Utility Boiler Standard/Guideline Edition Rev.

1
Document No. Index

ALSTOM Power Windsor 1-2001-01 23.17

Utility Boiler Vélizy 69.00 3/1.2

Stuttgart N 633-022

NOx Prediction Guideline

Name Date Signed

Author R. Stiegler/K. Forster 09.10.01 Signed

Checked Windsor R. Hickey 10 JAN 02 Signed

Vélizy J. C. Semedard 23 JAN 02 Signed

Stuttgart G. Scheffknecht 29 JAN 02 Signed

Approved J. Seeber 29 JAN 02 Signed

Responsible Unit / Department

Document No Edition
Documents replaced Windsor 1-2001-00 Rev. 0

Vélizy 69.00 Rev. 0

Stuttgart N 633-022 Rev. 0

Change Records:
Rev. 1 - Revised Paragraph 3; corrected example - Paragraph 9.1; revised Figures 3 and 4.

We reserve the copyright for this technical document. Without our previous approval this technical document shall neither be copied nor
made available to any third party. Nor shall it be misused by the recipient or any third party.
This Standard is: STD NO : 1-2001-01
Updated INDEX : 23.17
PERFORMANCE STANDARD DATE : 1 FEB 2002
OWNER : 8125
PAGE : 2 OF 14

SUBJECT : NOx PREDICTION GUIDELINE

PURPOSE : To predict the NOx emission value for all CFB boilers of the ALSTOM
Power Utility Boiler business.

REMARKS : This Standard to be effective immediately.

NOTES: 1. This Standard has been revised by ALSTOM Power Velizy with
Stuttgart and Windsor.
2. Changes are indicated by vertical bars.

MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: R. SKOWYRA CFB PERFORMANCE DESIGN – 8125
MANAGER
APPROVED FOR CONTENT: R. SKOWYRA CFB PERFORMANCE DESIGN - 8125
MANAGER
APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION: J. LUSSIER ENGINEERING AUTOMATION - 8126

This document contains proprietary data and shall not be

reproduced or disclosed without permission of ALSTOM Power Inc.
SUBJECT: NOx Prediction Guideline STD NO. : 1-2001-01
INDEX : 23.17
DATE : 1 FEB 2002
OWNER : 8125
PAGE : 3 of 14
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

UNITS: o ENGLISH; o METRIC; n BOTH; o NONE

PRODUCT LINE: CHECK THE PRODUCT LINE THE STANDARD IS APPLICABLE TO:

o ALL; o A = CONTROLLED CIRC. BOILERS o H = HEAT RECOVERY STEAM GENERATORS

o B = SUPERCRITICAL BOILERS (HRSG)
o C = VU40 AND VU60 BOILERS o P = PULVERIZERS - MILLING SYSTEM
n E = FLUIDIZED BED BOILERS (CFB) o R = CHEMICAL RECOVERY BOILERS
o F = NATURAL CIRC. BOILERS (UTILITY) o S = SERVICES (AFTER MARKET USE)

Versions

Ver. 0 - First Issue

Ver. 1 - Revised Paragraphs 3.0 and 9.1 and

Figures 3 and 4.
 Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose ........................................................................................................................5

2.0 Scope...........................................................................................................................5
3.0 Principle Definitions ......................................................................................................5
4.0 General........................................................................................................................5
5.0 Procedure.....................................................................................................................6
5.1 Base Nitrogen Conversion Rate τ0 .................................................................................6
5.2 Excess Air and Bed Temperature Influence .....................................................................6
5.3 Nitrogen Conversion Rate .............................................................................................6
5.4 Conversion to NOx Emission Level.................................................................................6
5.5 Unit Conversion............................................................................................................7
6.0 Impact of Fuel Oxygen Content .....................................................................................7
7.0 Impact of Ca/S Ratio.....................................................................................................7
8.0 Guarantees ..................................................................................................................7
9.0 Sample Calculation.......................................................................................................8
9.1 Example 1 ................................................................................................................ 8/9

Attachments

Figure 1 - Basic Curve 0 Conversion Rate vs Fuel Ratio) ..................................................................10

Figure 2/1 - NOx Comparison Table .................................................................................................11
Figure 2/2 - NOx Comparison Table .................................................................................................12
Figure 3 - O Daf Basis vs Fuel Ratio ...............................................................................................13
Figure 4 - NOx Emission Correction Factor vs Bed Temperature and Excess air ................................14
1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this guideline is to predict the NOx emission value for all CFB boilers of the ALSTOM
Power Utility Boiler business.

