The Problem: Accumulation of Excess Ash Deposits

A major concern of combustion systems burning ash-bearing fuel is that ash deposits accumulate on surfaces and interfere with efficient, sustained system operation. Many plants use mechanical devices for slag control such as sootblowers to deal with these deposits, and most can maintain high efficiency and production levels without additional tools.

However, for plants burning more difficult fuels—coal, heavy oil, wood products, waste, and others—mechanical means alone are insufficient. Heavy deposits known as slag or fouling can form, with the following detrimental impacts:

• Need for extra fuel to reach desired steam levels, due to inefficient heat transfer through slag
• Lost production time when furnaces are shut down for slag removal operations
• Increased maintenance costs for staff hours and equipment purchases
• Potential for major equipment damage from large falling slag deposits
• Hazardous safety conditions caused by hanging slag deposits as large as cars

Slag on Pendants

Unfortunately for many plants, fuels of sufficient quality to avoid these detrimental effects and consequent costs are either limited in availability or too expensive to be practical.

The Solution: Nalco Mobotec’s Fully Serviced Fireside Chemical Treatment (FCT) Programs

Nalco Mobotec FCT programs use proven technology along with consultative and monitoring services to reduce the total cost of operation for plants burning fuels that yield excess slag or create boiler fouling. These cost-effective slag control programs require minimal capital investment and little mechanical maintenance of new equipment systems.

The Nalco Mobotec FCT Program:

• Enhances the capabilities of existing mechanical devices, such as sootblowers, to keep surfaces clean
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• Minimizes the amount of fuel required to keep a system running at peak performance, reducing fuel consumption by up to 5 percent
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• Maximizes production capability while the system is online
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• Extends run times between offline cleanings by up to 100 percent
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• Reduces maintenance costs, such as those for slag removal, boiler fouling removal and equipment repair caused by falling slag