:
Balanced Flows

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