Understanding the Formation of NOx in Pulp Mill Boilers

Markus Engblom, Emil Vainio, Anders Brink, Mikko Hupa, Erkki Välimäki, Ville-Pekka Heikkilä

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingConference contributionScientificpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a model for calculation of NOx chemistry in pulp mill boilers. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism is used in combination with a simplified description of the furnace fluid dynamics. A reactor network is used to describe the mixing of furnace gas into the combustion air jets and the furnace gas flow between air levels. The model is applied to a 107 MWth bubbling fluidized boiler (BFB) and a 3000 tds/day Kraft recovery boiler.In the BFB, NH3 and NO in the furnace gas originating from the bed are entrained into the secondary and tertiary air jets, resulting in considerable NOx reduction in the jets, and low NOx emissions from the boiler. In contrast, in the Kraft boiler, NOx precursor release is not restricted to the char bed, but takes place in a large volume of the furnace. In the Kraft boiler NH3 is largely oxidized to NO between the air levels due to excess of oxygen and high temperatures. In addition, the importance of NO release from carry-over droplets for boiler NOx emissions is evident.For efficient in-furnace NOx reduction, NH3, NO and O2 should be simultaneously present in the furnace gas at a temperature favoring the reduction. Such conditions can be obtained in the combustion air jets, provided that the entrained furnace gas contains NH3. Calculations suggest that extreme air staging would be needed in order to obtain such conditions in a recovery boiler.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2014 International Chemical Recovery Conference
EditorsMarkus Nieminen, Päivi Lampinen
PublisherSuomen Soodakattilayhdistys / Finnish Recovery Boiler Committee
Pages155–170
ISBN (Electronic)978-952-68166-1-6
ISBN (Print)978-952-68166-0-9
Publication statusPublished - 2014
MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
Eventconference; 2014-06-09; 2014-06-12 - Tampere Hall, Tampere
Duration: 9 Jun 201412 Jun 2014

Conference

Conferenceconference; 2014-06-09; 2014-06-12
Period09/06/1412/06/14

Keywords

  • COMPUTER MODELING
  • Fuel nitrogen
  • black liquor combustion
  • bubbling fluidized bed combustion
  • kraft recovery boilers
  • nitrogen oxides

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