Problems seen with chinese Stoker fired boilers

1) Steam output capacity

These boiler can give rated steam output only if coal of very high heating value is used. If the
coal is changed to a source with lower heating value, the capacity of the boiler drops much more
than the reduction in heating value. Typically if the boiler can deliver capacity with coal of 6000
kcal/kg GCV, and a fuel with heating value 5000 kcal/kg is used, the steam output will drop to 50
% of rated capacity

2) Reliability- Breakdown of the stoker

The stoker is a mechanical assembly consisting of thousands of cast iron links and frequently
breaks down thereby stopping the boiler. Repair is needed nearly every month.

3) Boiler is rated on F&A 100 °C basis

These boilers are specified on basis of F&A 100 °C, this means that one kg of steam is considered
as 540 kcal. The actual energy required to produce 1 kg of steam at 10 barg pressure from feed
water at 30 °C is 630 kcal. This means that a Chinese steam boiler rated at 10 t/hr F&A 100 °C
will produce only 8571 kg/hr of steam from feed water at 30 °C.

4) Cannot burn rice husk

A stoker fired boiler cannot accept rice husk as fuel since the bulk density of rice husk if much
lower (125 kg/m3) compare4d to coal (800 kg/m3)

5) Higher SO2 and NOx emissions

A stoker fired boiler produces much higher amount of SO2 emissions and NOx emissions

6) Stoker fired boilers cannot burn sludge along with coal.

7) The instrumentation used by Chinese boilers if of very low quality and frequent shut downs are
seen due to failure of critical instruments such as level control, pressure control etc.

There were many Chinese boilers purchased by Indonesian industry during year 2000 – 2008. After a few
years experience, most of the industries have removed these boilers due to many problems faced and
unreliable operation. Now these industries are buying only fluidized bed boilers.