Flow Modeling for Popcorn Ash Capture

As coal burning power plants switch from Eastern Bituminous coal to Powder River Basin (PRB) coal, operators are discovering that Large Particle Ash (LPA) is becoming an issue.  This large ash is plugging air preheater baskets and SCR catalysts, resulting in a significant increase in pressure drop and maintenance headaches.  Airflow Sciences Corporation has developed flow  modeling and laboratory testing techniques to help mitigate these problems.  This presentation provides a brief overview of LPA formation, characteristics, and its capture via flow modeling. Advantages and disadvantages of baffles and screens are detailed, and a case study is presented.