An in-situ method for time-resolved sodium release behaviour during coal combustion and its application in industrial coal-fired boilers

Abstract To mitigate the slagging, fouling and high-temperature corrosion problems caused by alkali metals during coal combustion process, measurement of time-resolved alkali metals release is very important. The paper proposed an in-situ approach for measuring sodium (Na) release in coal combustion by Flame Emission Spectroscopy (FES). Through the analysis of spontaneous emission spectra and a calibration procedure, the concentration of gas phase Na, temperature and thermal radiation can be obtained. Firstly, experimental measurement of Zhundong coal particles burning in a flat flame burner was done. Two kinds of Zhundong coal with similar proximate and ultimate analyses, but different ash composition were used. The Na-release history measured by FES was compared with that by LIBS. Results showed that the Na-release at the devolatilization, char, and ash stages can be distinguished by FES. The higher Si/Al content in ash can suppress the Na-release at the ash stage. Moreover, FES method was extended to the measurement of Na-release in four industrial boiler furnaces of two Zhundong coal-fired power plants. Results showed the Na-release measured by FES can reflect the change of fuel and load, and both temperature and thermal radiation play key roles in Na-release in coal combustion.