Advantages and Disadvantages Pulverized Coal System
Advantages of pulverized coal system :
- Any type of coal can be used since it is used in powdered form.
- Combustion is almost complete, therefore it has high combustion efficiency and high rate of steam generation. It can generate upto 2000 tons of steam per hour.
- Greater surface area of coal per unit mass allows faster combustion. It also reduces the air requirement.
- Response to variation in load is fast.
- It has smokeless operation.
- It is free from clinker and slag formation.
- It has no standby losses due to banked fires.
- System can work with slurry or emulsion type of fuels.
- There are no moving parts in the furnace subjected to high temperatures, therefore the life of system is high.
- It has no ash handling problem.
- External surfaces are free from corrosion.
- It can use highly preheated air upto 340° C which helps for rapid flame propagation.
- Furnace volume required is considerably less.
Disadvantages of Pulverized Coal System :
- Capital cost is high compared to stoker firing.
- Operation cost is high.
- Needs special and costly equipments to remove fine dust called fly ash.
- Furnace temperatures are high, therefore needs cooling arrangement for furnaces to avoid detoriation of refractory materials.
- Maintenance cost is high.
- Skilled labour is needed.
- It has high air pollution due to emissions of fine dust particles.
- System is prone to explosions since coal burns like a gas.
- Special starting equipment is necessary.