Apparatus and method for predicting ash deposition on heated surfaces of a fuel burning combustion vessel

• US 5,271,674 A
• Filed: 12/21/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Riley Power, Inc. (Babcock Power Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Riley Stoker Corporation (Babcock Power Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kalmanovitch, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US07/994,338
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 374/16, 374/17, 374/18, 374/19, 374/21, 374/43, 374/45, 374/160, 110/165 R, 110/185, 110/186, 110/341, 110/342, 110/343, 110/344, 110/349
• US Class Current: 374/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/222 Solid fuels, e.g. coal

Abstract

Apparatus and method are provided for predicting ash deposition in combustion systems. An ash sample is obtained from a selected fuel under controlled conditions. Chemical composition characteristics of the obtained ash sample are identified by a particle-by-particle analysis of the obtained ash sample. An equilibria phase diagram is determined responsive to the identified characteristics of each particle of the obtained ash sample. Then a eutectic temperature of each the particle of the obtained ash sample is determined utilizing the identified equilibria phase diagram.

Claims

1. Apparatus for predicting ash deposition on heated surfaces of a fuel burning combustion vessel in a combustion system comprising:

means for obtaining an ash sample;

means utilizing said obtained ash sample for identifying chemistry composition particle-by-particle;

means for identifying equilibria phase diagram responsive to said identified chemistry composition of each said particle of said obtained ash sample; and

means responsive to said identified equilibria phase diagram for identifying a eutectic temperature of each said particle of said obtained ash sample.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for obtaining an ash sample include sampling means located in said fuel burning combustion system.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for obtaining an ash sample include means for producing an ash sample from a predetermined fuel under predefined laboratory conditions.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means utilizing said obtained ash sample for identifying chemistry composition particle-by-particle include size analysis means for determining chemical composition of each said particle as a function of size.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means utilizing said obtained ash sample for identifying chemistry composition particle-by-particle include a computer controlled scanning electron microscope.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further includes means for controlling an operating temperature below the lowest identified eutectic temperature for the fuel burning combustion vessel in the combustion system.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further includes means for identifying a eutectic temperature distribution of said obtained ash sample and means responsive to said identified eutectic temperature distribution for identifying selected operational parameters of the combustion system.

8. A method of predicting ash deposition on heated surfaces of a fuel burning combustion vessel in a combustion system to determine operational parameters for the combustion system comprising the steps of:

obtaining an ash sample;

identifying characteristics of the obtained ash sample by a particle-by-particle analysis of the obtained ash sample;

identifying equilibria phase diagram responsive to said identified characteristics of each said particle of said obtained ash sample; and

identifying a eutectic temperature of each said particle of said obtained ash sample responsive to said identified equilibria phase diagram.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of identifying characteristics of the obtained ash sample includes the step of:

identifying particle size; and

identifying chemical composition of individual particles by computer controlled scanning electron microscopy.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

identifying an operating temperature below the lowest identified eutectic temperature in the fuel burning combustion vessel in the combustion system.