Barr, in partnership with the University of North Dakota (UND), Microbeam Technologies Inc. (MTI), Envergex, LLC, and MLJ Consulting, worked to develop a transformational technology that controls the formation of alkali aerosols found in coal ash. This technology mitigates ash deposition by injecting sorbents into the boiler and capturing volatile species that act as glue for ash deposition and growth, the primary cause for boiler outages.
Control and mitigation of ash deposition is expected to increase plant revenues due to a reduction in outage time, create a better heat rate efficiency reducing boiler temperatures, reduce NOx emissions from lower furnace temperatures and deeper staging, improve heat rate reducing fuel consumption and improve fuel flexibility/tolerance for low-quality fuels.
As part of the Transformative Power Generation Program (TPG), this project develops near to long-term technology options for flexible, reliable, and cost competitive coal-based power generation at both new and existing plants.