FINAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

Investigation of Performance

 

of the

 

ALL CANADIAN COAL FIRED HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM

 

 

 

for

 

Nova Metal Tech Ltd.

Box 3064

Sherwood Park, AB

T8A 2A6

 

 

 

by

Rob Bioletti and Allan Chambers, P. Eng.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGIES

ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL

250 Karl Clark Road

Edmonton, Alberta

T6N 1E4

 

 

 

October 9, 2001

 

CCT-P-026.01

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Executive Summary

The Alberta Research Council evaluated the performance of the All Canadian Boiler & Hydronic Heating System manufactured by Nova Metal Tech Ltd. (NMT). These units are stoker coal-fired combustion systems that produce hot water for building heating and other purposes. The unit tested was rated at 2.3 million Btu/hr.

Two tests were performed at the NMT manufacturing site; one with the unit operating at 65% coal feed rate and one with the unit operating at 100% coal feed rate. The unit was installed and operated by NMT personnel. After reaching steady state conditions, each test lasted about 1 hour with the following measurements taken:

Test No. 1 Results at 65% Coal Feed

The unit tested was recently built and in clean condition and would be expected to operate near maximum efficiency. At 65% coal feed rate the measured useful heat output, as hot water, was 508 kW (1.73 MMBtu/hr) with a thermal efficiency of 84.3%. On average, the flue gas for Test 1 was at 165ºC and contained 6.7 vol% O2, 12.8 vol% CO2, 54 ppm CO and 209 ppm NOx.

Test No. 2 Results at 100% Coal Feed

For the second test at 100% coal feed rate the measured useful heat output was 906 kW (3.09 MMBtu/hr), with a thermal efficiency of 82.9%. On average, the flue gas for Test 2 was at 195ºC and contained 5.5 vol% O2, 13.4 vol% CO2, 198 ppm SO2, 73 ppm CO and 216 ppm NOx.

The above thermal efficiencies were calculated from flue gas temperature and composition and the feed coal properties. Calculating efficiency based on coal energy input and hot water energy output was not possible in Test 2 due to variability of density and heating value of the coal and changes in cooling water flow rate during the run. Due to the short run time of the experiments, an accurate ash balance and representative unburned carbon in ash number could not be determined.

 

Based on the measured test data, operation of the unit with 5 to 7% oxygen concentration in the flue gas provides sufficient excess air to keep carbon monoxide levels below 100 ppm. For combustion of coal, flue gas temperatures should be maintained above 136ºC to minimize stack corrosion.

 

If you would like to receive a copy of this report in its entirety, please contact us and we will be happy to send it to you.