IGNITION OF PULVERIZED COAL WITH ARC HEATED AIR

Current powerplant practice, with suspension fired boilers, involves consumption of large quantities of premium fuel to accomplish ignition of pulverized coal. A new approach to coal ignition is described. A vortex stabilized electric arc heater was attached to a full-scale commercial pulverized coal burner. A continuous arc heated air jet was used as an ignition source. The equipment was operated in a powerplant where ignition of coal was demonstrated. Ignition was accomplished with igniter input power levels which are lower than conventional practice by a factor of six. Cost of an igniter system for a large commercial size coal burner was estimated; the arc igniter appears to be economically viable and competitive with conventional practice.