7.1 Overview

When one is designing any type of system, it is most often thought that the main objective is to create one that serves its purpose through an efficient, cost-effective, and law-abiding process. For the combustion of solid fuels for power generation or industrial usage, the science behind the types of fuels available, prevailing economics, and environmental awareness at the time of construction dictates which type of fuel burning system is advantageous for the given situation. Throughout the history of power generation and industrial application of fuels in boilers, process heaters, and kilns, a myriad of combustion systems has been designed to meet the requirements of societal and economic conditions; however, key system designs have proven to bridge the wants and needs of society and the economic entities therein. Such designs include the traditional stoker, pulverized, and cyclone firing systems that may be seen in power plants and industrial applications across the globe.

This chapter provides an overview of the traditional methods of solid fuel firing focusing on fuels, general design parameters, and applications. The interplay of these parameters determines the selection of the appropriate technology for burning the various types of solid fuel: various ranks of coal, biomass, petroleum coke, and waste-based energy sources.

7.2 Types of Traditional Combustion Systems

Traditional combustion systems include stokers, pulverized firing systems, and cyclonic...