FIRESIDE PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION AND EMISSIONS CONTROL WITH COAL-FIRED BOILERS SHORT COURSE

August 14-16, 2012

This intensive three-day course focuses on performance optimization and emissions control of coal-fired power generation boilers with emphasis on the latest developments in techniques, equipment and instrumentation.  This course addresses both theory and practice, stressing “how to” perform reliable field tests, accurately measure key parameters, and analyze data.  The instructors will share their first-hand experience through case studies which span decades of projects dedicated to performance optimization and emissions control with coal-fired boilers.  Each participant will receive a comprehensive set of course notes. The course overview and registration information can be found by entering the course website:

http://www.lehigh.edu/energy/workshop_shortcourse/workshops_courses.htm

Laser Measurement of Coal Ash Composition Demonstrated at Power Plant
The Brayton Point power plant in southeastern Massachusetts fires a range of coals, including bituminous coals from the eastern U.S. and South American coals from Colombia and Venezuela.  Some of these coals have mineral compositions which are susceptible to high temperature slagging, and the resulting variability in coal feedstock causes difficulties for the station, sometimes forcing it to take remedial actions on a retroactive basis to mitigate the impacts of coal ash slagging.  Carlos Romero of Lehigh’s Energy Research Center is collaborating on a project to develop a laser-based measurement system, which promises to become a valuable tool for predicting the onset of slagging conditions in coal-fired boilers.

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Laser Measurement of Coal Ash Composition Demonstrated at Power Plant

Predicting the Remaining Life of High Temperature Steel Piping
As the fleet of U.S. coal-fired power plants continues to age, one of the many decisions power generation companies will need to make is when to replace high temperature and pressure steam piping connecting the boiler and turbine.  Waiting too long before replacing a creep-damaged steam pipe can lead to catastrophic pipe rupture and replacing a pipe prematurely would be an unnecessary expense.  A research team at the Energy Research Center led by Professor Terry Delph has developed an analysis method which provides more realistic estimates of remaining useful life than has been possible up to now.

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Predicting the Remaining Life of High Temperature Steel Piping

BALANCING ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN EXPLORATION OF ENERGY RESEARCH NEEDS

On October 31 and November 1, 2007, Lehigh University was host to 175 attendees at an on-campus workshop which explored the issues of how to achieve a sustainable global energy future. Organized by Dr. Edward Levy, Director of the Energy Research Center, Dr. Dork Sahagian, Director of the Environmental Initiative and Dr. Bruce Koel, Vice Provost for Research, the workshop featured 21 speakers from government, industry and academia and covered a wide range of energy technology; and energy, environmental, and economic policy issues. The following link will take you to the workshop agenda, presentations and speaker biographical information.

http://www.lehigh.edu/energy2007

BALANCING ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN EXPOLORATION OF ENERGY RESEARCH NEEDS

October 31 - November 1, 2007

Lehigh University will be hosting a two day workshop, Balancing Energy and the Environment:  an Exploration of Energy Research Needs,” on October 31-November 1, 2007.  The agenda covers a wide range of topics on the technology and policy aspects of energy and features distinguished speakers from academia, government and industry.  The workshop overview, meeting agenda and registration information can be found by entering the workshop website:

http://www.lehigh.edu/energy2007

Using Combustion Optimization to Solve Opacity Problems at an Oil-Fired Boiler
The combustion optimization process is used widely by U.S. power generation companies to find the boiler control settings which result in the lowest NO_x emissions or the best heat rate.  Up to now, combustion optimization has typically been applied to coal-fired units, but a recent project carried out by the Energy Research Center at a large oil-fired unit shows that combustion optimization can also be used to reduce stack emissions in oil-fired boilers.

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Using Combustion Optimization to Solve Opacity Problems at an Oil-Fired Boiler

Improved Weld Overlay Coatings Developed for Corrosion Control in Coal-Fired Boilers
Some power generation companies are finding the need to replace waterwall tubes in their coal-fired boilers due to unusually high rates of fireside corrosion. A Lehigh research team, led by John DuPont, has developed specifications for a new generation of weld overlay materials which are expected to provide longer-term corrosion protection at a lower cost than the alternatives.

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Improved Weld Overlay Coatings Developed for Corrosion Control in Coal-Fired Boilers

Modeling SO₃ Formation Processes in Coal-Fired Boilers
Dissimilar metal weld (DMW) failures between carbon steels and stainless steels occur in many industrial applications. These failures are generally attributed to the very sharp changes in composition and corresponding properties which occur along the fusion line of the weld and the formation of locally high stresses associated with a thermal expansion mismatch between the carbon steel and stainless steel. A Lehigh research team has demonstrated the feasibility of using a process referred to as Laser Engineering Net Shaping to prepare a transition joint between carbon steels and stainless steels. This process, which was developed in a research project led by John DuPont of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and funded by the National Science Foundation, has the potential to solve the failure problems usually seen with dissimilar metal welds.

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Avoiding Dissimilar Metal Weld Failures with Graded Transition Joints
Dissimilar metal weld (DMW) failures between carbon steels and stainless steels occur in many industrial applications. These failures are generally attributed to the very sharp changes in composition and corresponding properties which occur along the fusion line of the weld and the formation of locally high stresses associated with a thermal expansion mismatch between the carbon steel and stainless steel. A Lehigh research team has demonstrated the feasibility of using a process referred to as Laser Engineering Net Shaping to prepare a transition joint between carbon steels and stainless steels. This process, which was developed in a research project led by John DuPont of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and funded by the National Science Foundation, has the potential to solve the failure problems usually seen with dissimilar metal welds.

For more details, click the following: