Applications

A solution provider

Combustion of fossil fuels is a complex process, which becomes increasingly  challenging when problems are recognised too late and/or necessary interventions cannot be adapted to the changing situations in a demand-driven way. 

By linking direct measurement, data analysis and data evaluation, SMART Clean provides  comprehensive analysis capability which is necessary to monitor continuously important process parameters and to define demand-driven cleaning actions in real  time. SMART Clean ideally enables you to meet fuel and plant specific challenges.

Poor heat transfer

Deposits on heating and reaction surfaces act as insulators and as such, reduce the heat transfer. SMART Clean offers heat flux sensors, uniquely developed for use in power  boilers, which continuously and directly measure the heat transfer. By doing this, a key advantage is that impending sintering of deposits is recognised and removed in time.

One of our reference projects has managed to achieve 35 % increase in heat transfer within the furnace.

Changing fuel quality and fuel mix

Lower supply price demands make the changes in coal types an interesting option. A  change in fuel however brings about a change in the fuel’s chemistry. The accompanying process changes, e.g. a higher/lower combustion and flue gas  temperature, directly affect the deposit formation. Using SMART Clean, a continuous  evaluation of important process parameters takes place so that the boiler cleaning  automatically and duly acts before the heat flux drops too low.

In one of our reference projects, we were able to prove that the range of applicable fuels could be largely extended.

High ash formation with hopper blockage

Certain system conditions cause severe slagging in the furnace which may lead to hopper blockage when they break off and fall down. These deposits can be as heavy as several tons. If the hopper is blocked, it is quite likely that this problem can only be solved while the boiler is shut down.

Such conditions require continuous monitoring of crucial process parameters and  continuous counteracting measurements by means of a well balanced boiler cleaning  strategy.

Using SMART Clean, extensive knowledge is available about deposit build up in the furnace so  that suitable cleaning actions can be defined and activated in time.

Boiler cleaning costs are too high

On-load boiler cleaning carried out based on a fixed interval can be inefficient if it is done too often. Correspondingly, money and cleaning media are wasted. With SMART Clean, cleaning is only activated when it is really necessary. Provided that existing cleaning  devices can be controlled flexibly, a further detailed definition can be done by SMART Clean by adjusting cleaning parameters to the actual deposit situation.

In one of our reference projects, we reduced cleaning actions by 35 % and steam consumption by 40 % without any loss in cleaning efficiency and obvious benefits to  costs.