2.0 Scope

This guideline is applicable for the calculation of the NOx emission value for all CFB boilers of the
ASTOM Power Utility Boiler business. The guideline is valid for all carbon fuels. The department supervisor
should be consulted for special fuels (pet coke, biomass, peat, refuse).

3.0 Principle Definitions

N nitrogen in fuel (a. r.) [%-a.r.]

H2O moisture in fuel [%-a.r.]
H hydrogen in fuel [%-a.r.]
LHV lower heating value [kJ/kg or Btu/lb]
HHV higher heating value [kJ/kg or Btu/lb]
NO2,pot potential NO2 formed from fuel [mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry, lb/MMBTU]
NO2 converted NO2 [mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry, lb/MMBTU]
τ0 base nitrogen conversion rate [%]
τ nitrogen conversion rate during operation conditions [%]
k1 excess air and temperature correction factor [-]
VFDG volume of flue gas, dry, λ = 1 [m3stp/kgfuel]
µ ´GoT specific flue gas mass, dry, λ = 1 [kg/kg]
ρN flue gas density, dry, λ = 1 [kg/m3stp]
O2,ref new oxygen reference value [%]
m 3 ⋅ lb
fc unit conversion factor for NOx [ ]
kg ⋅ MMBtu
ô λ excess air coefficient [-]
ô FR fuel ratio = % FC/%VM [-]
ô %FC fixed carbon in fuel as received [%-a.r.]
ô %VM volatile matter in fuel as received [%-a.r.]

(Definition: stp = standard temperature and pressure (0° C and 1013 mbar)

4.0 General

NOx emission value is mainly dependent on:

. nitrogen in fuel
. furnace temperature
. fuel ratio
. excess air
. SO2 retention
5.0 Procedure

The evaluation of NOx emission is made in three steps:

. Evaluation of τ for a bed temperature of 870°C and 20% of excess air in the furnace
0

. Determination of excess air and bed temperature correction factor k1

. Conversion of the result in standard units

5.1 Base Nitrogen Conversion Rate τ0

The base nitrogen conversion rate for usual bed temperature (Tbed = 870° C) and excess air
(λ = 1.2) is given in Figure 1.

5.2 Excess Air and Bed Temperature Influence

The NOx emission depends strongly on excess air and temperature of fluidized bed. To take
account of the influence of these two parameters, we are using the correction factor k1. This correction factor
is given in Figure 4.

5.3 Nitrogen Conversion Rate

The nitrogen conversion rate ι in the real operating condition is given by: τ = k1 ⋅ τ 0

5.4 Conversion to NOx Emission Level

The predicted NOx for a specific fuel is calculated as follows:

τ
NO2 = NO2 , pot ⋅ [mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry]
100

Potential NOx is calculated as follows:

46 N 21 − 6
NO2, pot = 10 4 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ [mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry]
14 VFGD 21

µ GoT
VFGD = [m3stp/kgfuel]
ρN
 5.5 Unit Conversion

Heating Value

LHV [Btu/lb] = LHV [kJ/kg]* 0.43

HHV [Btu/lb] = HHV [kJ/kg]* 0.43

HHV and LHV conversion formula:

For a reference of 0° C (32 °F): HHV [kJ/kg] – LHV [kJ/kg] = 223.5 H + 25 H2O

For a reference of 80° F (26.7° C): HHV [J/kg] – LHV [kJ/kg] = 217.8 H + 24.4 H2O

Where H and H2O are the weight percentage of hydrogen and water (weight % and heating
values are expressed on the same basis)

NOx conversion

NOx [lb/MMBtu] = f c * NOx[mg/m3stp]

VFGD [m 3 / kg ] 21
fc = ⋅
HHV [ MMBtu / lb] 21 − 6

O2-reference conversion

21 − O2,ref
NOx[mg/m3stp@O2,ref] = NOx[mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry] *
21 − 6

6.0 Impact of Fuel Oxygen Content

The coal is assigned a particular groups (lignite, sub bit, high vol. bit.... anthracite) as it can be seen
in Figure 3. Every fuel ratio can be classified a certain O2,daf content. If the actual O2 value is significantly
higher an additional margin on NOx has to be applied.

