Types of PFA & Their

Usages
B. Tech. CT .-VI
ALTERNATE FUELS & RAW MATERIALS
[04CT606]
Unit-3/Lecture No- 02

Dr. S.K. Jha

AKS University Satna
The “pulverized fuel ash” (PFA) or “fly ash”
(FA), used as a mineral admixture in cement
and concrete,

It is a byproduct of the pulverized coal firing

system, through conventional boilers in the
TPP.

While carbon burns in oxidizing conditions,

The inorganic mineral impurities gets sintered

and liquefied at high temperature.
Ash generated by burning of ground or
pulverized or crushed coal or lignite fired
boilers. It can be

fly ash,
bottom ash,
pond ash or
mound ash.
The melt flows down the walls of the furnace and
about 25% gets collected as “bottom ash” (BA).

The rest gets entrained in the up-flowing hot gas &

get trapped in economizer, air-preheater,
mechanical separator & electrostatic precipitators
(ESP) called “pulverized fuel ash” (PFA) or “fly ash”
(FA),.

Generally PFA & BA are mixed with water &

transported to ash ponds/lagoons. The ash thus
deposited in lagoons is called “lagoon ash” (LA) or
“pond ash (PA)
Fly Ash —
Pulverized fuel ash extracted from flue gases by any
suitable process such as by cyclone separator or
electro-static precipitator.

Calcareous Fly Ash — Fly ash conforming to the

provisions of calcareous fly ash given in this
standard and having reactive calcium oxide not less
than 10 percent by mass.

Such fly ash is normally produced from burning

lignite or sub-bituminous coal and has both
pozzolanic and hydraulic properties.
Fly Ash —

Siliceous Fly Ash — Fly ash conforming to the

provisions of siliceous fly ash given in this standard
and having reactive calcium oxide less than 10
percent, by mass.

Such fly ash is normally produced from burning

anthracite or bituminous coal and has pozzolanic
properties.
Bottom Ash —
Pulverized fuel ash collected from the bottom of
boilers by any suitable process.

Pond Ash —
Fly ash or bottom ash or both mixed in any
proportion and conveyed in the form of water
slurry and deposited in pond or lagoon.

Mound Ash —
Fly ash or bottom ash or both mixed in any
proportion and conveyed or carried in dry form and
deposited dry.
The generation of fly ash in India is about 163.56
million tonnes in 2012–13, of which only
100.37million tonnes was utilized.

A tremendous increase in its utilization from 9.63% in

1996–97 to 61.37% in 2012–13.

Indian coal is of low grade with high ash content

~30-45 % in comparison to imported coals 10-15%.
.
The most
important
utilization
areas of fly
ash
➢The fly ash contains substantial percentage of silica,
alumina and lime having some hydraulic properties.

➢It replaces 20% to 30% portland cement.

➢Fly ash reacts as a pozzolan with the lime in cement

as it hydrates, creating more of the durable binder.
Especially bottom ash can be suitably utilized
for filling low lying areas for construction
purposes.

It can be also used for reclamation of sea Or

land from sea especially in coastal areas like
Puri, Balasore, Gopalpur.
Fly ash is a lightweight material. it undergoes lesser
settlement and hence can be used for embankment
construction over weak substrate.

such as alluvial clay or silt where excessive weight

could cause failure.

Due to its low compressibility it can also be used for

road construction as a sub grade material.
Fly ash can be used for manufacturing of bricks used
for building construction.

These bricks are light in weight and stronger than

common burnt clay bricks available in our state.

Fly ash can also be used for manufacturing of

pavement blocks/tiles.

The manufacturing of bricks and pavement tiles will

help in preserving land area dug out, prevent soil
erosion and reduction in fire wood consumption.
The ash produced in power plants are disposed off in
ash pond in slurry form.

Due to land constraints the dykes of ash pond are

raised in later stages.

The ash from ash pond is generally used for raising

this dyke which in turn saves the borrow material.

With proper drainage arrangement and slope stability

the fly ash could be a suitable material for dyke
rising.
1. Fly ash contains micronutrients like P, K and Ca,
improves water holding capacity and soil aeration.

2. It can be suitably used in agriculture sector to

improve crop yield.

3. Fly ash can also reclaim saline alkali soil resulting in

saving of gypsum.