7.0 Impact of CA/S Ratio

For low SO2 emission and/or high Ca/S ratio the possibility of NOx increase has to be taken into
consideration.

8.0 Guarantees

The uncertainty in predicting NOx values with the procedure given above could be 25 % in case of
FR<1.5. For guarantee values it is recommended to cross check with field data using same or similar fuel.
9.0 Sample Calculation

9.1 Example 1

Input data:

Fuel volatile matter = 52.62 %-daf

Fuel ash content = 1.51 % (as received)
Fuel moisture content = 57.8 % (as received)
Fuel nitrogen content = 0.29 % (as received)
Fuel hydrogen content = 2.92 % (as received)
LHV = 8879 kJ/kg
Excess air = 23 %
Furnace operating temperature = 860 ° C
Specific flue gas mass µ ´GoT = 3.92 kg/kg
Normal density ρN =1.389 kg/m3stp

Base conversion rate:

Fuel ratio = 0.90

ô From figure 1: τ0 = 8.8 %

Correction:

From Figure 4 - k1= 0.93

Calculation:
46 N 21 − 6
NO2, pot = 10 4 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ = 2412 mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry]
14 VFGD 21
µ GoT
VFGD = = 2.822 m3stp/kgfuel
ρN
ô τ = k1 ⋅ τ 0 = 8.184%
τ
ô NO2 = NO2, pot ⋅ = 197.4 mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry]
100

Conversion:

Heating Value

HHV [kJ/kg] = LHV [kJ/kg] + 217.8 H + 24.4 H2O = 10925 kJ/kg

Heating Value [Btu/lb] = Heating value [kJ/kg] * 0.43

LHV [Btu/lb] = 8879 kJ/kg * 0.43 = 3818 Btu/lb

HHV [Btu/lb] = 10925 kJ/kg * 0.43 = 4698 Btu/lb

 NOx Emission

VFGD 21 m3 ⋅ lb
fc = ⋅ = 8.41* 10-4
HHV [ Btu / lb] 21 − 6 kg ⋅ MMBtu

NOx [lb/MMBtu] = fc * NOx [mg/m3stp]

m3 ⋅ lb
ô = 8.41 * 10-4 * 197.4 mg/m3stp@6% O2,dry]
kg ⋅ MMBtu

ô NOx = 0.166 lb/MMBtu

Figure 1: Basic Curve (Conversion Rate vs. Fuel Ratio)
Figure 2/1: NOx Comparison Table
Figure 2/2: NOx Comparison Table
 O_daf basis & (C+H)/O Vs Fuel ratio & VM_daf basis
VM_daf basis (%)
66.7 62.5 58.8 55.5 52.6 50 33.3 25 20 16.7 14.3 12.5 11.1 10 9.1 4.76
35 35

30 30

25 25
Oxygen_daf basis (%)

20 20

(C+H)/O
15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0
0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.850.9 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 15 20 25
1 10
Fuel Ratio

High Med
Sub Low Volatile
Lignite Vol Vol Anthracite
Bit Bituminous
Bit Bit

Figure 3: O2 daf Basis vs. Fuel Ratio

 CFB NOx-emission correction factor vs. bed temperature and
excess air

2,5

2,0
NOx emission correction factor [-]

1,5

1,0

0,5 excess air = 15%

excess air = 20%

excess air = 30%

excess air = 40%

excess air = 50%

0,0
800 820 840 860 880 900 920
bed temperature [°C]

Figure 4: NOx Emission Correction Factor vs. Bed Temperature and Excess Air